Download 753 BC The Founding of Rome 753 – 510 BC The Period of Kings

753 BC
Rome
Timelines of Ancient Civilizations
By: David and Patricia Armentrout
AR Level 5.4 AR Points 0.5
commoners. Non-citizens were women, slaves, and people
who lived in outside territories.
The Founding of Rome
No one knows for sure who founded Rome.
According to legend Rome was founded in 753 BC by twin
brothers, Romulus and Remus.
The brothers decided to build a city on the Palatine
Hill. The region around the Palatine Hill was made up of
mostly Latins and Sabines, two groups of ancient people
from central Italy. The Etruscans occupied a large part of
the peninsula to the north.
Ancient Romans celebrated the founding of Rome
on April 21st every year. April 21st is celebrated today as a
national holiday in Italy.
753 – 510 BC
The Period of Kings
Legend states that Romulus and Remus ruled their
new city together. Then, the twins had a fight, and Romulus
killed Remus. Romulus became the first single ruler of
Rome.
After Romulus, six kings followed. The last three
kings were Etruscans. The Etruscans built a strong military
force that conquered many neighboring tribes.
Public places, such as the Circus Maximus, were
built during the Etruscan rule. The Circus Maximus was an
arena where chariot races were held.
Etruscans were skilled engineers who had wellplanned cities. Etruscans were also known for their fine
bronze art and clay statues. Etruscan artists copied Greek
painting styles.
509 BC
The Roman Republic
The citizens of Rome expelled the last Etruscan king
in 510 BC. A new republic government was started in 509
BC. The republic allowed Roman citizens to elect law
makers every year.
The republic consisted of a Senate and two consuls.
The Senate was a group of men who advised the lawmakers.
Every year citizens elected two Senate members to become
consuls. The consuls had the final say in matters of law and
order.
Ancient Romans were grouped as citizens and noncitizens. The citizens were wealthy men, business men, and
509 – 264 BC
The Romans Conquer Italy
The Roman military took charge of expanding
Rome’s borders. The Romans fought many battles. They
captured Etruscan cities and set up Roman colonies.
In 390 BC Rome was invaded by the Gauls. Gaul
was an ancient region we know as present day France. The
Gauls captured and burned Rome. The Roman army
suffered many losses, but the military regained control and
eventually conquered all of Italy.
Archeologists have found metal armor and weapons
in the remains of Roman forts.
264 – 133 BC
Rome Becomes a World Power
During the Punic Wars (264 – 146 BC), Rome gained
control of Carthage and its territories. Carthage was an
ancient city in northern Africa. Carthage territories included
parts of Spain and northern Africa, and the Mediterranean
islands of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica.
Rome also conquered an ancient territory called
Macedonia (146 BC). Macedonia was a southeastern region
of Europe that included part of present-day Greece.
The Romans adopted Etruscan and Greek building
styles. Remains of Roman buildings can be seen in past
parts of the empire including England, and Algeria in North
Africa. Remains of ancient Roman structures still exist in
northern Africa.
133 – 67 BC
A Change in Government and Power
The foreign wars brought a great deal of wealth to
Rome through increased trade and tax. However, there
were many unhappy people in Rome. The Roman Senate
actually broke into two groups.
Gaius Marius led one group, known as the popular
party. Marius supported the poor people and tried to give
them more land. The other group was the aristocrats, or
wealthy land owners. The aristocrats, led by Lucius Sulla,
fought to keep things the way they were. Lucius Sulla was a
leader of the aristocrats and a Roman Dictator from 82 – 81
BC.
The Roman Empire was divided into sections, called
provinces. The provinces had their own laws and were run
by senators. Each province paid taxes to Rome.
67 – 44 BC
Julius Caesar
Two Roman generals, Pompey the Great and Julius
Caesar, fought for power in Rome. Caesar’s army marched
into Rome and defeated Pompey. Caesar became the sole
ruler of Rome. Julius Caesar was a Roman general and
dictator.
Caesar tried to restore Rome by reorganizing the
government and changing laws. Caesar also continued to
win wars and expand Roman territory. Caesar was made
dictator for life, but some citizens did not like the fact that
Rome was ruled by one man. Caesar was murdered in 44
BC.
Our modern calendar is based on a calendar
established by Julius Caesar. Caesar’s calendar had 365 days
divided into 12 months, and a leap year every four years.
27 BC – AD 14
The Age of Augustus
In 27 BC Augustus became the first emperor of
Rome. Even though Augustus was a sole ruler, he insisted
he was restoring the republic government. Augustus
reorganized the Senate and rebuilt the city. Business and
trade increased in the city and throughout the empire.
Marble temples and basilicas were built during the time.
Augustus also built a complex road system that connected
many parts of the empire. The Pantheon is the bestpreserved ancient Roman temple.
The Roman Empire, at its height, had about 50,000
miles of highways in more than 30 provinces.
AD 80
The Coliseum Opens
The Coliseum was the greatest Roman
amphitheater ever built. Construction began in AD 69 by
Emperor Vespasian. Much of the Coliseum still stands, even
after damage from several earthquakes.
Titus was emperor in AD 80 when the first gladiator
battles took place there. Gladiators were often criminals or
slaves, although some were volunteers.
Gladiators fought each other, usually to the death.
Gladiators also fought wild animals. The animals were
stored below the wooden floor and were released to the
surface by lifts and trapdoors.
AD 96 - 180
The Golden Age
The Golden Age of the Roman Empire was a time of
great expansion and wealth. Trajan and Hadrian were two
emperors during Rome’s Golden Age. Trajan (ruled AD 98117) expanded the empire and build impressive roads and aqueducts. Roman aqueducts carried water to plumbing
systems throughout the empire. Hadrian’s (ruled AD 117 138) army built a stone wall in northern England that was
used in military defense. Some sections of Hadrian’s Wall
can still be seen today.
The Romans build more than 800 public baths.
Trajan build a huge imperial bathhouse in Rome that held
hundreds of people.
AD 180 – 314
The Decline of the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire had grown so large that it
became very costly to run. Taxes were raised to help cover
the costs. In AD 284 emperor Diocletian split the empire in
two so it would be easier to manage.
He ruled the Eastern Empire, also known as the
Byzantine Empire. Maximian ruled the West. Meanwhile,
barbarian tribes attacked parts of the empire, and after the
two emperors retired civil wars broke out between Roman
generals. The empire was in a period of decline.
Many languages were spoken in the empire.
However, Latin was the official language of the Western
Empire, and Greek was the official language of the Eastern
Empire.
AD 314 – 476
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Constantine the Great (ruled AD 306-337) reunited
the Eastern and Western empires. He moved the capital
from Rome to the Eastern Empire. The new capital,
Constantinople, is now the city of Istanbul, Turkey.
The empire suffered attacks for years and split
again in AD 395. In the early 5th century German and Asian
tribes attacked areas of the West. Rome was invaded twice
and finally captured in AD 455. In AD 476 German warriors
overthrew the last Western emperor. The Roman Empire
was formally over in the West. The Byzantine Empire
continued until 1453.