Ancient Rome Timeline

One of the greatest and most significant civilizations in human history was the Roman Empire. It started at Rome in 753 BC, and it lasted for well over a thousand years. Rome expanded throughout this period and came to dominate most of Western Asia, Northern Africa, and Europe. Here is a timeline of some of the significant occasions in Ancient Rome’s history.

753 BC –
Rome is founded as a city. According to legend, the city was established by Romulus and Remus, the twin sons of Mars, the war god. Romulus overthrew Remus, took control of Rome, and gave the capital city his name. The next 240 years saw rulers in charge of Rome.

509 BC –
Rome gains republican status. Rome is today governed by senators, who were elected when the last king was deposed. There is a complex republican government with a constitution with laws.

218 BC –
Invading Italy is Hannibal. In his infamous journey across the Alps to assail Rome, Hannibal commands the Carthaginian army. Part of the Second Punic War includes this.

73 BC –
The slave rebellion is led by the gladiator Spartacus.

45 BC –
As the first dictator of Rome, Julius Caesar. In order to take over as the only ruler of Rome, Caesar performs his renown Crossing of the Rubicon and defeats Pompey in a civil war. The Roman Republic is over as a result of this.

44 BC –
Marcus Brutus kills Julius Caesar on the Ides of March. In an effort to restore the republic, civil war breaks out.

27 BC –
Caesar Augustus becomes the first Roman Emperor, ushering in the Roman Empire.

64 AD –
Rome is largely on fire. According to legend, Emperor Nero played the lyre while he observed the city burn.

80 AD –
The Colosseum is constructed. One of the finest works of Roman engineering has been completed. There are seats for 50,000 people.

121 AD –
Buildup of the Hadrian Wall. A substantial wall is erected across northern England to keep the barbarians out.

306 AD –
Constantine ascends to the throne. Rome would become a Christian empire after Constantine’s conversion to Christianity. Rome had previously persecuted Christians.

380 AD –
Theodosius I declare that the Roman Empire only tolerates Christianity.

395 AD –
Two empires splinter out from Rome.

410 AD –
Rome is taken by the Visigoths. For the first time in 800 years, Rome has been conquered by an enemy.

476 AD –
The dissolution of Ancient Rome and the end of the Western Roman Empire. The German Goth Odoacer defeats Romulus Augustus, the final Roman Emperor. This marks the beginning of Europe’s Dark Ages.

1453 AD –
The Ottoman Empire conquers the Byzantine Empire, bringing an end to it.