| 27 b.c. |
Senate grants Octavian the title Augustus, and he becomes, in effect, the
first Roman emperor; start of the principate and the Pax Romana |
| a.d. 14 |
Death of Augustus; Tiberius gains the throne |
| 66-70 |
Jewish revolt: Romans capture Jerusalem and destroy the second temple |
| 79 |
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius and destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum |
| 132-135 |
Hadrian crushes another Hebrew revolt |
| 180 |
Marcus Aurelius dies: end of the Pax Romana |
| 212 |
Roman citizenship is granted to virtually all free inhabitants of Roman provinces |
| 235-285 |
Military anarchy; Germanic incursions |
| 285-305 |
Diocletian tries to deal with the crisis by creating a regimented state |
| 378 |
Battle of Adrianople: Visigoths defeat the Roman legions |
| 406 |
Imperial borders collapse, and Germanic tribes move into the Empire |
| 410 |
Rome is plundered by Visigoths |
| 455 |
Rome is sacked by Vandals |
| 476 |
End of the Roman Empire in the West |
