Devan McAlister Ancient Rome

The Start of Rome

750 BCE

It all Started when twin brothers named Romulus and Remus were born. They were said to be found by a she-wolf who took care of the infants until they were found by a shepherd who adopted them. When they became adults they went on to develop the area where they were found. Then in a fight over the location, Romulus killed his brother and became the ruler of the settlement named after him "Rome."

Government

509 BCE

In 509 B.C.E the Romans drove out the Etruscans to set up a new government which they now call a republic. In a republic, officials are chosen by the people. There were 3 kinds of people: The Patricians, the Plebeians and the Tribunes. Patricians were the members of the landholding class. The plebeians were common people who had little political power. The Tribunes were known as the lower class.

Punic Wars

264 BCE

When the Punic Wars started, Rome already controlled the entire Italian Peninsula. In these wars, Rome fought with Carthage three times. Rome defeated Carthage and sold prisoners of war into slavery. At the end of the Punic Wars, Rome controlled all of Sicily, the western Mediterranean, much of Spain, and part of Northern Africa. People were allowed to keep customs and religion.

The Second Punic War

237 BCE

Hamilcar Barca established a new settlement in Spain. Made son swear a blood oath against Rome. He later crossed the Alps with 100k men

The path of world domination

207 BCE

One by one, Macedonia, Greece, and parts of Asia
Minor became Roman provinces as the Republic followed a policy of imperialism. Others, such as Egypt, allied themselves with Rome. By 133 B.C. Romans referred to the Mediterranean
as “Our Sea.”

The acception of Roman rules

63 BCE

During the Hellenistic age, many Jews had absorbed Greek culture and ideas. Most Jews accepted Roman rule after Judea fell in 63 B.C.

Republic to Empire

58 BCE

Julius Caesar and Pompey were two powerful consuls. They fought against each other for control of Rome. Caesar was a great general and won even more land for Rome. A brilliant military leader, Caesar was feared by other generals after his success. When the Senate ordered Caesar to disband his army, he instead led them across the Rubicon River and marched on Rome.

Growth of Roman Empire

44 BCE

A new class of wealthy generals, traders, and officials gained power in Rome. They bought up huge farming estates called latifundias and used captured slaves for labor.

Death of Cesar

44 BCE

Caeser died from being stabbed by a mob of his enemies. At this time he had reigned from 46 BC to 44 BC

Birth of Jesus

4 BCE

Jesus was born around 4 B.C. in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem. At age 30 he began preaching in villages near Galilee. His popularity grew with word of miracles such as healing the sick.

Octavian

27

1st emperor of the Empire adopted the son of Julius Caesar who killed the killers of his father and the other two members of the trio. He was also responsible for Pax Romana (a period of peace in Rome).

Nero

54

Nero burned the city so he could build his "pleasure palace". He then blamed the Christians for the crime, which is why most of them were killed. He then built his palace over most of the public land and using public money.

Collesium is built

80

The 160 feet tall structure was finished, but after Vespasian died. His son Titus continued construction and it was finished. At the Collesium animals were killed, prisoners were executed, gladiators fought, and there were even naval battles. Water from Nero's old lake pipes would fill the middle of the Collesium.

Rome splits

285

Diocletian split the Roman Empire to help the Emperors rule more efficiently. There would be one emperor for the east and one for the west.

Constantine

306

Constantine was the first Christian Emperor of Rome. He even helped the spread of Christianity throughout Rome. He defeated Maxentius at Milvian due to a vision sent by God, he grants legal rights to Christians, and makes them citizens, declares religious freedom for everyone, and allows Jews to be on Council. He also made Christianity the sole religion of Rome. Then in 324 CE he reunited Rome and moved the capital to Byzantium (Constantinople).

Fall of Rome

476

30 years after Constantine's death Rome split again. The eastern Roman empire was at war with Persia but would continue to thrive. On the other hand, the western Roman Empire was losing money due to having to constantly go to war, and there was a lot of internal conflicts. Mostly Germanic tribes took over Rome one by one. First Britain, then Spain, Northern Africa, Gaul and Italy, and lastly in 476 CE a Germanic prince (Odovacar) gained control of the Roman militia.