A Chronology Of Early Italian History

Period	Events in the Italian area	Principal events in the rest of the Mediterranean
16th-15th centuries BC	Middle Bronze Age (Appennine) civilisation - Peoples speaking various types of Indo-European language already present in Italy, with some intermixture between themselves and with the indigenous populations - Mycenaean influences (Mycenaean 1 and II)	Flowering in Greece of the late Helladic (Mycenaean) culture - Mycenaean conquest of Crete - in Egypt, rule of the Eighteenth Dynasty: Egypt dominant in the Near East
14th-13th centuries BC	Late Bronze Age (late Appenine or sub-Apennine) civilisation - Mycenaean influence at its height (Mycenaean IIIA and B), with probable presence of Mycenaean visitors in southern and Tyrrhenian coastal Italy and the islands	Mycenaean political-economic system: centralised power, wide presence in the Mediterranean - Nineteenth Dynasty in Egypt and flowering of the Hittite empire in Asia Minor -first movements of the Peoples of the Sea
c. 1200		Traditional dating of the Trojan war
12th-11th centuries BC	Final Bronze Age ('Proto-Villanovan') civilisation - ethnic movements: Iapygians into Apulia; Ausonians, Sicels, etc. into Aeolian Is. and Sicily – last phase of Mycenaean influence (Mycenaean III C) and weakening of links with Aegean	Crisis in eastern Med. and Near East: 'Peoples of the Sea' (PIst, Trš, Šrdn, Šklš, etc. : possibly connected with Italian area) - decline and breakup of Mycenaean system -sub-Mycenaean and protogeometric styles of pottery
10th century BC	last stage of Late Bronze Age civilisation - regional differentiation begins, related to future ethnic groupings	possible start of Phoenician voyages and colonisations in the west
9th century BC	Iron Age civilisation: different forms in different ethnic groups: Palaeo-ltalic' in fossa-culture area, lapygian in Apulia, first eastern Italic peoples in middle Adriatic and central Apennine area, Latins in Latium, Etruscans in area of Villanovan culture, palaeo-Veneti in Ateste cultural area - Villanovan expansion northwards (EmiliaRomagna) and southwards (Salerno region)	Oligarchic regimes replace Greek monarchies - formation of the polis - civilisation characterised by geometric style Phoenician cities in western Mediterranean
c. 800		Foundation of Carthage
8th century BC	Etruscan voyages towards southern Tyrrhenian and start of Etruscan 'thalassocracy' -pottery in geometric style arrives in Tyrrhenian Italy	Greeks begin to undertake voyages and colonial expeditions to the west
c. 775	Greek colony of Pithecusae founded on Ischia by Euboeans, Cumae on Campanian coast founded shortly after
c. 750	Euboeans found Naxos, Megarians found Megara Hyblaea in Sicily Marked development of late Villanovan civilisation in Etruria - social differentiation, emergence of a ruling class -formation of cities in Etruria, Latium, Campania (753 is the traditional date of Rome's founding)	Carthage domination of Western seas Tiglathpileser III founds second Assyrian Empire
c. 730	Corinthians found Syracuse
c. 715-710	Achaeans found Sybaris and Croton, Laconians (Spartans) found Tarenturn First orientalising influences in Tyrrhenian Italy - introduction of alphabetic (Euboean) script in Etruria	Syrian states annexed by Assyria Orientalising fashions spread in Greece
7th century BC c. 700-670	Rhodians and Cretans found Gela, Locrians found Locri Epizephyrii, Greeks from Colophon found Siris Orientalising civilisation reaches full development in Etruria, and affects Latium - Caere and Praeneste flourish - Sabines at Rome	Assyrian conquest of Egypt (671)
c. 650	Selinus founded from Megara Hyblaea Corinthian influence - developed orientalising stage -terracotta begins to be used as decorative material for building	Rule of tyrants at Corinth: Kypselos (657-627), Periander (627-585) Marked flowering of Corinthian civilisation and power - 'Daedalic' and Peloponnesian art develops in Greece First eastern Greek long distance voyages in the west: Kolaios of Samos reaches Tartessus in Iberia
c. 615	The Etruscans at Rome ('period of Tarquinius Priscus') culmination of Etruscan 'thalassocracy' and trade, as well as of Etruscan expansion by land	Maritime expansion of the Phocaeans - founding of Massalia (Marseilles) Fall of Ninevah - Collapse of Assyrian empire (612) Lydian Empire in Asia Minor (c 610)
