Chronological Summary
| YEAR | DOMESTIC EVENTS | EXTERNAL EVENTS |
| B.C. | ||
| 753 | Legendary date of the foundation of Rome | |
| 510 | Legendary date of the expulsion of Tarquin, and establishment of the Republic | |
| 508 | Legendary date of the Etruscan invasion under Lars Porsena | |
| 494 | Legendary date of the First Secession of the Plebeians | |
| 480 | Possibly authentic date of first treaty between Rome and the Latins, drawn up by Sp. Cassius | |
| 474 | Defeat of the Etruscans by Syracuse | |
| 450 | Legendary date of the Twelve Tables | |
| 387 | Conquest of Rome by the Gauls | |
| 367 | Licinian Laws. (1) forbid large holdings of public land; (2) compel landlords to employ a certain proportion of free labour | |
| 351 | Conquest of S. Etruria by Rome Cære becomes the first civitas sine suffragio | |
| 348 | First treaty of commerce between Rome and Carthage | |
| 343 to 266 | Samnite Wars, involving subjugation of the Latins, and eventually of all Central Italy | |
| 321 | Great defeat of the Romans at the Caudine Pass | |
| 312 | Censorship of Appius Claudius including (1) publication of the laws; (2) construction of Via Claudia | |
| 281 to 275 | War with Tarentum and Pyrrhus involving conquest of South Italy | |
| 268 | First coinage of silver | |
| 264 to 241 | First Punic War, involving conquest of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica—first transmarine provinces | |
| 264 | First gladiatorial games at Rome | |
| 240 | Livius Andronicus. Beginning of Roman literature | |
| 222 | Defeat of the Cisalpine Gauls | |
| 220 | Via Flaminia to Ariminum | |
| 218 to 201 | Second Punic War | |
| 218 | Lex Claudia forbids Senators to engage in commerce | |
| 216 | Romans severely defeated at Cannæ | |
| 205 | Introduction of Phrygian worship of Magna Mater | |
| 202 | Victory of Scipio at Zama | |
| 201 | Peace with Carthage involving cession of Spain | |
| 200 to 194 | Second Macedonian War | |
| 196 | Flaminius proclaims the liberty of Greece | |
| 190 | Defeat of Antiochus the Great of Syria at Magnesia | |
| 186 | 7000 Romans condemned for the Bacchic orgies | |
| 184 | Censorship of Cato the Elder. Death of Plautus. Basilica of Cato constructed | |
| 171 to 168 | Third Macedonian War. Egypt accepts Roman suzerainty | |
| 165 | 1000 Greeks, including Polybius the historian, brought to Italy as hostages | |
| 161 | Greek orators and philosophers expelled (vainly) | |
| 160 | Adelphi of Terence performed | |
| 148 | Macedonia becomes a province | |
| 146 | On destruction of Carthage, Africa becomes a province | |
| Great influx of Greek Art | Corinth destroyed | |
| 133 | Tribunate and agrarian programme of Tiberius Gracchus | Kingdom of Attalus bequeathed to Rome, becomes province of Asia |
| 123 | Tribunate and agrarian programme of Gaius Gracchus. Establishment of the Equites as a political power | |
| 121 | Province of Gallia Narbonensis, formed by conquest of S Gaul | |
| 112 to 106 | War with Jugurtha: triumph of Marius | |
| 113 to 101 | Army reforms and political power of Marius | War with Cimbri and Teutons |
| 91 | War against the Italian allies (Social War) | |
| 88 | Conquest of Rome by Sulla, and restoration of the Senate | War with Mithradates of Pontus. Massacre of Romans |
| 87 | Revolution of Cinna and Marius with great massacre of nobles | |
| 82 | Return of Sulla and proscription of the democrats | Defeat of the Samnites at the Colline Gate of Rome |
| 81 | Sulla dictator. Cornelian Laws improve the judicial system. Cicero’s first speech | Cisalpine Gaul becomes a province. Rome refuses Egypt |
| 78 | Date of extant buildings at Rome (1) the Tabularium, (2) the Temple of Fortuna Virilis | |
| 75 | Bithynia and Cyrene made provinces (both bequeathed to Rome) | |
| 73 | Insurrection of slaves under Spartacus | |
| 67 | Pompeius defeats the pirates | |
| 63 | Consulship of Cicero, who crushes the conspiracy of Catiline | Pompeius ends the Mithradatic War. New provinces organised Cilicia, Bithynia with Pontus, Syria, and Crete |
| 60 | Union of Pompeius, Cæsar, and Crassus, “the First Triumvirate” | |
| 59 | Consulship of Cæsar, and grant of the province of Gaul | |
| 58 | Banishment of Cicero. Theatre of Curio built | Cæsar defeats the Helvetians |
| 57 | Recall of Cicero | Cæsar defeats the Nervu |
