Ancient Rome Timeline By Nathan Le 753 BCE Legendary founding Rome by Romulus Period: 753 BCE to 509 BCE Roman Kingdom 752 BCE Legendary founding Rome by Romulus 535 BCE Tarquinius Superbus becomes the 5th king of Rome 509 BCE Uprising against Tarquinius Superbus, which leads to the establishment of the Roman Republic Period: 509 BCE to 27 BCE Roman Republic Period: 264 BCE to 241 BCE First Punic War 241 BCE Roman victory in the First Punic War Period: 218 BCE to 201 BCE Second Punic War 216 BCE Battle of Cannae 202 BCE Battle of Zama and Roman victory in the Second Punic War Period: 149 BCE to 146 BCE Third Punic War 146 BCE Roman victory in the Third Punic War and complete destruction of the city of Carthage 60 BCE Julius Caesar expands Roman army and influence in Gaul 49 BCE Julius Caesar cross the Rubicon river and starts the Roman Civil War 44 BCE Julius Caesar declared himself dictator for life 44 BCE Julius Caesar is assassinated 27 BCE Octavian, Julius Caesar’s nephew, wins the civil war between himself and Antony, and is made imperator. Changes name to Augustus Period: 27 BCE to 476 Roman Empire 33 Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth 64 The Great Fire of Rome 79 Eruption of Mt Vesuvius and destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum 80 The Colosseum opens in Rome 117 The Roman Empire reached its greatest size under the reign of Emperor Trajan 313 Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, accepting the practice of Christianity 323 Christianity becomes official religion of Roman Empire 360 Huns start to invade Rome 395 Empire divided into West and East under the rule of Emperor Diocletian 476 Ostrogoths raid Rome and force the last Western Emperor to give up power