100s BC (2 events)
92 BC
ID: 4663
First Rome-Parthia contact - Sulla's envoy meets Parthian ambassador on Euphrates
ID: 4663
91 BC
ID: 2680
Social War begins - Italian allies revolt for citizenship, Rome forced to grant it to end devastating war
ID: 2680
90s BC (7 events)
90 BC
ID: 5380
Slave raids devastate Celtic society - tribes raid each other for slaves to trade for Roman wine, Posidonius describes social collapse
ID: 5380
88 BC
ID: 2681
Sulla marches on Rome - first Roman general to lead army against Rome itself, Marius flees, constitution shattered
ID: 2681
88 BC
ID: 2991
Jannaeus crucifies 800 Pharisees - watches from banquet as victims' families killed before their eyes, thousands flee
ID: 2991
86 BC
ID: 2682
Sulla besieges Athens - massacres population, blood flows to city gates, cultural treasures looted
ID: 2682
83 BC
ID: 5921
Sibylline Books destroyed in fire - Temple of Jupiter burns, books lost, Romans send envoys across Mediterranean to collect replacement prophecies
ID: 5921
82 BC
ID: 2683
Battle of Colline Gate - Sulla defeats Samnites and Marians at Rome's gates, becomes dictator, proscription lists begin
ID: 2683
81 BC
ID: 2684
Sulla's proscriptions - 1,500 nobles killed, property confiscated, attempts to restore conservative constitution
ID: 2684
80s BC (4 events)
80 BC
ID: 5381
Druids oppose wine trade - see Roman luxury corrupting warrior culture, attempt to limit wine consumption and Roman influence
ID: 5381
76 BC
ID: 2992
Death of Alexander Jannaeus - widow Salome Alexandra becomes queen, makes peace with Pharisees, golden age
ID: 2992
73 BC
ID: 2685
Spartacus rebellion begins - gladiator leads slave revolt from Capua, defeats multiple Roman armies
ID: 2685
71 BC
ID: 2686
Spartacus defeated - Crassus crucifies 6,000 slaves along Via Appia from Capua to Rome, Pompey claims credit
ID: 2686
70s BC (8 events)
70 BC
ID: 2687
Pompey and Crassus consuls - restore tribune powers Sulla removed, rivals forced to cooperate
ID: 2687
67 BC
ID: 2688
Pompey clears Mediterranean of pirates - given extraordinary command, clears sea in three months
ID: 2688
67 BC
ID: 2993
Hasmonean civil war begins - brothers Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II fight for throne after mother Salome's death
ID: 2993
67 BC
ID: 5954
Pompey encounters Mithraism - Cilician pirates practice mysteries of Mithras, Roman soldiers adopt cult, spreads through legions
ID: 5954
65 BC
ID: 5929
Mysterious figure saves Romans from earthquake - during devastating Antioch earthquake, witnesses report giant figure (Poseidon?) holding up collapsing building, several Romans saved
ID: 5929
63 BC
ID: 2689
Catiline conspiracy crushed - Cicero exposes plot, executes conspirators without trial, hailed as 'Father of the Fatherland'
ID: 2689
63 BC
ID: 2994
Pompey conquers Jerusalem - enters Holy of Holies (shocking sacrilege), 12,000 Jews killed, Judea becomes Roman client
ID: 2994
62 BC
ID: 5955
Clodius profanes Bona Dea mysteries - dressed as woman to seduce Caesar's wife at women-only rites, Caesar divorces wife ('Caesar's wife must be above suspicion')
ID: 5955
60s BC (21 events)
60 BC
ID: 2690
First Triumvirate formed - secret alliance of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus to dominate Republic
ID: 2690
59 BC
ID: 2691
Caesar's consulship - ignores colleague Bibulus, forces through legislation, secures five-year command in Gaul
