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Period: 31 BCE to 14
Emperor Augustus
He was adopted by his great uncle Julius Ceasar. He was a member of the 2nd Triumvirate and became the head ruler of Rome after defeating Mark Antony and Cleopatra in the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. -
30 BCE
Establishment of Effective Financial System
Augustus ended arbitrary taxation to lessen the revolts from Roman taxpayers. He enforced a poll tax and land tax that were consistent and greatly increased Rome's revenues. -
Period: 27 BCE to 14
Pax Romana
During Augustus's rule, he helped the Roman economy, arts, and agriculture flourish. Many of the famous public Roman baths were constructed during this time -
Period: 27 BCE to 68
Julio-Claudian Dynasty
This dynasty began with Augustus and ended with Nero -
19 BCE
Publication of the Aeneid
Augustus commissioned Virgil to write this epic poem. -
6 BCE
Birth of Jesus Christ
He was born around 6-4 BC in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod the Great. -
Period: 14 to 37
Emperor Tiberius
Tiberius was the adoptive son of Augustus who earned a triumph and great acclaim for his leadership skills. He was named emperor at age 54. He had a more modest style of rule in which he did not seek many conquests but rather worked on growing the wealth and internal power of Rome. -
23
Tiberius Delegates More of His Power
After the death of his son, Tiberius became more neglectful of his position as emperor and delegated his position to his advisors. He became more of a figurehead ruler as he was not performing most of the empirical duties he once did. -
27
Tiberius Leaves Rome and Builds a Villa in Capri
As Tiberius's mental state deteriorated quickly, he left Rome and ended up on the island of Capri where he built many villas and participated in many cruelties, such as slaughtering the people who lived on the island as a form of entertainment. -
30
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
Jesus died in 30 AD in Jerusalem. -
Period: 37 to 41
Emperor Caligula
Caligula was adopted by Tiberius and an ally, Marco (who Caligula later executed), helped him become the sole ruler of Rome after the death of Tiberius. He was at first welcomed as a ruler when he got rid of an unpopular tax and freed unjustly prisoned people. He got very sick which affected his mind causing him to become a very cruel ruler. -
39
Caligula Bridges the Bay of Naples
He used boats extending from Baiae to Puteoli to form a bridge over the water. He wanted this bridge built so that he could parade triumphantly over it. -
40
Caligula Invades Gaul
He marched his troops into Gaul where they plundered the towns of the inhabitants. They marched north towards Britain, and when they reached the shoreline, he ordered them to collect seashells calling them "spoils of the conquered ocean." -
41
Claudius Gets Revenge
One of his first actions as emperor was to execute the assassins of Tiberius: Cassius Chaerea and his co-conspirators. -
Period: 41 to 54
Emperor Claudius
Claudius was Tiberius's uncle who was seen as dimwitted. He, like Caligula, was very paranoid and had many Senators and others executed out of fear that they were conspiring against him. He married Agrippina who wanted her son Nero to be given the position of emperor after Claudius. Agrippina is said to have poisoned her husband so that her son would gain the ruling power. -
43
Claudius Invades Britain
As a way to gain popularity and glory, Claudius had his army invade Britain. He made a personal appearance at the crossing of the Thames and the capture of Camulodunum so that it would be known that he was there and he would be glorified. -
Period: 54 to 68
Emperor Nero
Nero was the adoptive son of his uncle, Emperor Claudius. He was able to gain public favor when he began as emperor because of his political generosity, his promotion of power-sharing with the Senate and his ending of political trials that were secret from the public. He had his mother murdered when he came to believe that she was taking power from him. -
59
Nero Promotes the Arts and Public Events
As a way to gain favor with the Roman citizens, Nero created public entertainment and promoted the arts. -
64
The Great Fire in Rome
A fire broke out near the Circus Maximus and quickly spread through the streets of Rome. A majority of the Roman districts were either completely destroyed or severely damaged. Nero was rumored to have started it in order to create room for a palace he wanted to build. Nero claimed that the Christians had started the fire. -
65
Nero Creates the Domus Aurea
Also called the Golden House of Nero, Emperor Nero had this palace commissioned after the Great Fire. It was around 200 acres large and had a 100-foot gold statue of Nero in front of it. -
68
Galba Raises Army and Marches on Rome
Galba raised legions in Gaul with the help of Otho and when he heard of Nero's death, he marched upon Rome and was declared emperor. -
68
Galba Loses Favor Among Romans
Although he once had respect from his legions, when Galba assumed the position of emperor, he began sentencing many men from a variety of ranks to death without trial and collecting taxes from conquered territories. He kept most of this money for himself, and unlike Nero, did not spend money on lavish shows for the people. -
