Roman
Timeline 3rd Century BC |
Year |
Event |
| 299 BC |
The Romans capture the territory of Narnia. |
| 298 BC |
An alliance is formed with the Picentes, and Gauls raid Roman territory. |
| 298 - 290 BC |
Third Samnite War. Rome secures Campania and much of Southern Italy. |
| 298 BC |
The Romans capture the Samnite cities of Taurasia, Bovianum Vetus and
Aufidena. |
| 295 BC |
Roman victory over Samnites, Gauls and Umbirnas at Sentinum. |
| 294 BC |
Samnite victory at Luceria. |
| 293 BC |
The Romans achieve a victory over the Samnite forces at the battle of
Aquilonia. |
| 292 BC |
The rebellious city of Falerii is reduced by the Romans. |
| 291 BC |
The Romans storm the Samnite city of Venusia. |
| 290 BC |
The Sabines are conquered by Man. Curius Dentatus. End of the Third Samnite
War. |
| 290 BC |
Establishment of the triumviri capitales occurs in Rome. |
| 290 BC |
The construction on the Great Library of Alexandria is completed and the
structure is dedicated in Egypt. |
| 287 BC |
Introduction of the triumviri monetales (official mint supervisors) to
control the minting of coins. |
| 287 BC |
Plebian dictator Q. Hortensius is appointed, and passes the lex Hortensia,
which gives plebiscites power at law. |
| 284 BC |
The Gallic Senones renew their incursions into Roman territory and lay
siege to the city of Arretium, defeating the army of the consul L. Caecilius
Metellus. |
| 283 BC |
Boii defeated at Lake Vadimo. |
| 282 BC |
Rome conquers territory still held by the Gauls along the Adriatic, Roman
Fleet attacked by Tarentum. |
| 282 - 275 BC |
War against King Phyrrus of Epirus. |
| 282 BC |
Approximated date of the completion of the wonder of the world, the Colossus
of Rhodes. |
| 280 BC |
Battle of Heraclea, in which Pyrrhus defeats a Roman force under the command
of P. Valerius Laevinus. |
| 280 BC |
The Great Lighthouse is built on the island of Pharos in the harbor of
Alexandria by King Ptolemy II in Egypt. |
| 279 BC |
Battle of Asculum, in Apulia. Pyrrhus defeats another Roman army under
the command of G. Fabricius Luscinus. |
| 278 BC |
Roman treaty with Carthage. Pyrrhus leaves Italy for Sicily. |
| 275 BC |
Pyrrhus returns to Italy but is defeated near Malventum and leaves Italy
for good. |
| 272 BC |
A second aqueduct, the Anio Vetus, is built. |
| 272 BC |
Surrender of Tarentum. |
| 270 BC |
Capture of Rhegium. |
| 269 BC |
Beggining of official coinage of the Roman state. |
| 268 BC |
Picentes conquered and granted limited citizenship. |
| 267 BC |
The Romans capture the city of Brundisium. |
| 266 BC |
Apulia and Messapia reduced to alliance securing the Italian Peninsula
for Rome. |
| 264 BC |
Introduction of gladiator shows in Rome. Capture of Volsinii. Roman
alliance with Mamertines. |
| 264 BC |
An alliance between the Romans and a group of mercenaries called Mamertines
is signed. |
| 264 BC |
Start of the First Punic War. The Mamertines called to Rome for help after
being attacked by Carthage. |
| 264 - 241 BC |
The First Punic War between Rome and Carthage. |
| 263 BC |
Hiero of Syracuse becomes ally of Rome. |
| 263 BC |
The first sundial is brought to Rome from Sicily. |
| 262 BC |
Agrigentum captured by Rome. |
| 260 BC |
Rome builds its first major fleet and defeats Carthage at Mylae. |
| 259 BC |
Romans occupy Corsica. |
| 258 BC |
Minor naval victory of Sulci. |
| 257 BC |
Naval victory of Tyndaris. |
| 256 BC |
Major naval victory of Ecnomus. |
| 256 - 255 BC |
An expeditionary force sent to Africa under M. Regulus ends in disaster. |
| 255 BC |
Battle of Bagradas in Africa, in which the invading Roman army under M.
