Roman Empire timeline (31 B.C.-217 A.D.)

31 B.C.: Battle of Actium

30 B.C.: Cleopatra and Anthony commit suicide

27 B.C.: Octavian becomes Augustus

c. 4 B.C.: Christ is born

9 A.D.: Battle of Teutoburg Forrest

14: Augustus dies/Tiberius becomes emperor

c. 30: Christ is crucified

37: Tiberius dies/Caligula becomes emperor

41: Caligula assassinated/Claudius becomes emperor

43: Invasion of Britain

54: Claudius dies/Nero becomes emperor

61: Boudicca's rebellion

64: Great Fire of Rome

66-70: Jewish Revolt

68: Nero commits suicide

68-69: Year of Four Emperors

79: Mount Vesuvius Erupts

122: Hadrian's Wall

132-35: Second Jewish Revolt

117-180: The Good Emperors

192: Commodus murdered/Throne auctioned off

193: The Year of Five Emperors

217: Caracalla assassinated

The Roman Republic timeline

Roman Kingdon
753 B.C.: Mythical founding

600 B.C.: Etruscans arrive

534-507 B.C.: Collapse of Etruscan power


Roman Republic 507-31 B.C.
507 B.C.: Republic founded


6th-3rd century B.C.: Conquest of Italy
343-41 B.C.: 1st Samnite War

328-02 B.C.: 2nd Samnite War

298-90: 3rd Samnite War


264-146 B.C.: Punic Wars
216 B.C.: Battle of Canae

202 B.C.: Battle of Zama

146 B.C.: Carthage destroyed


146-88 B.C.: Reform and Disorder
91-87 B.C.: Social War

88 B.C.: Sulla marches on Rome

73-1 B.C.: Spartacus

63 B.C.: Conspiracy of Catiline


60-44 B.C.: Civil War
60 B.C.: Triumvirate formed

58-51 B.C.: Gallic War

53 B.C.: Crassus killed

49-45 B.C.: Civil War

44 B.C.: Caesar Assassinated

43-42 B.C.: Second Triumvirate

42-31 B.C.: Octavian eliminates rivals

31 B.C.: Battle of Actium and end of the Republic

History Shorts: The Battle of Actium (31 B.C.)

After defeating Caesar’s assassins, Octavian and Mark Antony went to war for control of the Roman Republic. The final battle between the two occurred on the Ionian Sea near the city of Actium. Marcus Agrippa led Octavian’s navy against Antony and Cleopatra’s fleet. Agrippa secured a dramatic victory when Cleopatra fled the scene followed by Antony in close pursuit. The pair committed suicide rather than be captured by Octavian. Antony and Cleopatra’s death signaled the end of the civil war and over a century of strife within the Roman Republic. Octavian transformed the republic into an empire by allowing democratic institutions to die. No one seemed to care since he brought stability and peace. For his efforts, the people proclaimed him “Augustus.”

The Battle of Actium from Cleopatra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55QGKfHOJW4

Antony’s death:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH3fQEwedU8

Cleopatra’s death (from another Cleopatra film):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqGmWjowqEs

Octavian’s Triumph (from HBO’s Rome):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duCYRgqxJvk