-
Rome overthrows its last king, Tarquin the Proud, and establishes the Republic, governed by elected officials and the Senate. -
The plebeians, frustrated by inequality, withdraw from Rome, leading to the creation of the Tribune of the Plebs to represent their interests. -
Rome codifies its first set of written laws, the Twelve Tables, ensuring legal rights for citizens and addressing class disparities. -
The Gauls under Brennus sack Rome, marking a pivotal moment that leads to military and defensive reforms. -
Rome defeats Carthage in the fight for control over Sicily, expanding its influence beyond the Italian peninsula. -
Hannibal leads Carthaginian forces through Italy, but Rome, under Scipio Africanus, ultimately defeats Carthage at the Battle of Zama. -
Rome destroys Carthage at the end of the Third Punic War and conquers Corinth, solidifying its control of the Mediterranean.
-
Tiberius Gracchus pushes for land reforms to aid the poor but is assassinated, highlighting the growing tensions in Roman politics. -
Gaius Marius reforms the Roman military, creating a professional army and shifting soldiers’ loyalty from the state to their generals. -
Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus form a political alliance to dominate Roman politics, bypassing Senate authority and consolidating their power. -
Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon River, defying the Senate and sparking a civil war that ultimately leads to his dictatorship. -
Julius Caesar is assassinated on the Ides of March by senators aiming to restore the Republic, but it leads to further civil wars. -
Octavian after the formation of the second Triumvrate, defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra in a decisive naval battle, ending the Roman Republic. -
Octavian becomes Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, ushering in the Pax Romana and the Roman Empire. -
Augustus dies after a 45-year reign, leaving a stable and prosperous empire to his successor, Tiberius. -
A catastrophic fire destroys much of Rome during Emperor Nero’s reign, with rumors claiming Nero was responsible. -
Roman forces under Titus crush the Jewish Revolt, capturing Jerusalem and destroying the Second Temple. -
The volcanic eruption buries Pompeii and Herculaneum under ash, preserving a snapshot of Roman life. -
Under Emperor Trajan, Rome reaches its greatest territorial extent, stretching across three continents. -
Emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan, legalizing Christianity and transforming it into a dominant religion in Rome. -
The Western Roman Empire falls when Romulus Augustulus is deposed by the Germanic leader Odoacer, marking the end of Roman rule in the West.