Regulus was virtually destroyed by the Carthaginians under the mercenary
leader Xanthippus, a Spartan. |
| 255 BC |
A part of the Roman fleet is wrecked off the coast near Pachynus. |
| 254 BC |
Capture of the city of Panormus. |
| 254 BC |
Birth of the Roman comedy playwright Plautus, in the town of Sarsina,
Umbria, in Italy. |
| 253 BC |
First plebeian Pontifex Maximus. |
| 253 BC |
A small Roman fleet is wrecked off the coast of Sicily near the town of
Palinurus. |
| 249 BC |
Carthaginian naval victory at Drepana. |
| 247 BC |
Birth of the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca. |
| 247 BC |
Hamilcar Barca begins offensive in Sicily. |
| 241 BC |
Naval victory off Aegates Insulae. Peace with Carthage. Occupation of
Sicily which is made a Roman province. |
| 241 BC |
Construction of the Via Aurelia from Rome to Pisa. |
| 240 BC |
The Roman poet and writer Livius Andronicus produces the first Latin literature
in Rome. |
| 239 BC |
Birth of the writer Quintus Ennius, born at the town of Rudiae in Calabria. |
| 238 BC |
Annexation of Sardinia and Corsica. |
| 237 BC |
Hamilcar Barca goes to Spain. |
| 236 BC |
Birth of the Roman general P. Cornelius Scipio, later Africanus. |
| 236 BC |
Gallic raids in northern Italy. |
| 234 BC |
Birth of the Roman statesman and general Cato the Censor in Tusculum. |
| 233 BC |
Roman general Q. Fabius Maximus Verrucosus wins a victory over the Gallic
Ligurians. |
| 232 BC |
T. Flaminius passes a law for the distribution of the ager Gallicus. |
| 229 - 228 BC |
First Illyrian War - Romans start war with Queen Teuta. |
| 228 BC |
Death of the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca. |
| 226 BC |
Treaty defining river Iberus (Ebro) as border of influence between Rome
and Carthage. |
| 225 BC |
Invading Gauls defeated in northern Italy. |
| 223 BC |
T. Flaminius is victorious in a war against the tribe the Insubres. |
| 222 BC |
Battle of Clastidium under the Roman general M. Claudius Marcellus, the
Gallic Insubres of Cisalpine Gaul and their chieftain Viridomarus surrender |
| 221 BC |
The Spanish allied city of Saguntum appeals to Rome for help against Hannibal
who succeeds to power in Carthaginian Spain. |
| 220 BC |
Construction begins on a new circus to be built on the Campus Martius.
It was built by T. Flaminius, and is known as the Circus Flaminius. |
| 220 BC |
The via Flaminia is built by the general T. Flaminius. It connects Italy
to northern Greece. |
| 219 BC |
Capture of town of Saguntum by Hannibal. |
| 219 BC |
Second Illyrian War, ending in conquest of Illyria. |
| 219 BC |
The first foreign surgeon to practice in Rome arrives in the city. |
| 218 - 202 BC |
Second Punic War. |
| 218 BC |
Hannibal crosses Alps and arrives in northern Italy. Battle of Ticinus
and Battle of Trebia. |
| 218 BC |
Lex Claudia is passed, which prohibits senators from owning vessels with
the ability to be launched at sea. |
| 217 BC |
Battle of Lake Trasimene under Roman commander Gaius Flaminius. This ends
in victory for the Carthaginians. |
| 217 BC |
Elevation of Q. Fabius Maximus later (Verucosis Cunctator) to Dictator. |
| 217 BC |
The Romans gain a victory in a naval encounter near the Ebro River. |
| 217 BC |
The Saturnalia festival is established. During the festival, masters were
required to wait on their servants. |
| 216 BC |
Hannibal crushes a large Roman army at the Battle of Cannae under commanders
G. Terentius Varro and L. Aemilius Paullus. |
| 216 BC |
Hannibal marches through the district of Cannae into Campania, and begins
to plunder and ravage the countryside. Capua revolts against Rome. |
| 215 BC |
Hasdrubal defeated by Cn. and P. Cornelius Scipio at Dertosa, Spain. |
| 215 BC |
Battle of Nola. |
| 214 - 205 BC |
First Macedonian War. |
| 213 BC |
Siege of Syracuse in Sicily begins. |
| 213 BC |
Hannibal captured Tarentum. |
| 212 BC |
Romans besiege the city of Capua. |
| 212 BC |
The senate decrees the start of a new festival, the Ludi Apollinares. |
| 212 BC |
The introduction of a new coinage to Rome, the denarius. |
| 211 BC |
Hannibal's march on Rome. Fall of Capua and Syracuse. Defeat of the Scipios
in Spain. |
| 211 BC |
Rome enters into an alliance with the Aetolians against Macedonia. |
| 210 BC |
P. Cornelius Scipio (later Africanus) is given the command in Spain. |
| 209 BC |
Recapture of Tarentum. Capture of Carthago Nova. |
| 208 BC |
Scipio defeats army of Hasdrubal Barca near the town of Baecula. |
| 207 BC |
Victory for Rome in the Battle of Metaurus River. |
| 206 BC |
Battle of Ilipa. Victory for Rome in Spain. |
| 205 BC |
Scipio to Sicily. |
| 205 BC |
End of the First Macedonian War, essentially ends in a stalemate. |
| 205 BC |
The worship of the cult of Magna Mater is introduced to Rome from Phrygia. |
| 204 BC |
Scipio Invades Africa. |
| 203 BC |
Scipio defeats Syphax and wins battle of the Great Plains. Hannibal recalled
to Carthage. |
| 203 BC |
King Syphax of Numidia is defeated and captured in the battle of Cirta. |
| 202 BC |
Scipio defeats Hannibal at the Battle of Zama. End of the Second Punic
War. |
| 200 BC |
Birth of the Greek historian Polybius, in Megalopolis, Arcadia, Greece. |
| 200 - 197 BC |
Second Macedonian War. |
| 200 BC |
Romans sack the Macedonian town of Acanthus. |