Roman Empire

By clairedycat125
  • Period: 27 BCE to 14

    Augustus's Rule

    Augustus became the first emperor and began the Julio-Claudian dynasty. He had the second longest reign of all Roman Emperors, and was largely popular in the empire. His reign began the Pax Romana period.
  • 19 BCE

    Aeneid is Published

    Virgil’s epic the Aeneid is published, which represents a high point in literature during the early empire.
  • 12 BCE

    Major Point in Germanic Wars

    Roman forces cross the Rhine into Germania, marking one of the major points in the Germanic Wars in the First Century BC.
  • 4 BCE

    Jesus is Born

    Jesus is born in Bethlehem, a city in the Judean province of the empire, to Mary and Joseph.
  • Period: 14 to 37

    Tiberius's Rule

    Tiberius, Augustus’ adopted heir, adopted similar logic and policy as Augustus; however, his reign was plagued by political trouble from Germanicus in the North. He was in the Julio-Claudian Dynasty.
  • 32

    Jesus is Crucified

    Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem, thus starting the biggest religious movement in the history of the world which would eventually consume all of the Roman empire.
  • Period: 37 to 41

    Caligula's Rule

    Caligula is remembered as one of the worst Roman emperors because of his insanity, cruelty, and extravagance. He was the first emperor to be undoubtedly assassinated. He was in the Julio- Claudian Dynasty.
  • Period: 41 to 54

    Claudius's Rule

    Claudius (Caligula’s uncle) was proclaimed the emperor after Caligula’s assassination. Famous for improving Rome’s infrastructure and invading Britain, Claudius died either naturally or by poison from his wife. He was in the Julio-Claudian Dynasty.
  • 43

    Claudius Invades Britain

    Claudius invades Britain, which marks a long struggle by Rome to claim the island ultimately ending with only a partial capture.
  • Period: 54 to 68

    Nero's Rule

    Nero is considered one of (if not the) worst Roman emperor. Hated by the middle and upper class because of his high taxes, Nero committed suicide after being declared an enemy of Rome, thus ending the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The first Christian persecutions happened under him after he blamed The Great Fire of Rome on them.
  • 64

    The Great Fire of Rome

    The Great Fire of Rome ravages the city, completely destroying three of its fourteen districts. The public blamed Nero, who used the fire as an opportunity to rebuild the destroyed sections to his liking; however, Nero turned the blame on Christians, beginning the first Roman Christian persecution.
  • 65

    Peter and Paul Martyred

    Peter and Paul are martyred under Nero’s rule, marking the high point of the first major Christian persecution in the empire.
  • Period: 66 to 73

    First Jewish Revolt

    The First Jewish revolt begins in 66 due to ethnic and political tensions and experiences initial success; however, it is doomed to failure once Vespasian takes control of the Roman effort. The Second Temple is destroyed in 70 AD, and the remains are used to start construction on the Colosseum.
  • Period: 68 to 69

    Galba's Rule

    Galba was the first of the emperors in the Year of the Four Emperors (69 AD). After seizing power when Nero was assassinated, he was murdered in a coup. He was also in the Julio-Claudian Dynasty.
  • 69

    Otho's Ruling and Death

    Otho committed suicide after he was defeated at the Battle of Bedriacum by his rival, Vitellius. He was in the Year of the Four Emperors and the Julio-Claudian Dynasty.
  • 69

    Vitellius's Ruling and Death

    Vitellius was murdered by Vespasian's troops only months after he seized power, thus ending the Year of Four Emperors. He was in the Julio-Claudian Dynasty.
  • Period: 69 to 79

    Vespasian's Rule

    Vespasian (founded of the Flavian dynasty) seized power after Vitellius was killed. He is known for his building projects (such as the Colosseum) and reform of the Roman financial system. He was also in the Year of the Four Emperors.
  • 70

    Construction on the Colosseum

    Construction on the Colosseum begins under Vespasian and finishes under Titus in 72.
  • 79

    Mount Vesuvius Erupts

    Mount Vesuvius in Southern Italy (near Naples) erupts, burying the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Excavations of the cities began in the eighteenth century, which open windows in ancient Roman life
  • Period: 79 to 81

    Titus's Rule

    Titus, the son of Vespasian, continued the Flavian dynasty. Although he ruled for a short time, he was considered a good emperor with some accomplishments, such as completing the Colosseum.
  • Period: 81 to 96

    Domitian's Rule

    Domitian, the son of Vespasian, continued the Flavian dynasty. He is known for his military conquests in Britain and Dacia (modern day Romania), authoritarian rule, rebuilding of Rome, and harsh persecution of Christians and Jews. Domitian was assassinated by court officials, who did not appreciate his authoritarian rule.
  • Period: 96 to 98

    Nerva's Rule

    Nerva was appointed by the Senate effectively ending the Flavian Dynasty. Nerva reversed Domitian’s harsh persecution, and chose Trajan, a popular general as his heir. He is known as the first of the Five Good Emperors.
  • Period: 98 to 117

    Trajan's Rule

    Trajan is remembered as one of best Roman emperors. Extremely popular because of his military success, Trajan was chosen as the heir to Nerva. Trajan developed laws regarding Christian existence and persecution. Known for his huge building programs, welfare programs, and huge empire expansions, Trajan was insanely popular and died of natural causes. He was one of the Five Good Emperors.
  • 101

    Trajan Invades Dacia

    Trajan invades Dacia (modern day Romania) starting an on and off conflict that lasted until 107 AD when Rome incorporated Dacia as a province, also marking one of the last major land gains by the Roman Empire.
  • 112

    Trajan's Forum and Trajan's Column

    Trajan begins some of his greatest building projects, including Trajan’s Forum and Trajan’s column.
  • 115

    The Bar Kokhba Revolt

    The Jews in the Judaea province revolt again in the Bar Kokhba Revolt because of ongoing religious and political tensions. The revolt ends in 117.
  • 117

    Rome's Greatest Territorial Extent

    Rome reaches its greatest territorial extent because of Trajan’s unmatched leadership and military campaigns.
  • Period: 117 to 138

    Hadrian's Rule

    Hadrian was Trajan’s adopted heir and continued the flourishing policy of Trajan. Known for his travels across the empire, Hadrian’s most notable construction is Hadrian’s wall in Northern Britain. He died of natural causes in 138. He was one of the Five Good Emperor's.
  • 122

    Construction on Hadrian's Wall

    Construction begins on Hadrian’s Wall, a 74 mile long wall in Northern England that separated Roman Britain from the Northern tribes.
  • Period: 138 to 161

    Antoninus Pius's Rule

    Antoninus Pius was Hadrian’s adopted heir. Known as one of the most peaceful emperors, no known military conquests happened during his reign. Antoninus Pius also died of natural causes in 161. He was one of the Five Good Emperors.
  • Period: 161 to 180

    Marcus Aurelius's Rule

    Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Five Good Emperors and the last emperor of the Pax Romana. Known for his stoic philosophy and literature, persecution of Christians became a popular idea. Marcus Aurelius also fought a slew of conflicts in Germany and the Middle East. He died of natural causes in 180.
  • 165

    The Antonine Plague Begins

    The Antonine Plague begins with soldiers returning from the Roman-Parthian War. One of the biggest recorded pandemics of the ancient world, it killed five million people and didn’t end until 180.