ancient roman empire By ljtur17 509 BCE roman republic is founded 449 BCE the law of the 12 tables is instituted 218 BCE hannibal invades italy 73 BCE the spartacus slave uprising 45 BCE julius caesar becomes dictator 27 BCE augustus becomes the first emporer of rome 38 emporer caligulas reign begins 64 great fire of rome 80 construction of the colosseum is completed 165 antonnie plague 330 capital of the empire is moved to constanople 380 emporer converts to christianity 410 sack of rome 96,180 age of the five good emporers