ID: 2691
58 BC
ID: 2692
Caesar begins Gallic Wars - defeats Helvetii and Ariovistus, conquest of Gaul begins
ID: 2692
57 BC
ID: 2693
Caesar conquers Belgae - toughest fighters in Gaul subdued, most of Gaul under Roman control
ID: 2693
57 BC
ID: 5514
Traditional founding of Silla kingdom in southeastern Korea with capital at Gyeongju
ID: 5514
55 BC
ID: 2694
Caesar crosses Rhine and invades Britain - first Roman to do both, more propaganda than conquest
ID: 2694
55 BC
ID: 5359
Caesar notes British tin - describes Cornwall tin mines in Gallic Wars, attempts to control trade routes
ID: 5359
55 BC
ID: 5392
Caesar describes wicker man sacrifices - claims druids burn criminals alive in huge wicker cages shaped like men
ID: 5392
55 BC
ID: 2521
August 26, 55 BC
Julius Caesar's first invasion of Britain - reconnaissance in force with two legions, fights Britons on beaches, withdraws before winter
ID: 2521
54 BC
ID: 2522
Caesar's second invasion of Britain - five legions cross Channel, defeats Cassivellaunus, extracts tribute but no permanent conquest
ID: 2522
54 BC
ID: 2695
Death of Julia - Caesar's daughter and Pompey's wife dies in childbirth, key link between them broken
ID: 2695
54 BC
ID: 3668
Ambiorix destroys Roman legion - Belgian chieftain ambushes and annihilates 15th legion in forest
ID: 3668
53 BC
ID: 2696
Battle of Carrhae - Crassus killed by Parthians, molten gold poured down throat (legend), triumvirate broken
ID: 2696
53 BC
ID: 4664
Battle of Carrhae - Parthian cavalry destroys Crassus's legions using horse archers
ID: 4664
53 BC
ID: 5893
Julius Caesar describes aurochs - writes they are 'little below elephants in size' in Hercynian Forest, fierce and untameable
ID: 5893
52 BC
ID: 2697
Siege of Alesia - Caesar defeats Vercingetorix, double circumvallation, masterpiece of siege warfare, Gaul conquered
ID: 2697
52 BC
ID: 3667
Siege of Alesia - Vercingetorix surrenders to Caesar after epic siege, Gaul conquered
ID: 3667
52 BC
ID: 5382
Cenabum massacre starts Gallic rebellion - Carnutes kill Roman merchants, signal for general uprising under Vercingetorix
ID: 5382
52 BC
ID: 5383
Siege of Avaricum - Caesar kills 40,000 inhabitants of Celtic oppidum, only 800 escape, Vercingetorix had advised abandoning it
ID: 5383
52 BC
ID: 5393
Battle of Gergovia - Vercingetorix defeats Caesar, only major Gallic victory, 700 Romans killed including 46 centurions
ID: 5393
51 BC
ID: 5399
Caesar's Gallic genocide complete - Plutarch: 1 million dead, 1 million enslaved, 300 tribes conquered, 800 cities destroyed
ID: 5399
50s BC (21 events)
50 BC
ID: 5345
Roman mining law codified - detailed regulations on claims, slaves, safety, ore processing, and taxation developed
ID: 5345
50 BC
ID: 5425
Italian wine production peaks - estimated 1.8 million hectoliters annually, massive export throughout Mediterranean and beyond
ID: 5425
50 BC
ID: 5434
Lead sweetening of wine begins - Romans use lead acetate (sapa) to sweeten wine, causes widespread lead poisoning
ID: 5434
49 BC
ID: 2698
Caesar crosses Rubicon - 'The die is cast,' civil war begins, Senate flees Rome
ID: 2698
48 BC
ID: 2699
Battle of Dyrrhachium - Pompey defeats Caesar, doesn't pursue, Caesar: 'Today the enemy would have won, if they had a commander who knew how to conquer'
ID: 2699
48 BC
ID: 2700
August 48 BC