Period: 68 to 69
Emperor Galba
Galba's prominent familial status and favor among previous emperors (Tiberius and Augustus) lead to his gaining of a consulship in 33 AD and his command of an army in 40. He felt threatened by Nero and built an army in Gaul that he then marched to Rome. The Senate then declared him emperor. His rule was filled with corruption and lasted only 7 months. -
Period: 68 to 69
The Year of the Four Emperors
The year started included Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. -
69
Otho Conspires Against Galba
When Otho learned that Galba had not named him as his successor, he had Galba's assassination planned. Once Galba was murdered, Otho assumed emperor status. -
69
Otho Unsuccessfully Launches Naval Expedition
German troops started marching toward Italy, and Otho sent troops to stop them. However, this expedition failed and because of the loss, Otho committed suicide. -
69
Vitellius Is Declared Emperor and Defeats Otho
Vitellius's troops declared him emperor and he was able to gain support from the governors of Spain, Gaul, and Britain. Because of this, he marched onto Rome and defeated Otho's troops. -
69
Vitellius Begins to Show Mercy
As Vitellius gained empirical powers, he began to squander money and torture or kill anyone who opposed him. However, as his ruling progressed and his popularity diminished, he began to give more generously to the public to gain favor back. -
Period: 69 to 69
Emperor Otho
Otho governed Lusitania for 10 years before he became emperor. He helped Galba build an army against Nero in hopes that Galba would name him as his successor. -
Period: 69 to 69
Emperor Vitellius
Vitellius was named consul in 48 and was given the position of proconsul in Africa. He gained favor among the troops he commanded in lower Germany because of his generosity. -
Period: 69 to 96
Flavian Dynasty
The dynasty started with Vespasian and ended with Domitian. -
Period: 69 to 79
Emperor Vespasian
Emperor Vespasian ruled in a period of peace and rebuilding after the civil wars. He wanted to restore Rome’s finances after Nero’s reign, restore discipline in the army, and ensure the succession of his son Titus and was successful in all three. He raised taxes, reclaimed public land to collect money in Rome, and replaced army in Syria with three armies. From December 69 to October 70, he raised money in Egypt and increased the provincial taxation to generate revenues. -
71
Building of the forum and Temple of Peace
To accompany the Colosseum and further restore Rome's feelings of greatness, Emperor Vespasian commissioned the building of the forum and Temple of Peace. The dedication took place in 75. -
72
Building of the Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum)
Vespasian initiated the building of the Colosseum to restore Rome's feelings of exceptionalism that was lost during the previous civil wars. -
79
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79, and over the next 25 hours, it destroyed the entire town of Pompeii. Hundreds of years later, archaeologists found everything that was there on the day of the eruption preserved by the volcanic ashes. However, no one knew that Vesuvius was an active volcano (even after the earthquake in 63 AD) until the eruption. -
Period: 79 to 81
Emperor Titus
After mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 and destroyed Herculaneum, Stabiae, and Pompeii, Titus immediately went through the cities affected and gave relief, using almost all of his own money to relieve the needs of their citizens. He put his own home decorations in damaged temples and public buildings. Titus died from malaria in the Sabine hills at his family’s villa. -
80
Flavian Amphitheatre finished
During Emperor Titus's reign, the building of the Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum) was finished. He opened it with ceremonies that lasted more than 100 days. -
80
Titus's Rebuilding of Rome after fire
After a fire in Rome that lasted three days and nights, Emperor Titus commissioned the rebuilding of Rome, using some of his own possessions and money. -
Period: 81 to 96
Emperor Domitian
Emperor Domitian built a new temple to Jupiter, a new stadium, and a concert hall for musicians and poets. He loved games, chariot races, wild beast hunts, gladiatorial contests, and naval battles. Also, he founded festivals of music, horsemanship, and gymnastics that were to be held every 5 years. In 92, the Samaritans attacked the Roman frontier, starting a war that would continue until Domitian’s death. He was very paranoid over being assassinated, so he hired informers, yet was assassinated. -
83
Domitian goes on Campaign to Germany
Emperor Domitian embarked on a campaign to Germany to engage the Chatti, having no personal experience himself and hoping to claim some credibility with the army. He was victorious. -
92
Domitian builds new Flavian Palace
Emperor Domitian commissions the building of a new Flavian Palace on Palatine Hill for official functions. -
Period: 96 to 180
The Five Good Emperors
The Five Good Emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. -
Period: 96 to 98
Emperor Nerva
