-
The Bronze Age is characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. A Bronze Age begins either with a civilization smelting their own copper and alloying it with other metals (tin, arsenic, etc.), or trading items for bronze that was produced elsewhere. Bronze is harder and more durable than other metals available at the time. -
New peoples crossed the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, with some evidence of violent displacement. These people were originally nomadic/herdsmen, used horses, and worked with bronze. These Italic peoples/tribes are the Sabines, Umbrians, Latins, Samnites, and Oscans
-
The first traces of the Etruscan civilization date all the way back to 1200 BCE
-
-
-
Also known as the Regal Period, the "Age of Kings ran from the founding of Rome in 753 BCE to 509 BCE when the Republic was abolished. The regal period is a time in which myth, oral tradition, and history are blended together.
-
Cumae, near modern day Naples, was the first established Greek settlement on mainland Italy. It was founded by settlers from Euboea, and soon became one of the strongest colonies. The colony was officially abandoned in 1207 CE
-
Etruscan inscriptions have been found and dated to as far back as 750 BCE, where it is explained that the Etruscans borrowed alphabetic writing from the Greeks, and become the first people in Italy to write their language
-
During 616-579 BCE, Rome was ruled by its first, legendary Etruscan king, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus -
Naples was originally founded as Neapolis ("New City") by the Ancient Greeks. -
Monarchy was abolished in 510 BCE due to the tyranny of the Etruscan King Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, who was responsible for the Rape of Lucretia -
The Roman Republic was founded in 509 BCE and was dissolved in 27 BCE when the Senate granted "extraordinary powers" to Octavian as Augustus
-
By 270 BCE, all Etruscan cities had lost their independence, but continued to prosper under Roman rule
-
Under General Sulla, Pompei became a Roman Colony with the name of Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompei -
-
After Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE, Octavius was named in Caesar's will as his adopted son and heir, and thus inherited Caesar's name, estate, and loyalty of his legions. He, Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate to defeat the assassins of Caesar -
The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the War of the Second Triumvirate between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian, and the leaders of Julius Caesar's assassination, Brutus, and Cassius. The Second Triumvirate declared civil war to avenge Caesar, but was also caused by a long-brewing conflict between the "Optimates" and the "Populares"
-
A naval battle fought between a maritime fleet of Octavian led by Marcus Agrippa, and the combined fleets of both Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII. This took place in the Ionian Sea, near the former Roman colony of Actium, Greece. Octavian was victorious after following Antony and his forces' retreat, and defeating them in Alexandria on August 1, 30 BCE, after which Mark Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide. This victory enabled Octavian to consolidate his power over Rome. -
Historians generally view Augustus's consolidation of power and the adoption of the honorifics that followed his victory at Actium as the end of the Roman Republic, and the beginning of the Roman Empire -
Upon his return to Rome after the Battle of Actium, Octavian adopted the title of Princeps ("first citizen"), and in 27 BCE, was granted the title of Augustus by the Roman Senate.
-
-
The fire began in the merchant shops around the Circus Maximus, and was brought under control after the sixth day of burning, but before the damage could be assessed, it reignited and burned for another three days. It was rumored that Nero had ordered the fire to be set, in order to clear space for a new palace: the Domus Aurea -
-
-
-
-