Chronology of Ancient Rome

Dates Events in Gladiator History Arts and Literature Politics Science and Philosophy

250-210 BC

A spectacle of 22 combats is staged at the funeral of a member of the Roman Lepidus family.

The art of the mosaic is introduced into Greece and Egypt. Second Punic War

Romans are defeated by the Carthaginians at Cannae.

Chinese astronomers make the first recorded sighting of Haley's Comet.

200-151 BC

The games of Flora, an ancient Italian fertility goddess of flowers and vegetation, were celebrated.

Venationes became an official part of state festivals, which made Romans more receptive to the carnage of beast spectacles in the arena.

The first wild-beast hunt premiered at the games.

The Venus de Milo statue is made; now in the Louvre, Paris, France.

Roman statesman and writer Marcus Porcius Cato writes his book on agriculture, De agricutura.

Terence, Roman comic and dramatist, born in Carthage.

The first Roman colony outside Italy is founded at Carteia near the Pillars of Hercules. The Greeks invent the astrolabe - the first scientific instrument.   It is used for observing the positions and the altitudes of stars

150- 101 BC

Consuls provided gladiatorial games on behalf of the state.

Gladiator training was provided to the military.

The Aqua Marcia aqueduct is built in Rome.

The magic lantern (image projector) is invented in China by Shao Ong.

The Temple of Apollo is built at Pompeii, Italy.

King Ptolemy VIII if Egypt is succeeded by shi son, Ptolemy IX who reigns jointly with his mother, Cleopatra III.

Jugurthan War

Cato dies.

The Greek stoic philosopher, Crates of Malles, in Anatolia makes the first globe.

Greek scientist, Hipparchus of Bithynia discovers the precession of the equinoxes and calculates the year to within 6.5 minutes.

100 - 51 BC

Roman General, Marcus Crassus drives the Spartacists (slave rebels led by gladiator slave, Spartacus) into the tip of the Italian Peninsula, defeats them, and has 6,000 of them crucified.

Cicero defines ludi publici/public games.

Famous display by Pompey of the Circus.  Over a thousand lions and leopards were killed, and the Roman people were shown a northern European lynx and an Indian rhinoceros for the first time.

Cicero begins a series of correspondences which are intended for publication.

The Roman General, Julius Caesar, writes his De bello gallico/ The Gallic War with the intention of winning popular support for himself.

 

Roman soldier and orator, Julius Caesar, takes his first considerable step in being appointed quaestor, a financial magistracy.

Gallic War

Greek philosopher, Poseidonius correlates tides with the lunar cycle.

The Romans produce mercury by heating the sulfide mineral cinnabar and condensing the vapors.

50 - 1 BC

Augustus restricted the praetors to two gladiatorial shows during their year of office, with a maximum of 120 participants.   Caesar is killed by a group of conspirators. 

Octavian rises to power.

 

 

 

 

* Since the Gladiatorial Era spanned many centuries, this researcher has decided to limit her study to the period of 250 BC to the first century BC.

WB01337_.gif (904 bytes) Return to Performance of Gladiators in Ancient Roman Times


Amanda Jo Chesshir, Communication Studies.
Copyright © 2001 by University of North Texas. All rights reserved.
Revised: 30 Nov 2005 14:24:27 -0600