Ancient Rome By TheCosmicApple 509 BCE Roman republic is founded 449 BCE The law of 12 tables is instituted 218 BCE Hannibal invades Italy 73 BCE The Spartacus slave uprising 45 BCE Julius Cesar becomes dictator 44 BCE Julius Caesar is assassinated 27 BCE Augustus becomes the first emperor of Rome 38 Emporor Caligula's reign begins 64 Great fire of Rome 80 Construction of the Colosseum is completed Period: 96 to 180 Age of the five good emperors 165 Antonine plauge 330 Capital of the empire is moved to Constantinople 380 Empire converts to christanity 410 Sack of Rome