Battle of Pharsalus - Caesar crushes Pompey despite being outnumbered, Pompey flees to Egypt
ID: 2700
48 BC
ID: 2701
September 48 BC
Murder of Pompey - killed on Egyptian beach by Ptolemy XIII trying to please Caesar, Caesar weeps at sight of head
ID: 2701
47 BC
ID: 2702
Caesar and Cleopatra - installs her as queen of Egypt, has son Caesarion, legend of carpet delivery
ID: 2702
47 BC
ID: 2703
Battle of Zela - Caesar defeats Pharnaces in five days, 'Veni, vidi, vici' - I came, I saw, I conquered
ID: 2703
47 BC
ID: 2995
Julius Caesar appoints Antipater - Idumean (Herod's father) becomes power behind weak Hyrcanus II
ID: 2995
46 BC
ID: 2704
Battle of Thapsus - Caesar defeats republicans in Africa, Cato commits suicide at Utica rather than live under Caesar
ID: 2704
46 BC
ID: 5400
Vercingetorix executed after Caesar's triumph - Gallic leader strangled in Tullianum prison after 6 years captivity, symbol of resistance dies
ID: 5400
45 BC
ID: 2705
Battle of Munda - Caesar's hardest fought victory, defeats Pompey's sons in Spain, civil war ends
ID: 2705
45 BC
ID: 2706
Julian calendar introduced - 365.25 day year with leap years, used for 1,600 years
ID: 2706
44 BC
ID: 2707
February 44 BC
Caesar refuses crown at Lupercalia - Antony offers crown three times, Caesar refuses but named dictator perpetuo
ID: 2707
44 BC
ID: 2708
March 15, 44 BC
Assassination of Julius Caesar - stabbed 23 times in Senate, 'Et tu, Brute?', falls at Pompey's statue base
ID: 2708
43 BC
ID: 2709
Second Triumvirate formed - Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus legally divide Roman world, proscription lists begin
ID: 2709
43 BC
ID: 2710
December 43 BC
Murder of Cicero - killed in proscriptions, head and hands displayed in Forum where he gave Philippics against Antony
ID: 2710
42 BC
ID: 2711
Battle of Philippi - Octavian and Antony defeat Brutus and Cassius, both commit suicide, Republic effectively dead
ID: 2711
41 BC
ID: 2712
Antony meets Cleopatra at Tarsus - arrives as Aphrodite on golden barge, begins legendary romance
ID: 2712
41 BC
ID: 5426
Cleopatra's pearl in wine - dissolves priceless pearl in vinegar/wine to win bet with Antony about hosting most expensive banquet
ID: 5426
40s BC (8 events)
40 BC
ID: 4665
Parthians invade Roman Syria - briefly control Jerusalem, install Antigonus as king
ID: 4665
40 BC
ID: 5401
Gallo-Roman villa culture emerges - Celtic aristocrats adopt Roman lifestyle, wine production begins in Gaul, hybrid culture develops
ID: 5401
37 BC
ID: 2996
Herod the Great becomes king - Roman Senate appoints Idumean as 'King of the Jews,' takes Jerusalem after siege
ID: 2996
37 BC
ID: 5512
Traditional founding date of Goguryeo kingdom in northern Korea and Manchuria
ID: 5512
36 BC
ID: 2713
Battle of Naulochus - Agrippa defeats Sextus Pompey, Lepidus tries coup, stripped of power, triumvirate becomes duumvirate
ID: 2713
36 BC
ID: 4666
Mark Antony's failed Parthian campaign - loses 30,000 men retreating through Armenia
ID: 4666
31 BC
ID: 2739
Egypt becomes Augustus's personal province - not senatorial, provides vast wealth, prefect not proconsul governs
ID: 2739
31 BC
ID: 2714
September 2, 31 BC
Battle of Actium - Agrippa defeats Antony and Cleopatra's fleet, they flee to Egypt, Octavian master of Roman world
ID: 2714
30s BC (11 events)
30 BC
ID: 4848
Hillel and Shammai establish rival schools - Two approaches to Jewish law: Hillel lenient, Shammai strict
