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753 BCE
Founding of Rome
According to Roman tradition, Romulus founded Rome after being raised by a she-wolf with his twin brother Remus. -
509 BCE
Establishment of the Roman Republic
After the last Etruscan king, Roman monarchy turned into an aristocratic republic. -
Period: 264 BCE to 146 BCE
Punic Wars
The Romans fought with the Carthaginians for Sicily where the main source of grain in the western Mediterranean is located. Eventually, the Romans defeated the Carthaginians, conquered their land, burned their city, and forced most of the survivors into slavery. Additionally, the Romans had to fight against the Antigonids and the Seleucids and won. Their victory over the Carthaginians, Antigonids, and Seleucids made them able to control both the western and eastern Mediterranean basin. -
132 BCE
Tiberius Gracchus's Assassination
Tiberius and his brother Gaius Gracchus tried to bring social reform to Rome, since the relations between the social class is tense. They believed that the amount of conquered land should be limited to a single individual and land that goes over the limit would cause the owner to lose some of his property. To prevent their influence, the Gracchi brothers' enemies had them killed. -
121 BCE
Gaius Gracchus's Assassination
*Look at discription under Tiberius Gracchus' Assassination. -
Period: 46 BCE to 44 BCE
Rule of Gaius Julius Caesar as Dictator
While recovering from a civil war, Gaius Julius Caesar gained many supporters by being an active role in politics and spending lots of money sponsoring public spectacles. With his power, he built an army to conquer Gaul and absorb it into the empire. However, as a ruler, he began to go against the people he lead since they started to realize that their republic was disappearing. Tired of his rule, some of the leaders murdered Caesar, but brought a new age of civil conflict that lasted 13 years. -
Period: 31 BCE to 14
Rule of Augustus
During the reign of Augustus (also named Octavian), he was able to defeat Mark Anthony and Cleopatra and create a government that lasted for about three centuries. Additionally, Augustus brought an era of peace called pax romana. -
4 BCE
Birth of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, creator of Christianity, grew up during a time of high tension between the Roman rulers and Jewish subjects. He is said to be wise and possess amazing powers like healing the sick. -
Period: 66 to 70
Jewish War
The Jews rebelled against the Roman and Seleucid rulers as they continued to conquer lands in the eastern Mediterranean, but the Romans were able to defeat them.