| 56 | Renewal of the “Triumverate” at Lucca | Cæsar defeats the Veneti by sea |
| 55 | Dedication of theatre of Pompeius | Cæsar invades Britain |
| 54 | Second invasion of Britain | |
| 53 | Defeat of Crassus by the Parthians. Cæsar subdues the Treveri, and crosses the Rhine | |
| 52 | Senate-house burnt in a riot. Pompeius passes laws against Cæsar | Great revolt of Gaul under Vercingetorix crushed at Alesia |
| 51 | Final subjugation of Gaul Cicero governor of Cilicia | |
| 49 | Cæsar begins the Civil War | |
| 48 | Battle of Pharsalus, defeat of Pompeius | Cæsar regulates Egypt, leaving Cleopatra as queen |
| 46 | Final defeat of Pompeians at Thapsus in Africa. Cæsar dictator. Dedication of new Forum Julium, and temple of Venus Genetrix | |
| 45 | Cæsar enlarges the Senate and regulates the municipal constitutions of the Italian towns | |
| 44 | Assassination of Cæsar. M. Antonius in command of Rome. Cicero’s Philippics | |
| 43 | Octavian, Cæsar’s heir, with the consuls defeats Antony at Mutina, and is elected consul. Second Triumvirate formed, Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus. Proscription of the tyrannicide party, including Cicero | |
| 42 | Battles of Philippi. Defeat of Brutus and Cassius. Temple of Saturn rebuilt | |
| 41 | War at Perusia, in which Octavian crushes the revolt of L. Antonius | M. Antonius with Cleopatra in Egypt |
| 37 | Library of Pollio founded. Octavian marries Livia | |
| 36 | Sextus Pompeius defeated. Lepidus deprived of his army | Antony defeated in Parthia |
| 31 | Defeat of Antony and Cleopatra at Actium by Octavian | |
| 30 | Publication of Horace’s Epodes | Conquest of Egypt |
| 29 | Triumph of Cæsar Octavianus | |
| 28 | Census and restoration of Senate. | Mœsia made a province |
| Dedication of temple and library of Palatine Apollo, eighty-two temples restored | ||
| 27 | “Restoration of the Republic” really the beginning of the Empire. Octavian receives the title of Augustus. Pantheon of M. Agrippa built | Provinces divided between Cæsar and Senate. Cæsar takes Spain, Gaul, Syria, and keeps Egypt |
| 23 | Augustus resigns the consulship. Death of Marcellus. Vergil’s Æneid, Horace’s Odes, i, ii, iii | Failure of expedition to Arabia |
| 20 | Augustus in Asia. Submission of Parthians | |
| 19 | Death of Vergil | Conquest of North Spain |
| 17 | Julian “Laws of Morality”. Secular games. Horace as laureate. Augustus adopts Gaius and Lucius his grandsons | |
| 16 | German invasion of Gaul. Defeat of Lothus | |
| 13 | Theatre of Marcellus built | Drusus in Gaul for conquest of Germany |
| 12 | Dedication of Ara Pacis Augustæ | |
| 9 | End of Livy’s History | Death of Drusus after four campaigns in Germany |
| 8 | Death of Horace and Mæcenas | Tiberius in Germany |
| 4 | Death of Herod. Probable date of birth of Christ | |
| 2 | Banishment of Julia | |
| A.D. | ||
| 2 | Death of Lucius and mortal wounding of Gaius. Tiberius adopted | |
| 4 | Building of “Maison Carrée” at Nismes | Tiberius’s annual campaigns in Germany |
| 6 | Establishment of military chest at Rome. Temple of Castor rebuilt | Judæa becomes a province (census of Quirinius) Great revolt in Pannonia |
| 8 | Banishment of Ovid | Subjection of Pannonia |
| 9 | Defeat of Varus by Arminius in Germany | |
| 14 | Death of Augustus. Succession of Tiberius. Political extinction of the comitia. Extension of law of treason and growth of informing (delatio) | Revolt of Rhine and Danube armies quelled by Germanicus and Drusus |
| 16 | Germanicus defeats the Germans under Arminum’i at Idistavisus | |
| 27 | Tiberius retires to Capri. Sejanus in command of Rome | |
| 37 | Gaius Cæsar (Caligula), murdered by Prætorian guard | Futile expedition towards Britain |
| 41 | Claudius | New provinces incorporated Mauretania, Lycia, Thracia (46), and Judæa. Conquest of Britain begun (43) |
| 54 | Nero | |
| 55 | Poisoning of Britannicus | |
| 61 | Revolt of Boadicea in Britain | |
| 64 | Fire at Rome, and first persecution of the Christians | |
| 68 | Revolt of Vindex in Gaul and Galba in Spain | |
| 68 to 69 | Year of the Four Emperors Galba, June-Jan. 69 Otho, Jan-April Vitellius, April-Dec. | |
| 69 | Vespasian, “The Flavian Dynasty” | Revolt of Batavians under Civilis |