c. 600	Possible first incursion of Celts into northern Italy	Solon's reforms at Athens
6th century BC c. 580	Greeks from Cnidos and Rhodes in Aeolian Islands -Agrigento founded from Cela Sybaris flourishes in Southern Italy Vulci flourishes in Etruria	Social and civil conflict at Miletus
c. 575-530	Possible start of social and civil conflicts in central Italy - Exploits of Mastarna and the Vibenna brothers - 'Servian period' and reforms attibuted to Servius Tullius	Carthage rises to prominence among the Phoenician cities in the west Croesus king of Lydia (560 - 547) Persians conquer Lydia (547)
545		Cyrus king of the Persians conquers Asia Minor -Phocaeans flee to the west, joining other Phocaeans already established in Corsica
c. 540	Etruscan-Carthaginian coalition against Phocaeans of Corsica - naval battle of the Sardinian Sea - in consequence, Etruscans establish control of Corsica, and Carthage takes first steps towards conquest of Sardinia
535-530	Phocaeans fleeing Corsica found Velia - Samians found Dicaearchia (Pozzuoli) - Pythagoras in Italy Eastem-Greek (Ionic) art spreads widely in Italy Possible alliance of Sardinians (Serdaioi?) with Sybaris against the Carthaginian threat
c. 530-510	Reaction and tyrannical rule at Rome: 'period of Tarquin the Proud' - Rome gains dominion over Latium
525	Etruscans at war with Cumae: they are defeated and Aristodemus rises to prominence	Cambyses conquers Egypt Darius I (521 - 486) King of Persia
510-509	Sybaris defeated and destroyed by Croton Traditional date of the fall of the monarchy and the founding of the republic at Rome -first treaty between Rome and Carthage Expansion of Clusium - king Lars Porsenna at Rome	Time of the ending of tyranny at Hippias and introduction of democracy in Athens
c.504 5th century BC	Battle of Aricia: Aruns Porsenna is defeated by Aristodernus of Cumae allied with the Latins Sardinia conquered by the Carthaginians: the campaigns of the Magonids
499-498		Ionians revolt against the Persians in Asia Minor
495	Anaxilas tyrant at Reggio	Sack of Miletus (494)
490	Probable approximate period of the pro-Carthaginian tyranny of Thefarie Velianas at Caere - beginning of Volscian penetration into Latium	First Persian war: Darius' offensive, battle of Marathon -Massalian Greeks defeat Carthage at Cape Artemisium
485	Gelon tyrant at Syracuse	Xerxes in Persia (486 - 465)
480	Victory of Gelon over Carthaginians at Himera	Second Persian war: battles of Thermopylae and Salamis; followed by battles of Plataea and Mykale (479), which conclude the war
478	Hiero tyrant at Syracuse	Start of '50 years of peace' in Greece - dominance of Athens - naval league of Delos
477
474	Naval battle of Cumae: Etruscans defeated by Hiero and the Cumaeans
473	Successful Messapian offensive against Tarenturn: possible Messapian advance as far as Reggio Development of inland Etruscan cities and flourishing of Po-Adriatic region of Etruscan civilisation (Bologna: civilisation of Certosa, Marzabotto, Spina)
468	Appius Herdonius the Sabine makes an incursion into Rome
460-451	Campaigns of Ducetius, the Siculan chieftain	Period of greatest flowering of Greek civilisation, literature and art - Athens under Pericles
454-453	Expeditions of Syracusan admirals Phayllus and Apelles against the seas and northern coasts of Etruria Athens, on the initiative of Pericles, attempts to establish a footing in southern Italy and Sicily
446-444	Pan-Hellenic foundation of Thurii on site of Sybaris	Construction of the Parthenon begins in Athens (447)
c.440-430	Samnites press on Campania: formation of the Campanian people	Periclean age in Athens (447-432)
431-421	Plato is born (429)	First phase of the Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta (Archidamian war)
423	Samnites occupy Capua: end of the Etruscan dominion in Campania
420	Curnae occupied by the Campanians: moves to wards Greco-Campanian condominium at Neapolis
415-413	Athenian expedition against Syracuse -an Etruscan contingent (perhaps from Tarquinii, under Veltur Spurinna?) fights alongside the Athenians, with some military success - disastrous overall outcome of the campaign
413-404		Last phase of Peloponnesian war and final defeat of Athens by the Spartans and Persians