Emperor Nerva was proclaimed emperor by the Senate and restored normalcy after the assassination of Domitian. He had a long dispute with the Praetorian Guard, who were the officials protectors of the Emperor that were typically involved in assassination attempts. He was a wise and moderate emperor who set the empire on track for almost a century of fair rule. He returned property taken away by Domitian to their owners, repaired roads and aqueducts and the Colosseum after the Tiber flooded. -
97
Revolt by Praetorian Guard
During Emperor Nerva's reign, there was a revolt by Praetorian Guard, who are the officials protectors of the Emperor that were typically involved in assassination attempts. They forced Nerva to adopt an heir. He chose Trajan, a young and popular general. -
97
Commission of Consular Senators
Emperor Nerva appointed a commission of five consular senators to give advice on reducing expenditures (act of spending funds) in addition to abolishing many sacrfices, races, and games. -
Period: 98 to 117
Emperor Trajan
Emperor Trajan expanded the borders of Rome to the largest area that Rome has ever held and built many public buildings, bridges, canals, and monuments. He made sure to share his military conquests with the Roman people, returned land that previous Emperors had stolen from political enemies, and focused on finding financial stability for the empire. Trajan fought two successful wars against Dacia (kingdom that defeated Domitian in battle). He didn't enter into Rome until summer of 99. -
112
Trajan gives Rome the Forum of Trajan and Trajan's Column
Emperor Trajan gave the city of Rome the Forum of Trajan which was dedicated in 112 and Trajan's Column which was dedicated in 113. He was cremated and buried at the base of Trajan's Column. -
114
Trajan fights in War
Emperor Trajan fought against the Parthians when was cam eto the eastern frontier of the empire. the Parthians tried to overtake Armenia, a Roman buffer state. In the end, Armenia was made a province of Rome. -
Period: 117 to 138
Emperor Hadrian
Emperor Hadrian converted the military conquests of Trajan into real, manageable, parts of the empire. In addition, he gave up parts of the empire in order to protect the rest. He established cities in Egypt, Asia Minor, Greece, and the Balkan Peninsula and rebuilt the Pantheon and Trajan’s Forum. Also, the citizens of Athens built the Arch of Hadrian to honor him as their founder in 131/132. When Antinous, his beloved friend, drowned in 130, Hadrian dedicated number of places in Greece to him. -
122
Construction of Hadrian's Wall
Emperor Hadrian ordered the building of Hadrian's Wall to protect the empire from threats. It took six years to build and marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire in Britain. In addition, he ordered building of similar walls along Danube river (Northern Italy). -
130
Rebuilding of Jerusalem and Building the Temple of Solomon
Emperor Hadrian rebuilt Jerusalem and built the Temple of Solomon which factored into the cause of the Bar-Kochba Revolt from 132 to 136 that broke out among the people. -
Period: 138 to 161
Emperor Antoninus Pius
Emperor Antoninus Pius was the most peaceful of the 5 Good Emperors who brought economic reforms and made the law fair. He introduced the concept of innocent until proven guilty, expanded legal rights of slaves, and enlisted legal advisors to write about the law. He suspended collection of taxes from cities affected by natural disasters such as Rhodes and Cyzius which were affected by two serious earthquakes. In 148, he oversaw celebrations of the 900th anniversary of the founding of Rome. -
141
Temple of the Deified Faustina
Emperor Antoninus Pius ordered the building of the Temple of the Deified Faustina in the Roman Forum in memory of his beloved wife. Many centuries later, people tried to tear it down, but they could not so it still stands today. -
145
Temple of the Deified Hadrian
Emperor Antoninus Pius ordered the building of the Temple of the Deified Hadrian to honor emperor Hadrian. The temple was previously known as the Basilica of Neptune. -
Period: 161 to 180
Emperor Marcus Aurelius
After floods and earthquakes, Emperor Marcus Aurelius oversaw the response of the citizens and the rebuilding. He included the Senate in his decision making. A plague broke out that killed thousands while he was preparing for the Marcomannic War, so Aurelius and his co-emperor (Lucius Aurelius Verus Commodus) helped pay for burial expenses. He fought wars with Parthians and Germanic tribes and led troops in the Marcomannic wars with his son and co-ruler, Commodus. -
166
Marcus Aurelius's book, The Meditations
Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote his book, The Meditations, during the Germanic War that took place from 166 to 180. The book describes how he leads a good life either as a citizen or an emperor. It also gives good advice to the Roman people. -
175
Challenge to Empire by Avidius Cassius
Emperor Marcus Aurelius was challenged by Avidius Cassius for his position as emperor in 175. Rumors arose that Aurelius became seriously ill, so Cassius took control and gave himself the title of emperor. Therefore, Aurelius was forced to go back to Rome to regain control, but before he arrived, Cassius was killed by his own soldiers.