| 70 | Erection of Colosseum, Arch of Titus, and Baths of Titus | Siege and destruction of Jerusalem |
| 79 | Titus Eruption of Vesuvius Herculaneum buried in mud and Pompeii in ashes. Death of Elder Pliny | |
| 81 | Domitian | Progress of Agricola in Scotland. Construction of Rhætian limes |
| 86 | Wars against Dacians | |
| 96 | Murder of Domitian | |
| 96 | Nerva, repealed law of treason and reduced taxes | |
| 98 | Trajan, built Forum Trajani, Basilica Ulpia, and Column of Trajan | (101-102) First Dacian War. (105-107) Second Dacian War. Dacia becomes province (114-116) Invasion of Parthia, capture of Ctesiphon. New provinces: Armenia, Mesopotamia, Assyria, and Arabia |
| 118 | Hadrian, built Moles Hadriani, Temple of Venus and Rome, Pantheon, Villa at Tivoli, and Temple of Olympian Zeus at Athens | Abandoned Armenia, Mesopotamia and Assyria. Grand tour of the empire. Hadrian’s wall in Britain. Revolt and destruction of the Jewish nation |
| 138 | Antoninus Pius, “The Antonine Dynasty.” Built Temple of Antoninus and Faustina | |
| 161 | Marcus Aurelius. Plague in Italy. Statue and column of M. Aurelius | War against Parthia. War with Marcomanni and Quadi. Emperor died at Vienna |
| 180 | Commodus | |
| 193 | Pertinax murdered by soldiers Didius Julianus bought the throne | |
| 193 | Septimius Severus proclaimed by the Illyrian legions. Great jurist Papinian flourishes | Expedition to Britain. Emperor died at York. Strengthening of walls |
| 211 | Caracalla | All inhabitants of provinces (except Egypt) become citizen |
| 217 | Baths of Caracalla finished | |
| 218 | Elagabalus. Attempt to introduce Sun-worship | |
| 222 | Severus Alexander. The jurist Ulpian and the historian Dio Cassius flourished | New Persian Empire of the Sassanidæ begun |
| 235 | Maximinus Thrax | |
| 237 | Gordianus I. and II. and III. | |
| 244 | Philippus, the Arabian | |
| 249 | Decius Persecution of Christians | Defeat of the Goths in Thrace Decius fell in the fighting |
| 251 | Gallus | |
| 253 | Æmilianus | |
| 253 | Valerianus | Wars against German invaders, Franks, Alemanni, and Goths. Expedition to Persia. Emperor capturedDecius fell in the fighting |
| 260 | Gallienus. Time of great confusion owing to pretenders. “The thirty tyrants” | Tetricus sets up a rival empire in Gaul and Spain. Odenathus sets up an independent kingdom at Palmyra in Syria |
| 268 | Claudius Gothicus | Defeats German invaders |
| 270 | Aurelian (“Restitutor Orbis”). Wall round Rome | Sacrifices Dacia across the Danube to the Goths. Repulses Alemanni and Marcomanni from Italian soil. Defeats Zenobia and destroys Palmyra. Defeats Tetricus |
| 273 | Temple of the Sun constructed at Heliopolis (Ba’albek) | |
| 275 | Tacitus (choice of the Senate) | |
| 276 | Probus | Drives back the Barbarians and restores the defences |
| 282 | Carus, then Numerianus, then Carinus | |
| 284 to 305 | Diocletian resided chiefly at Nicomedia in Asia Minor, leaving the west to Maximian, Constantius and Galerius appointed Cæsars. Persecution of Christians | Persians defeated, Egyptian and British revolts crushed |
| 307 | Six “Augusti” claiming the purple, Constantine of Britain among them | |
| 323 to 337 | Constantine the Great (sole emperor). to Christianity recognised by the State | |
| 325 | Arian conflict, Council of Nicæa | |
| 330 | Building of Constantinople | |
| 361 to 363 | Julian the Apostate endeavours to revive Paganism | |
| 375 | Beginning of the great German folk-wanderings | |
| 379 to 395 | Theodosius After Theodosius the division of the Empire becomes permanent | Visigoths received in Mœsia if Christians Massacre of Thessalonica (St. Ambrose of Milan) |
| 395 | Arcadius rules the East. Honorius rules the West | |
| WEST | ||
| 400 | Alaric invades Italy | |
| 402 | Imperial residence transferred from Rome to Ravenna | |
| 410 | Capture and sack of Rome by Alaric | |
| 415 | Visigoths found a kingdom at Toulouse | |
| 429 | Vandals found a kingdom in Africa | |
| 449 | Anglo-Saxons begin to settle in Britain | |
| 451 | Attila and the Huns defeated by Aetius and the Goths near Châlons | |
| 452 | Foundation of Venice | |
| 476 | Odoacer, barbarian general, deposes the last Western emperor, Romulus Augustulus | |
| EAST | ||
| 527 | Justinian, emperor. Victories of Belisarius. Codification of law |