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650 BCE
The Etruscans Rule Rome
The Etruscans created building programs that turned Rome into a proper city. Fashion trends (like the toga and short cloak) were initiated by the Etruscans. The Roman army was first modeled after the Etruscan army. Etruscan kings over Rome constructed canals as well as stone infrastructure and buildings. When the last Etruscan King was overthrown, the Republic of Rome was established. -
450 BCE
The Twelve Tables
The Twelve Tables was the first code of laws in Rome. It is the earliest piece of Roman literature surviving today. The tables were originally written upon bronze tablets and were created only to address the needs of a small farming society. As Rome grew, a new system would become necessary and would be put into place. The Twelve Tables still established the law that Roman culture would adopt in the future, the same law that would be used in multiple nations to come long after Rome's fall. -
264 BCE
The First Punic War (264 - 261 B.C.)
It was a change in the allegiance of Sicily that sparked this war. Sicily was under attack from Syracuse, and they asked Carthage for help. When Carthage refused, they turned to Rome. Outraged, Carthage then sided against Rome and the two declared war on each other over Sicily. Carthage's tactics relied heavily on the navy. At this time, the Romans had no navy, but they used land tactics to defeat Carthage in the First Punic War. -
218 BCE
The Second Punic War (218 - 201 B.C.)
The second war erupted from Carthaginian resentment and provocation towards Rome. Carthaginian General Hannibal seized the city of Saguntum, a Roman ally. Rome demanded Hannibal be delivered to them for punishment, but Carthage refused. Thus, the second war began. Hannibal began a campaign across the Alps where he was met head on by the Romans in a bloody battle with great loss. After strategic power-plays and retreats, Rome pushed Hannibal out of Italy and Carthage was defeated. -
149 BCE
The Third Punic War (149 - 146 B.C.)
After 50 years of compliance to the treaty that resulted from the second punic war, Carthage went to war with Numidia and lost terribly, becoming even further indebted. Rome saw this unsanctioned war as a threat to peace. Romans insisted that Carthage be destroyed. When Carthage wouldn't comply, the Third Punic War began. The war was brief and an easy Roman victory. During a ten day siege in 146 B.C., Rome obliterated Carthage, which would remain in ruins until after Julius Caesar. -
98 BCE
The "Five Good Emperors" of the Pax Romana
The 5 good emperors go down in history as the 5 best rulers that Rome ever had.Saw the height of Roman glory & power in the ancient world w/their diff. achievement & skills.Great men of action,thinkers,builders,wise,& beneficial rulers.Are Nerva,Trajan, Hadrian,Pius &Aurelius.Roman civilization was @ its best & highest stage of development.Did all they could for the good of the empire & its citizens.Rome has statues dedicated to them.Right emperors for that time&period=Pax Romana/peace -
73 BCE
Spartacus
The slave revolt that Spartacus led was the most famous slave revolt in Italy. The revolt started in southern Italy and included about 70,000 slaves. Spartacus defeated several Roman armies before he was captured and killed in 71 B.C., 6,000 of his followers were crucified. -
60 BCE
The 1st triumvirate
The 1st triumvirate was a political alliance btwn 3 powerful generals in the roman republic: Caesar, Crassus, & Pompey. Btwn Caesar’s great fame, Crassus’ wealth (defeated Spartacus), and Pompey’s influence/power over the military the 3 were a force to be reckoned with. The triumvirs gave themselves lands to rule over: Syria, Illyrica & Gaul ,Spain. Power, greed, & jealousy led to conflict & war w/each other. Soon it ended allowing others to rise to power (from 60 BCE – 53 BCE). -
43 BCE
The 2nd Triumvirate
After the murder of Caesar the 2nd triumvirate emerged: 1. Lepidus 2. Antony - took east 3. Octavian - took west.Differences among them arose & tension built. Octavian defeated Lepidus in a battle & then went after Antony who had fell in love w/the queen of Egypt Cleopatra & eventually married her.@ the battle of Actium Octavian's army defeated the navy of Antony & Cleopatra who later both committed suicide.@ 32 Octavian stood supreme over the roman world thus the age of Augustus began -
27 BCE
The Age of Augustus
The founder of the R.E & the 1st Roman emperor was Augustus/revered one & saw a big expansion in the R.E. Later declared a god & reigned for 40 yrs. Brought tranquility to the land & started to rebuild much of the city & the empire. Constructed many roads, gov. buildings, bridges, & aqueducts. Ended the Republic rule & gave supreme power to the Emperor thus creating a new system of gov. & reformed taxation. Overall he rebuilt the R.E. into 1 that was secure & fruitful -
80
The Roman Colosseum Opens
The colosseum officials opened in A.D. 80. It was known at the time as the Flavian Amphitheater. The Colosseum was open for 100 days of events a year. Those events included gladiator fights(gladiators were usually slaves, criminals or prisoners of war), wild animal fights and sometimes mock naval battles in order for that to happen they had to fill the Colosseum up with water. The Colosseum seated up to 50,000 people but they were most likely packed in there. -
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313
Constantine, the 1st Christian Emperor
Constantine became the 1st emperor to become a christian. It is possible that members of his family were christians. It is said that Constantine's conversion to christianity came when he fought in the battle of Milvian Bridge. He says that he received instructions to have the christian symbol on his troops shields. After this Constantine issued the edict of Milan, which said to have official tolerance of Christianity. -
476
Fall of the Roman Empire
The fall of the Roman Empire came after the rule of Diocletian and Constantine. The empire was divided into 2 parts, the east and the west. Rome had been invaded by several groups of people including The Huns- who came from Asia and The Visigoths- which were a Germanic tribe who crossed the Danube river. Eventually all of this ted to the Western emperor Romulus Augustus being overthrown by the head of the Visigoths' army. This is recorded as the official fall of the Roman Empire.
