Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

Rome is Established, but Not Free

753 BCE

Rome was established in the swampy hills of Italy. All thought they were an established civilization at this time, it wasn't until 509 BCE that they were truly independent. They for many years lived under the rule of the Etruscans.

A Real Republic

494 BCE

Plebeians, the poorest class of Roman, were essential for labor and soldiers. They wished to leave the empire due to the unbalanced power the Politically elite had over them. Thus the Senate allowed them two officials called Tribune who would have the same amount of power as every other Senator.

Punic Wars

Period: 264 BCE to 146 BCE

Rome and their Rival Carthage would end up having three wars. The first two wars were very close with Rome winning both. The final war with Carthage would end up completely destroying it. This cause a great amount of wealth to flow into the Roman economy, but also showed the superiority and brutality of Roman Soldiers.

Outside the Roman Walls

220 BCE

While Rome was going significantly, so were its enemies. A highly organized group known as the Sasanians took over Persia and constantly deemed themselves a threat to Rome. On the Northern end, the Germanic groups were growing larger and more organized. Rome was surrounded by enemies.

Greeks? Romans? Same thing

63 BCE

For most of Rome's infancy, they held a good relationship with the Greeks. This was due to the Romans adapting much of the Greeks' culture. It wasn't until they grew large did tensions between the two grow. After many years of fighting, the final rebellion of Roman forces was stopped. Official Greece was now under the Roman Empire.

Ave, True to Caesar

49 BCE

After growing very powerful with the loyalty of his men and the people of Rome, the Republic decided to in prison him when he returned to stop him from taking power. Instead Julius Caesar marched in with his Legion and took over Rome. He then established himself as an Emperor. Rome from then on would be Ruled by an Emperor.

No One Man Should Have All Power

Period: 14 to 180

After the assassination of Julius Caesar, the Roman Empire would Go through three entirely different dynasties. First was the Julian dynasty (14-68 CE). Then the Flavian dynasty (69-96 CE). Finally there were the "Five Good Emperors" who all had their own way of running Rome( 96-180 CE). What each of these had in common was that they all in some way weakened the Roman Empire.

Diocletian

284

While emperor, Diocletian wanted to set up a system of heirs so that the empire always had a leader. This would solve the problem of the empire falling into civil war after the death of each emperor. In doing so he effectively split the government of Rome into the East and West. While his system of Heirs would ultimately be tossed aside, the slitting of the government stayed and would play an important role in Rome's future.

Byzantium to Constantinople

324

With the rise of the first Christian emperor Constantine came a big change for the Empire. Not only was Christianity made the official religion, but the capital of Rome was moved to Byzantium. The name would change to Constantinople to reflect the name of the then emperor. The moving of the capital from the West to the East would play a major role in Rome's survival.

Fall of Rome

476

While not officially the fall of all of Rome, it was the fall of the Western Empire. After raids from Germanic tribes and Persia, the empire could no longer function and crumbled.

Rome Will Live On

527

Thanks to emperors like Justinian, the Eastern half of the Empire would be very prosperous and strong. It in some ways was more Roman than the late western Roman empire. Yet it would never reach such heights as before.

The True End of Rome

1453

Through the years, Western Rome would slowly lose more and more land until it was just the City-State of Constantinople. The final blow to Rome was an invasion from Ottoman Turks. Rome was no more.