Timeline: Ancient Rome

264 BCE

Punic Wars

Three wars fought between Rome and Carthage over Rome wanting to expand the empire into Sicily, from 264-146 BC. Rome gained control of Sicily and Corsica as a result.

197 BCE

Battle of Cynoscephalae

Fought in Thessaly between the Roman army and the Macedonians. Macedonian casualties were 8000 killed and 5000 captured. Roman casualties were 700 killed and 2000 wounded. This was the first time Romans were victorious over Macedonia

135 BCE

First Servile War

Unsuccessful slave rebellion against the Roman republic from 135-132BC. Minor battles were won by slaves but the larger Roman army arrived and defeated the slaves. It was the first of three slave revolts.

124 BCE

Second Servile War

Unsuccessful slave rebellion against the Roman republic from 124-100BC. The war occurred on the island of Sicily because of the abuse slaves faced by the Romans.

100 BCE

Julius Caesar

Ruled from 100-44BC. Greatly improved Rome's economy, decreased the number of unemployed, and expanded the area of the Roman Empire.

73 BCE

Third Servile War

The War of Spartacus lasted from 73-71 BC. only slave revolt to threaten Italy. The rebels were led by Spartacus while the Roman Republic was led by Marcus Crassus. 30,000 slave lives were lost, 6000 crucified by Marcus Crassus and another 5000 by Pompey while 10,000 Roman soldiers were killed. Spartacus was never found.

66 BCE

Roman Persian Wars

Conflicts between Rome and Iranian empires lasting from 66BC to 628 AD. The Roman Empire survived the assault but lost its territories in Crete and Southern Italy before regaining the area again

58 BCE

Battle of Vosges

Julius Caesar led the Roman troops against a German tribe in France in the third battle of the Gallic Wars. Caesar secured the German border and continued to advance.

57 BCE

Battle of Axona

Part of the Gallic Wars. Rome led by Julius Caesar forcing the Belgic army to retreat. Caesar continued the Roman quest to expand in Europe.

54 BCE

Crassus

Part of First Triumvirate with Ceasar and Pompey 54-53BC. Transformation of the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. Governor of Roman Syria.

52 BCE

Pompey

Formed the First Triumvirate with Caesar and Crassus from 52-51 BC. Conquerer of the Orient.

49 BCE

Mark Antony

Tribune to Caesar in 49BC. Formed the Second Triumvirate with Octavian. Had an affair with Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Killed himself because he thought Cleopatra already had killed herself after fleeing Octavian and Greece.

46 BCE

Lepidus

Consul Roman Republic 46BC. Triumvirate 43-36BC. Consul 42BC. Weak and indecisive member of the Second Triumvirate

41 BCE

Claudius

Roman Emperor from 41-54AD. First emperor who accepted bribes to gain army loyalty. Restored the status of peaceful provinces of Macedonia and Achaea.

31 BCE

Battle of Actium

Decisive confrontation of the final war of the Roman Republic. Naval battle between Mark Antony/Cleopatra and Octavian on the Ionian Sea. Octavian was victorious and began the Roman Empire and the title of Augustus.

27 BCE

Augustus/Octavian

Ruled 27BC-14AD. Initiated Pax Romana time of peace. Founded the principate. Recionstruction and social reform in the city.

49

Caesar's Civil War

The Great Roman Civil War from 49-45BC. One of the last conflicts before the establishment of the Roman Empire. Caesar was victorious over the Roman Senate and was declared dictator of the Roman Empire.

54

Nero

Ruled from 54-68. More independence for the Senate. Forbade contests involving bloodshed, banned capital punishment, reduced taxes, granted slaves to make complaints.