ID: 4848
30 BC
ID: 2715
August 30 BC
Death of Antony and Cleopatra - Antony falls on sword, Cleopatra uses asp, Octavian annexes Egypt, Ptolemaic dynasty ends
ID: 2715
29 BC
ID: 2716
Octavian celebrates triple triumph - Temple of Janus closed for first time in 200 years, signifying peace
ID: 2716
29 BC
ID: 2997
Herod executes wife Mariamne - kills Hasmonean wife in paranoid rage, later executes own sons
ID: 2997
28 BC
ID: 2717
Octavian 'restores the Republic' - returns powers to Senate (facade), conducts census, begins administrative reforms
ID: 2717
27 BC
ID: 2718
January 16, 27 BC
Octavian becomes Augustus - Senate grants title and proconsular power, First Settlement creates Principate, Roman Empire begins
ID: 2718
25 BC
ID: 2740
Provincial reorganization - peaceful provinces to Senate, military frontiers to emperor, efficient administration established
ID: 2740
25 BC
ID: 5327
Las Médulas gold mining begins - Romans start largest gold mining operation in empire using ruina montium technique
ID: 5327
24 BC
ID: 3692
Queen Amanirenas fights Rome - one-eyed warrior queen battles Augustus, negotiates favorable peace
ID: 3692
23 BC
ID: 2719
Second Settlement - Augustus resigns consulship, receives tribunician power for life and imperium maius, constitutional foundation complete
ID: 2719
23 BC
ID: 5427
Horace's wine poetry - Odes celebrate specific vintages, 'wine loosens tongues and hearts,' promises immortality through verse
ID: 5427
20s BC (10 events)
20 BC
ID: 2720
Parthians return Roman standards - diplomatic triumph, eagles lost at Carrhae returned, presented as military victory
ID: 2720
20 BC
ID: 5428
Wine aging becomes investment - Roman cellars (apothecae) age wine in amphorae, vintage wines command huge prices
ID: 5428
19 BC
ID: 2721
Death of Virgil - leaves Aeneid unfinished, wants it burned, Augustus preserves it, becomes Rome's national epic
ID: 2721
19 BC
ID: 2998
Herod begins Temple reconstruction - massive beautification project, won't be fully complete until 64 AD
ID: 2998
18 BC
ID: 2722
Julian marriage laws - attempts to restore traditional morality, penalties for adultery, rewards for having children
ID: 2722
18 BC
ID: 5513
Traditional founding of Baekje kingdom in southwestern Korea
ID: 5513
15 BC
ID: 2723
Alpine regions conquered - Raetia and Noricum annexed, Alps fully under Roman control
ID: 2723
13 BC
ID: 2724
Ara Pacis consecrated - Altar of Peace celebrates Augustus's return from Gaul, masterpiece of Roman art
ID: 2724
12 BC
ID: 2725
Augustus becomes Pontifex Maximus - after Lepidus dies, controls state religion, completes power consolidation
ID: 2725
12 BC
ID: 5922
Augustus reviews Sibylline prophecies - burns 2000+ spurious prophetic books, keeps only authentic Sibylline verses, transfers to Temple of Apollo
ID: 5922
10s BC (4 events)
9 BC
ID: 2726
Battle of Teutoburg Forest - Varus loses three legions to Germanic tribes, Augustus: 'Varus, give me back my legions!'
ID: 2726
8 BC
ID: 2727
Death of Horace - great lyric poet dies, patron Maecenas dies same year, end of Augustan poetry golden age
ID: 2727
4 BC
ID: 2999
Death of Herod the Great - dies of horrible disease, kingdom divided among three sons
ID: 2999
2 BC
ID: 2728
Augustus named Pater Patriae - Father of the Fatherland, highest honor, universal recognition of achievements
ID: 2728