(All dates are B.C.)
|
480–479 |
The Persian Empire invades Greece, led by King Xerxes, and is defeated. |
|
356 |
Birth of Alexander |
|
338 |
Macedon defeats Greeks at Battle of Chaeronea; Alexander commands cavalry |
|
336 |
Philip of Macedon is assassinated; Alexander becomes king. |
|
May–June 334 |
Alexander invades Persian Empire; Battle of the Granicus River |
|
Autumn 334 |
Siege of Halicarnassus |
|
June 333 |
Death of Memnon of Rhodes |
|
November 333 |
Battle of Issus |
|
January–August 332 |
Siege of Tyre |
|
331 |
Greek revolt against Macedon |
|
October 1, 331 |
Battle of Gaugamela |
|
330 |
Alexander burns Persepolis; death of Darius; execution of Parmenio and Philotas |
|
330–327 |
Campaigns in Bactria and Sogdiana |
|
May 326 |
Battle of the Hydaspes |
|
July 326 |
Mutiny in India |
|
325 |
Alexander returns to Iran |
|
324–323 |
Alexander prepares invasion of Arabia |
|
Summer 324 |
Banquet at Opis |
|
Autumn 324 |
Death of Hephaestion |
|
June 10, 323 |
Death of Alexander |
|
280–275 |
Pyrrhus’s invasion of Italy and Sicily |
|
264–241 |
First Punic War |
|
247 |
Birth of Hannibal |
|
237 |
Hamilcar Barca goes to Spain, taking Hannibal with him |
|
228 |
Death of Hamilcar; Hasdrubal the Handsome, Hamilcar’s son-in-law, now in command in Spain |
|
226 |
Ebro treaty |
|
221 |
Death of Hasdrubal the Handsome; Hannibal now in command in Spain |
|
219 |
Hannibal captures Saguntum after eight-month siege; Rome issues ultimatum |
|
218–201 |
Second Punic War |
|
Autumn 218 |
Hannibal crosses the Alps; leaves his brother, Hasdrubal, in charge of Spain |
|
November 218 |
Battle of the Ticinus River |
|
December 218 |
Battle of the Trebia River |
|
Spring 217 |
Romans defeat Carthaginian fleet off the Ebro River in Spain |
|
June 21, 217* |
Battle of Lake Trasimene |
|
Summer–Fall 217 |
Fabius is appointed dictator and begins delaying strategy |
|
August 2, 216 |
Battle of Cannae |
|
Late 216 |
Capua joins Hannibal |
|
215 |
Alliance between Hannibal and Macedonian king Philip V; Syracuse joins Hannibal |
|
212 |
Hannibal takes Tarentum but Romans hold the citadel; Rome retakes Syracuse |
|
211 |
Hannibal marches on Rome; Rome retakes Capua |
|
210 |
Scipio takes New Carthage |
|
209 |
Battle of Baecula; Rome retakes Tarentum |
|
207 |
Battle of the Metaurus River; death of Hasdrubal, Hannibal’s brother |
|
206 |
Battle of Ilipa |
|
205 |
Mago invades Italy; Hannibal places inscription in temple of Hera Lacinia |
|
203 |
Hannibal returns to Africa; death of Mago |
|
Autumn 202 |
Battle of Zama |
|
201 |
Carthage agrees to treaty with Rome ending Second Punic War |
|
196 |
Hannibal serves as chief magistrate of Carthage |
|
195–183 |
Hannibal in the East |
|
183 |
Death of Hannibal |
|
149–146 |
Third Punic War |
|
146 |
Carthage is destroyed |
|
100 |
Birth of Caesar |
|
82–81 |
Sulla is dictator |
|
66–62 |
Pompey conquers the East |
|
61–60 |
Caesar campaigns in western Spain |
|
58–50 |
Caesar conquers Gaul |
|
January 12, 49 |
Caesar crosses the Rubicon |
|
February 49 |
Siege of Corfinium |
|
March 17, 49 |
Pompey evacuates Brundisium |
|
Spring–Autumn 49 |
Siege of Massilia |
|
June–August 49 |
Battle of Ilerda |
|
January 4, 48 |
Caesar crosses the Adriatic Sea |
|
April–July 48 |
Dyrrachium campaign |
|
August 9, 48 |
Battle of Pharsalus |
|
September 28, 48 |
Death of Pompey |
|
Autumn 48 |
Caesar meets Cleopatra |
|
Winter 48–Spring 47 |
Caesar’s war in Egypt |
|
August 2, 47 |
Battle of Zela |
|
December 25, 47 |
Caesar leaves Rome for Africa |
|
46 |
Carthage refounded as a Roman colony |
|
April 6, 46 |
Battle of Thapsus |
|
Summer 46 |
Caesar celebrates four triumphs |
|
March 17, 45 |
Battle of Munda |
|
October 45 |
Caesar celebrates fifth triumph |
|
February 44 |
Caesar named dictator for life |
|
March 15, 44 |
Caesar assassinated |
* All specific months and days in this list, from this point on, follow the Roman calendar in use at the time.