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650 BCE
Etruscans Rule Rome
After 650 BC the etruscans expanded into north-central Italy and came to control Rome. They found Rome a village but launched a building project that turned it into a city.The Etruscans had a great impact on fashion in Rome including the toga and short cloak. The organization of the Romas army was borrowed form the Etruscans. The last 3 kings of Rome were Etruscans so it is led to believe that the fall of Rome was under Etruscan influence. -
284 BCE
Political Upheavals
235-284 AD
Almost 50 years, the Roman throne was occupied by whoever had military strength to seize it. There were 22 emperors. Many met a violent death.Empire was trouble by a series of invasions. In east, the Sassanid Persians made inroads into Roman territory. Germanic tribes poured into the Balkans, Gaul, and Spain. Boundaries weren't restored till the end of 3rd century. -
261 BCE
The 1st Punic War
Rome's 1st war with Carthage began in 264 BC. It started when the Roman army went to Sicily but the Carthaginians thought Sicily was part of their empire and considered it war. The Romans decided to create a Navy to defeat the Carthaginian Navy off the coast of Sicily. Rome succeeded and the war ended in 261 BC. Carthage wanted revenge.. They first added new lands in Spain to make up for loosing Sicily. http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/punic-wars/videos -
201 BCE
The 2nd Punic War
The romans encouraged one of the Carthage's Spanish allies to revolt, so the carthage general, Hannibal struck back causing the 2nd Punic War in 218 BC. Hannibal entered Spain and crossed the Alps with 46,000 men. In 216 BC the Romans decided to face Hannibal. At Canne the Romans lost 40,000 men but didn't surrender. The Romans began to gain back lost land, The Romans went to Spain and by 206 BC had pushed the Carthaginians out. Rome invaded Carthage in 202 BC the Romans crushed Carthage forces -
146 BCE
The 3rd Punic War
Romans wanted complete destruction of Carthage calling for the 3rd Punic War beginning in 149 B.C. For 10 days Romans burned and destroyed buildings and sold almost 50,000 Carthaginians into salvery. After 7 days of bloodshed the Carthaginians surrendered obliterating an ancient city that and survived for 700 years. In 146 B.C Carthage was destroyed. Carthage became a Roman province which is now Africa. -
71 BCE
Slave Revolts
Slaves revolted against their owners and even murdered them. The murder of their master by a slave might mean the execution of all other household slaves. In 73 B.C Spartacus held the most famous slave revolt in Italy. Spartacus managed to defeat several Roman armies before ebbing trapped and killed in 71 B.C -
60 BCE
The 1st Triumvirate
Caesar joined with Crassus and Pompey to form the 1st Triumvirate. Pompey had power in Spain and Crassus was given a command in Syria. Caesar has military command in Gaul. Crassus died in battle, Pompey and Caesar were left w the power. Caesar started a civil war between his forces and those of Pompey and his allies. Caesar was officially made dictator. -
43 BCE
The 2nd Triumvirate
Caesar was dead. Octavian (grandnephew), Antony (assistant), Lepidus (Caesar's cavalry) joined the make the 2nd Triumvirate. Few yrs. later only 2 men divided the Roman world between them, Octavian (west) and Antony (east). Roman empire was too small for 2 masters. They both came into conflict. Antony allied himself with the Egyptian Queen and had fallen in love with her. Octavian's forces smashed the army and navy of Antony and the Queen. Both fled to Egypt and killed themselves. Octavian ruled -
Period: 31 BCE to 14
The Age of Augustus
Began in 31 BCE. His name was Octavian and then was changed to Augustus. Augustus was very popular among the people. He maintained a huge army of 150,000 men. He tried to conquer Germany and lost, forcing Augustus to realize that Rome's power was not unlimited. The Age of Augustus produced great literature from poets such as Virgil and Mantua. During his 56 year reign he stabilized the frontiers, instituted many social programs, and restored morale. When he died he was given the title of a god. -
40
The Gospels Begin to be Written
The Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, was also known as the "good news", were the accounts of the Christian prophet Jesus life. During this time Christians were being persecuted in the empire and under Nero they were blamed for the burning of Rome. They were persecuted because they wouldn't worship the emperor as a god, but despite this Christianity continued to grow. Christian churches were inmost of the major cities. The Christian religion was attractive to all social classes. -
80
The Roman Colosseum Opens
The Roman colosseum was 620 feet by 513 ft, with 3 stories of arches. It was the first free standing colosseum of the time. Gladiator fights, naval battles, wild animal fights, and hunts were held here for the enjoyment of the entire city of Rome. People would spend entire days watching the events held here and enjoyed watching the suffering. Christians resented these events claiming that violence and brutality were inhuman. -
100
Spread of Christianity
Christianity began as a movement with Jerusalem. After the reports that Jesus had overcome death, Christians won followers in Jerusalem, Judea, and Galilee. Teachings of early christianity were passed on orally. Paul and other followers of Jesus had written letters, outlining christian beliefs for communities they had helped found around the eastern Mediterranean. By 100 christian churches had been established in most of the major cities of the easter empire and some places in the western empire -
313
Constantine the First Christian Emperor
Constantine became the first Christian emperor in 313 AD.He claims he found Jesus on the battlefield and credits him for his victory. He issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, which gave religious tolerance to Christianity. Churches were freely built through the empire and Christians worshipped publicly without fear. Christianity had already been rapidly spreading through Rome and due to the Edict of Milan and a Christian ruler, it was now more widespread than ever before. -
476
The Fall of the Roman Empire
The empire was still divided into western and eastern parts, and this caused many problems between the two parts. The Western half started receiving pressure from invaders, the Huns invaded and pushed the Visigoths into Rome. The Visigoths became Roman allies but soon revolted in 378 and defeated rome. In 476 the another germanic tribe, the Vandals, overthrew the Roman emperor and Rome fell soon after.
