rome

new home

800 BCE

the ancestors of the Romans, called Latins, had migrated into Italy

rome founded

753 BCE

2 brothers, Romulus and Remus, founded this city and fought over who ruled it and Romulus killed Remus for the power

ownership

700 BCE

noble landowners held power and chose chief officials

rome becomes a repuclic

509 BCE

they had a king and was good up until 509 BCE

Etruscan King

509 BCE

the Romans drove out their Etruscan King

Law of the Twelve Tables

449 BCE

here was a struggle between the patricians (the privileged class) and the plebeians (the common people) to protect the legal, social, and civil rights of citizens. A commission of 10 men was appointed in 433 BC called the Decemviri to write a code of law that was suitable for both parties

settlement of Latin war

338 BCE

After Rome emerged victorious, the settlement they imposed underpinned subsequent Roman conquests of Italy and overseas territories. The Latins, and other Italian allies, were forbidden to conduct diplomacy or enter into treaties with other states. They were not taxed, except in having to provide men to fight in Roman commanded armies, which bolstered their ranks significantly

gaining control

270 BCE

Rome controlled most of the Italian peninsula

war against carthage

264 BCE

rome fought 3 wars against Carthage

Second Punic war

218 BCE

Hannibal invades Italy. Hannibal leads the Carthage army in his famous crossing of the Alps to attack Rome

expanding

133 BCE

Rome now controlled Spain to Egypt

distributing land

133 BCE

Tiberius, elected a tribune in 133 B.C., called on the state to distribute land to poor farmers

The City of Rome Expelled All Non-Roman Citizens (except Slaves)

98 BCE

There was a dramatic point in Roman history when non-Romans were no longer allowed to stay in Rome, and all non-Romans except slaves were expelled from the city

Pompey in the East

62 BCE

in 66 BC Pompey succeeded to the command against the long-term enemy of Rome

Rome Introduces the Gold Coin, the Aureus

50 BCE

Rome introduced its first gold coin in 50 BC called the “aureus” which was valued at 25 silver denarii

first dictator

45 BCE

Julius Caesar becomes the first dictator of Rome

Julius Caesar assassination

44 BCE

Julius Caesar is assassinated on the Ides of March by Marcus Brutus. They hope to bring back the republic, but civil war breaks out.

Augustus reintroduces monarchy to Rome

31 BCE

Institutions designed for a small city-state could not rule a world empire. Above all, vast military campaigns required generals who commanded armies over wide territories for several years. By the last century BC, these generals would lead their armies against Rome and each other

first roman emperor

27 BCE

Caesar Augustus becomes emperor

rome burns

64

Emperor Nero watched the city burn while playing a lyre

Colosseum is built

80

It can seat 50,000 spectators

Hadrian Wall is built

121

keep out the barbarians a long wall is built across northern England

war

200

as early as A.D. 200, wars in East Asia set off a chain of events that would eventually overwhelm Rome, thousands of miles to the west.

the third century crisis

235

In the 50 years between AD 235 and 284, the Roman empire suffered chronic political and military instability. Amid endemic civil wars and defeats at the hands of barbarians, emperors came and went with bewildering rapidity. The average reign was no more than 18 months, and many survived for much shorter periods

Constantine becomes Emperor

306

Constantine would convert to Christianity and Rome would become a Christian empire. Prior to this Rome persecuted the Christians

Constantine converts to Christianity

312

At the battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312, the emperor Constantine sent his troops into combat with crosses painted on their shields. By the end of his life, he claimed that before the battle he had experienced a vision in which he was given the divine command: “in this sign conquer”. Constantine’s conversion to Christianity had a profound effect on European, and world, history

games abolished

393

the Olympic games lasted 11 centuries, long after the Greek city-states were conquered by Rome. in A.D. 393, however, the games were abolished.

rome splits

395

Rome splits into two empires

Visigoths sack Rome

410

first time in 800 years that the city of Rome has fallen to an enemy

fall of ancient rome

476

The last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus is defeated by the German Goth Odoacer. This signals the start of the Dark Ages in Europe