-
700 BCE
Birth of Rome
There are two versions on how Rome was founded. The truth is that Latins first built a tiny village on top of the Palatine hill. This city grew, flourished and eventually became Rome. The myth has it that the twins Romulus and Remus, sons of the god Mars, were left to die, but they were saved by a wolf. When the twins grew up, they decided to build two cities. While Romulus was building his city Remus teased him about his walls. So Romulus killed Remus and became the king. The city became Rome. -
Period: 616 BCE to 509 BCE
Patricians and Plebeians in Rome under the rule of Etruscans
Between 616 and 509 B.C.E., the Etruscans ruled Rome. A Roman person named Lucius Junius Brutus led a revolt in Rome against the Etruscans and they managed to overthrow them. -
509 BCE
The Patricians Created a Republic
In 509 B.C., Romans revolted against their Etruscan leaders. A group of patricians created a republic to serve the patricians, but not the plebeians. They also had a senate with 300 patricians
Two elected leaders called consuls shared command of the army. The Senate was supposed to advise the consuls. The creation of the republic gave Rome a more democratic government, but only the patricians could participate in that government. -
509 BCE
After the Etruscans Rule
After the Romans overthrew Etruscan's Rome was split into two groups, patricians and plebeians. The plebeians were plentiful, poor, forced to serve in the army, and had little say in the government. On the contrary, the patricians were rich and had much say in the government. The patricians started a Senate with 300 members who created all the laws. They also voted for two consuls which were the leaders of the military. -
494 BCE
Protest of the Plebeians
Unhappy with their situation, the plebeians protested on a hill near Rome in 494 B.C.. Without farmers to produce food and no one to serve in the army, the patricians panicked and came to an agreement with the plebeians. The protest led to a big change in the Roman government. The patricians allowed the plebeians to elect officials called the Tribunes of the Plebs. The tribunes spoke to the Senate for the plebeians. They also had a law-making body, but the laws only affected the plebeians. -
Period: 494 BCE to 287 BCE
The Plebeians Victory
Over the next 200 years the plebeians continued to protest. First, in 451 B.C. the plebeians demanded that the patricians wrote down all their laws so that they couldn't be changed. Then, in 367 B.C., a new law was passed that one consul had to be a plebeian. Former consuls held seats in the Senate, so this allowed plebeians to become part of the Senate. Finally, in 287 B.C. the plebeians gained the power to make laws for all citizens of Rome. -
330
Relocation of Rome
In 330 C.E, Constantine, the first Christian Emperor, made an key decision and moved the capital of Rome 850 miles to the east to the ancient city of Byzantium. He renamed it New Rome but the city was later called Constantinople. This was the start of the medieval, Greek-speaking, Christian Roman Empire. -
467
The Fall of Western Rome
Western Rome fell in 467 C.E. due to a few reasons. One of which being political instability. Romans never found out how to peacefully switch from ruler to ruler. Some emperors were dishonest and weak. The next reason Rome fell was due to economic and social issues. Citizens had to pay heavy taxes to finance Rome's huge army so many citizens were living in poverty. Finally, the last reason it fell was because of weakening frontiers. Germanic Tribes were constantly attacking which made Rome fall.
