The Roman Empire

By rmccord
  • 146 BCE

    Third Punic War Ends

    Third Punic War Ends
    Rome seizes the remaining Carthagian empire, establishing the Roman Province of Africa.
  • 44 BCE

    Death of Julius Caesar and the Roman Republic

    Death of Julius Caesar and the Roman Republic
    Julius Caesar, the first and only dictator of Rome was assassinated in 44, ending Rome's days as a Republic and allowing the empire to take shape.
  • 27 BCE

    Birth of The Roman Empire

    Birth of The Roman Empire
    Julius Caesar's great-nephew, Augustus, established the principate, returning power to the Senate and becoming emperor of Rome.
  • 4 BCE

    Birth of Jesus

    Birth of Jesus
    Jesus, a key figure in both Christianity and Islam, is born around 4 BC (disputed).
  • 43

    Claudius Begins Conquest of Britain

    Claudius Begins Conquest of Britain
    Claudius, the emperor at the time, began a 53-year campaign in taking control of Britain, annexing it as a new province as the campaign continues over several other emperors.
  • 68

    Nero sets fire to Rome

    Nero sets fire to Rome
    Nero, the emperor at the time, sets fire to the city of Rome and soon kills himself, ending the Julio-Claudian dynasty of Roman emperors.
  • 69

    Year of Four Emperors

    Year of Four Emperors
    After Nero's destruction of Rome and subsequent suicide, civil war tore across Rome, allowing Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian to rule in a single year.
  • 117

    The Height of the Roman Empire

    The Height of the Roman Empire
    Trajan, declared by the Senate to be Optimus Princeps, meaning "best ruler", defeats the Parthians, bringing Rome to its highest reaches.
  • 286

    Diocletian Splits The Empire

    Diocletian Splits The Empire
    The emperor at the time, Diocletian, split the Roman empire into Eastern and Western halves, each ruled by their own separate ruler while still maintaining their status as part of the overall Roman Empire.
  • 306

    Constantine Assumes Power

    Constantine Assumes Power
    Constantine, an advocate for Christianity, officially tolerated the religion through the edict of Milan and allowed its proliferation throughout the region.
  • 380

    Christianity Becomes the Official State Church

    Christianity Becomes the Official State Church
    Theodosius, the emperor at the time, established Nicene Christianity as the official state religion of Rome.
  • 410

    Western Rome Sacked

    Western Rome Sacked
    The Germanic Visigoth people sack Western Rome for the first time in over 800 years.
  • 476

    Collapse of the Roman Empire

    Collapse of the Roman Empire
    In a state of weakness, Germanic invader Odoacer defeats the Romans, leaving only the Eastern Roman Empire, known henceforth as the Byzantine empire.
  • 1453

    The Byzantine Empire Falls

    The Byzantine Empire Falls
    Although not a part of the Roman Empire, its successor in Eastern Europe falls almost 1,000 years after Western Rome.