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Timeline

• 753 BC

  The legendary founding date of Rome.
• 750 BC - 510 BC

  The (semi-mythological) seven kings of Rome: Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tulus Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius, Tarquinius Superbus.
• 509 BC

  Foundation of the Roman republic.
• 498 BC - 493 BC

  Rome defeats the Latins.
• 450 BC

  Laws of Twelve Tables, the basis of Roman law.
• c. 400 BC

  Roman tale of mythical twins Romulus and Remus first recorded.
• 396 BC

  Roman expansion begins with the capture of Veii from the Etruscans.
• 387 BC

  "Gallic Catastrophe:" Duke Brennus of the Celts defeats the Romans at Allia, and subsequently sacks Rome. Celts move off after ransom is paid.
• 380 BC

  Rebuilding of Rome. Strong walls around the seven hills.
• 343 BC - 341 BC

  First Samnite War (Rome vs. Samnites).
• 340 BC - 338 BC

  Latin War, victory for Rome.
• 326 BC - 304 BC

  Second Samnite War.
• 321 BC

  The Via Appia, a famous Roman road, is constructed.
• 298 BC - 290 BC

  Third Samnite War. Victory for Rome, peace with the Etruscans.
• 285 BC - 282 BC

  Rome defeats the Celts in Italy. Rome's dominance in central Italy is secured.
• 282 BC - 272 BC

  Roman war against Tarentum. Rome conquers Tarentum. Rome’s dominance in lower Italy is secured.
• 264 BC - 241 BC

  First Punic War. Carthage cedes Siciliy to Rome.
• 229 BC - 228 BC

  Rome fights Illyrian pirates. Queen Teuta pays tribute to Rome.
• 222 BC

  Rome conquers Cisalpine Gaul (modern-day Provence, France).
• 219 BC

  Illyrian coast is under Roman control.
• 218 BC - 201 BC

  Second Punic War. Hannibal leads 50,000 foot soldiers, 9000 cavalry, and 37 war elephants over the Pyrennees and the Alps.
• 216 BC

  Battle of Cannae. Worst defeat in Roman history, against Carthage.
• 216 BC

  "Hannibal ante portas." Hannibal directly threatens the city of Rome, but cannot advance due to lack of supplies and reinforcements.
• 214 BC - 205 BC

  First Macedonian War: Rome defeats Philip V of Macedon.
• 207 BC

  Battle of Metaurus. Carthage loses against Rome and loses control of Iberia (Spain).
• 204 BC

  Scipio Africanus sails over to Africa.
• 202 BC

  Battle of Zama. The Carthaginian army is defeated, Hannibal flees to Hadrumentum.
• 202 BC

  Roman conquest of Carthage, end of the Second Punic War. Peace terms: Carthage loses Iberia, gives Numidia to its King Masinissa, pays 10,000 talents in 50 years, gives all warships to Rome (except 10 triremes), is forbidden to wage war outside Africa, requires Roman approval for wars within Africa.
• 201 BC

  Syracuse joins the Roman Empire, province of Sicily is formed.
• 200 BC - 196 BC

  Second Macedonian War: Roman victory.
• 191 BC - 134 BC

  Various resistance movements against Rome in Iberia. Viriato leads the Lusitanians against Rome from 154 to 139 BC.
• c. 189 BC

  The treaty of Apameea Kibotos. Peace and alliance is established between the Seleucid Kingdom and Rome joined by her allies, such as Pergamon and Rhodes. The Seleucids have to evacuate all the land and the cities from Asia Minor and to pay a huge war indemnity.
• 172 BC - 168 BC

  Third Macedonian War: Perseus of Macedon and challenges Rome. Macedonia is defeated and dissolved.
• 149 BC - 146 BC

  Third Punic War.
• 146 BC

  Rome sacks Corinth and dissolves the Achaean league. Greece is ruled by Rome.
• 133 BC

  Rome captures Numantia. End of Iberian resistance.
• 133 BC

  Attalus III, the last king of Pergamon, bequeathes the whole of Pergamon to Rome.
• 121 BC

  Gallia Narbonensis becomes a Roman province.
• 107 BC - 100 BC

  Gaius Marius reforms the Roman army.
• 12 Jul 100 BC - 15 Mar 44 BC

  Life of Gaius Julius Caesar, founder of the Roman Empire.
• 64 BC

  The Roman general Pompey defeats the Seleucid Antiochus XIII and incorporates Syria as a province of the Roman empire.
• 59 BC - 17 AD

  Life of Livy.
• 58 BC - 51 BC

  Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul.
• 55 BC

  Caesar attempts to invade Britain.
• 54 BC

  Caesar successfully invades Britain but withdraws to Gaul.
• 54 BC - 43 AD

  Roman influence grows in Britain owing to trade.
• 53 BC

  Parthians defeat Romans at Carrhae.
• 44 BC

  Julius Caesar is murdered.
• 43 BC - 36 BC

  Second Roman Triumvirate: Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus (official approvement by Senate). Mass proscriptions including Cicero.
• 43 BC - 17 AD

  Life of Ovid.
• 32 BC - 31 BC

  Battle of Actium: Octavian (the later Emperor Augustus) defeats Cleopatra of Egypt.
• 30 BC

  Egypt becomes part of the Roman empire.
• 27 BC - 19 BC

  Cantabrian Wars: Roman conquest of the Iberian Penninsula.
• 14 BC - 96 AD

  Rome launches an extensive cultural patronage and construction programme in Iberia.
• 1 AD - 100 AD

  Mithraism spreads in the Roman empire.
• 42 AD - 62 AD

  St. Paul goes on missionary journeys across Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome.
• 43 AD

  Romans invade Britain under Aulus Plautius.
• 43 AD

  Claudius commences the Roman conquest of Britain.
• 43 AD - 47 AD

  Romans conquer South Britain and claim the territory as part of Roman Empire.
• 47 AD - 50 AD

  Londinium (London) founded, roads constructed.
• 51 AD

  Briton rebel leader Caratacus defeated, rebellion crushed.
• 60 AD - 61 AD

  Boudicca's revolt in Britain.
• 64 AD

  Christians are being persecuted in Rome.
• 68 AD - 69 AD

  Year of the Four Emperors: Civil war in Rome.
• 75 AD - 77 AD

  Romans defeat the last of the Northern tribes; Roman conquest of Britain complete.
• 24 Jan 76 AD - 10 Jul 138 AD

  Life of Roman emperor Hadrian (Publius Aelius Hadrianus).
• 113 AD

  Trajan’s column is constructed in Rome.
• 192 AD

  Emperor Commodus is murdered, civil war ensues (until 197 AD).
• 402 AD

  Ravenna becomes the capital of the Western Roman empire.
• 410 AD

  Alaric of the Visigoths sacks Rome.
• 455 AD

  Vandals sack Rome.