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Events and Populations for the Roman Empire

By Paul J. Gans Department of Chemistry New York University

500-700

The heavy plow already in use in the Slavic lands by 500 AD.

Horse shoes become common.

The breast strap horse harness appears in Europe.

600-800

The heavy plow is in use in Northern Italy (the Po valley) by the 8th century.

The stirrup arrives in Europe from China in the early 8th century.

700-900

The heavy plow is in use in the Rhineland in the early 8th century.

The horse collar first appears in Europe.

The use of soap, a Gaulish invention, spreads through Europe.

Iron becomes common in Western Europe.

Paper is introduced into the Arab world.

800-1000

The first description of a rotary grindstone occurs in 834.

900-1100

The whipple tree for the tandem hitching of horses to a wagon comes into general use in the 11th century.

The use of hops in brewing beer spread between the 10th Century and the 14th.

1000-1200

The horizontal loom appears in Europe in the 11th century, and in mechanized form in the 12th century.

The first artesian well in Europe was dug in Artois (hence the name) in 1126.

The Carthusian monks first used Percussion drilling in 1126

Tidal mills first appear in Europe.

Rat traps are seemingly well-known by the 1170's.

The first usage of glass mirrors is recorded around 1180.

Windmills first recorded in 1185.

Spectacles are invented in Italy in 1285.

Arabic numbers start being mentioned in manuscripts around the start of the 13th century. Cakes of hard soap enter general use.

1100-1300

Paper is first mentioned in Europe in the early part of the 12th century.

Knowledge of magnets and magnetism was available in Western Europe by 1140.

The compass is in use in Western Europe by the middle of the 12th century.

First illustration of a wheelbarrow in the first third of the 13th century.

1200-1400

Though in use in China prior to 100 AD and in Islamic lands since the eighth century, paper usage finally spreads to western Europe in the 13th century.

Cannon first used in Europe in the first third of the 14th century.

1300-1500

First blast furnaces built in Sweden.

Population of Medieval Europe according to economics historian Carlo Cipolla

                                                                     Millions of People

Timeline for Roman History

753 B.C Mythical founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus

753 – 509 B.C Time of the Kings

509 Rome became a republic by overthrowing King Tarquin the Proud

494 B.C Revolt of Plebeians against Patricians – Plebeians  gave right to choose their own     tribunes and have a voice in government

458 B.C General Cincinnatus came out of retirement, put down his plow, and took up position        of dictator to save Rome. As soon as he won the battles he returned to Rome, resigned and returned   to his fields

451 Rome developed the first law code, the Twelve Tables

390 Gauls invaded and sacked Rome

340-338 Rome defeated Latin League

312 Began construction of first aqueduct and first major road

275 Rome controlled all of Italian peninsula

264 - 241 First War between Rome and Carthage (First Punic War

218 – 201 Second Punic War with Carthage with Hannibal leading the Carthage Army

202 Romans defeated Hannibal at battle of Zama

200 Romans used concrete for first time in Roman town of Palestrina

149-146 Third Punic War

89 Roman Citizenship extended to Latin and Italian Allies

85 Invention of heating system known as the hypocaust used in villas spread to most public baths

73-71 Slave revolt led by gladiator Spartacus

67 Pompey rid the Mediterranean sea of pirates

60 Pompey, Crassus and Julius Caesar formed alliance known as First Triumvirate

58 –51 Julius Caesar conquered all of Gaul – current day France

55-54 Julius Caesar attacked Britain

49 Julius Caesar ordered to disband army – instead began civil war

49-45 Civil war with Julius Caesar the winner

44 Julius Caesar assassinated on the Ides of March (15^th)

44-30 Civil war between Marcus Antony and Octavian

42 Hortensia argued that taxes on rich women were unfair

31 B.C. Marcus Antony and Cleopatra defeated at battle of Actium

30 B.C. Marcus Antony and Cleopatra escaped to Egypt and committed suicide

27 B.C. Beginning of Empire age with Octavian claiming title of Augustus and assuming all the   power of the magistrates in the Roman government beginning of the Pax Romana   (peace of Rome)

6 A.D. Vigils developed to protect and fight fires in city of Rome under Augustus

19 A.D.  Pont du Guard aqueduct in Gaul ( France) built, still stands today

30 A.D. Jesus Christ Crucified in Jerusalem

64 Great fire in Rome – Nero blamed Christians and began persecution

66-73 Jewish Revolt

79 Vesuvius erupted burying towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum

80 Colosseum finished

96- 138 Empire reached greatest extent under Emperors Trajan (96-117) and Hadrian (117-138)

121- 126 Hadrian’s wall built in Britain

130 Hadrian ordered building of Pantheon in Rome197 Roman soldiers given permission to marry during tour of duty

235 – 285 Time of Anarchy, uncertainty who was legitimate Emperor for much of the time

293 Diocletian split empire into four sections ruled by two co-emperors

303 Persecution of Christians

312 Constantine I invaded Italy and took over with Licinius

313 Edict of Milan gave freedom of worship to Christian church, Christianity became official religion of Empire

324 Constantine I defeated Licinius and took over sole rule of Empire

330 Capitol moved from Rome to Constantinople (current day Istanbul) by Constantine I

395 Empire divided into East and West

410 Rome lost control of Britain

452 Attila the Hun invaded Italy – stayed out of Rome as request
of Pope Leo I

453 Attila the Hun died

455 Rome sacked by Vandals

476 Fall of the Western Roman Empire by invasion of Goths

533-554 Justinian began to recapture Western Roman Empire

554-1453 Eastern Empire survived as the Byzantine Empire

1453 Byzantine Empire defeated by Ottoman Turks