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753 BCE
The Founding of Rome
According to Roman stories passed down for generations, Rome was founded in 753 B.C.E. It was founded in present-day Italy by the brothers Romulus and Remus. It began as a collection of huts on the top of hills and was ruled by seven kings. -
Period: 509 BCE to 264 BCE
The Roman Republic
In approximately 509 B.C.E., Rome transitioned from a monarchy to a republican government. The Romans felt threatened by neighboring peoples and saw it necessary to become a Republic in order to properly deal with the foreign opposition they were facing. Much of the government's politics emerged from the social classes and issues within the community, which determined how Rome was run for over two hundred years. -
450 BCE
The Twelve Tables of Law
Originally, there had been inequalities in the social class side of Rome. There were mainly two classes that the citizens were divided into. The higher of the two classes possessed all of the political power in society and the lower of the two classes had to follow the others. Finally, after a rebellion of sorts by the lower class, they were given more power in the community. As a result, the lower class created the Twelve Tables of Law, which was a list of new laws that were to be followed. -
Period: 149 BCE to 146 BCE
The Final War with Carthage
After already winning two wars with Carthage, the Roman government felt pressure from its citizens to lead a conquest to completely destroy Carthage once and for all. The leaders complied, and from 149 B.C.E. to 146 B.C.E., they led an intense military campaign where they completely decimated Carthage and its citizens. They destroyed absolutely everyone and everything in sight to ensure that Carthage would be defeated indefinitely. As far as I know, no Carthaginians survived. -
80 BCE
Colosseum
The famous Roman Colosseum was finished in 80 B.C.E. This great arena is one of Rome's most well-known monuments because of its size and history. The Colosseum was used by the Romans as a place where gladiators fought great beasts and each other in an attempt to save their lives. This was all done for the entertainment of the emperor and the Roman citizens and has changed the history of Rome from then on. -
73 BCE
The Revolt of Spartacus
The largest and most well-known Roman revolt in the Italian peninsula took place in 73 B.C.E. The rebellion was lead by a Thracian gladiator named Spartacus. He led 70,000 slaves in this revolt and successfully defeated multiple Roman armies. Finally, he was defeated in southern Italy in 71 B.C.E. He was trapped and killed, along with 7,000 of his men who were crucified as was the tradition during that time. -
Period: 70 BCE to 19 BCE
Virgil the Poet
Virgil was one of the most successful and famous poets of the Augustan Age. He began his writing by referencing Augustus himself and Virgil's first work was in his honor. Virgil's real claim-to-fame was his work titled The Aeneid. It was a piece that was made specifically to rival Homer himself. It was the story of Aeneas, who was supposed to represent the ideal Roman. Virgil is known as one of the greatest writers in Roman history. -
Period: 31 BCE to 14
The Age of Augustus
Octavian Augustus Caesar ruled Rome from 31 B.C.E. to 14 C.E. He is praised for being an efficient leader who accomplished many things while ruling. He modified the Roman government, increased the army's size and led successful military campaigns, and initiated reforms that were in favor of the community's welfare. He is said to be one of the most accomplished leaders in Roman history. -
Period: 6 BCE to 30
Jesus of Nazareth
I know that the book didn't talk about Jesus very much, but I think that he played an important role in the history of Rome and spread of Christianity. Jesus, along with his disciples, preached the Bible and news of Christianity to everyone they could. This affected the religious status of Rome and its citizens. Plus, Jesus went as far as to face persecution and ultimately die for his cause. -
Period: 96 to 180
The Good Emperors
From 96 C.E. to 180 C.E., five consecutive emperors took their turns ruling Rome and have since been named "The Five Good Emperors". These rulers did an excellent job of unifying Rome as a whole again, stabilizing the economy, and put in place building projects that would become successful outlets for art and culture. These emperors are praised for their leadership abilities and accomplishments while in power.