409	Carthaginian counter-attack in Sicily: capture of Selinus and Himera
406-404	Carthaginians conquer Agrigento, Gela and Camarina - Dionysius takes power in Syracuse
4th century BC 396	Romans take and destroy Veii. Fall of Melpum	Death of Socrates (399)
c. 390	Gallic incursions in central Italy and along the Adriatic coast - constitution of the Lucanian league
387-383	Dionysius consolidates his power and pursues expansionist policies - capture of Reggio - Adriatic campaigns - foundation of Ancona - entente with the Gauls
c. 386	Gauls set fire to Rome	Dominance of Sparta
384	Fleet of Dionysius I sacks the sanctuary at Pyrgi	Plato founds the Academy (385)
383-374	War between Dionysius and Carthage in alliance with Italiote cities and Lucani -Archytas' Italiote league
371		Athenian revival - battle of Leuctra - Thebes dominant
367	Death of Dionysius, accession of Dionysius II and start of phase of anarchy in Syracuse and Sicily Probable period of Tarquinian dominance in Etruria
358-351	Tarquinians and Faliscans under Aulus Spurinna make war on Rome -king of Caere dethroned operations in Latium - slave revolt against Cilnii at Arezzo	Aristotle Mid century ; Heraclides Ponticus
356	League of the Bruttii formed -Lucanians exert growing pressure on Italiote cities - threatening presence of Messapians who conquer Metapontum and Heraclea	Philip of Macedon begins expansionist policy in Greece
343-342	Timoleon at Syracuse -Archidamus king of Sparta at Tarentum First Samnite War (343-341)
340-338	Rome's victorious war against the Latins, Volscians and Campanians – formation of a Roman -Latin-CampanianLeague
338		Battle of Chaeronea and imposition of Macedonian dominion on Greece
336		Death of Philip and accession of Alexander the Great
334---323		Alexander's conquests in the east, followed by his death
c. 333-330	Campaigns of Alexander of Molossia in southern Italy
326-304	Rome at war with the Samnites – Roman relations with Apulia
318-289	Agathocles tyrant of Syracuse and thus king of the Siceliotes (Creeks of Sicily) -he makes war on Carthage, with Etruscan help, and mounts an expedition into Africa - his campaigns in southern Italy
315-314	Acrotatus of Sparta's Sicilian expedition
311-309	Etruscan League (with exception of Arretium) beseiges Roman colony of Sutrium. Etruscans defeated at Perusia - seige lifted
308	Truce with Perusia and Arretium, and 40 year truce with Tarquinii.
306	Roman-Carthaginian treaty granting Italy to Rome, Sicily to Carthage
303-302	War resumes. Rome intervenes in civil war at Arretium between Cilnii and rest of people. Cleonymus of Sparta's southern Italian expedition: he makes an alliance with Tarenturn against the Lucanians
3rd century BC 298	War between Rome and Falerii and Volaterrae
296-295	Anti-Roman coalition of Samnites, Gauls, Etruscans and Umbrians. Samnites and Gauls defeated at Sentinum with massive losses. Roman victories over the Etruscans.	Hellenistic civilisation and art in Greece and under the Diadochi in the Orient
294	Truces with Volsinii, Perusia and Arretium, but war persists with other Etruscans.
293	Falerii rebels against Rome and is defeated.
285	Volsinii rebels and is defeated. Agathocles' Campanian mercenaries found the state of the Mamertines at Messina
285-282	Roman victories over the GalIi Senones , conquest of the ager Gallicus - battle of Lake Vadimo - hostilities against the Samnites, Lucanians and Bruttians - Roman occupation of the Greek cities of southern Italy (Thurii, Locri, Reggio)
281	Volsinii and Vulci defeated
280	Tarquinii defeated
280-273	Rome makes war on Tarentum - Pyrrhus king of Epirus in Italy: his initial victories over the Romans and unsuccessful expedition against the Carthaginians in Sicily; he is defeated at Benevento (275) and leaves Italy Tarentum surrenders
273	Conquest of Caere
265	Popular revolution at Volsinii: the Romans conquer the city and move its site
264-241	First Punic War
224	Gallic coalition against Rome -battle of Telamon - in consequence Romans occupy Gallic lands in the Po plain
218-201	Second Punic war - Hannibal in Italy
2nd Century BC 199-196	Rome reconquers northern Italy	Rome's war with Macedonia -start of Roman campaigns and conquests in the eastern Mediterranean with the military aid of the Italic allies
186	Repression of the Bacchanalia, the Dionysiac cult widespread amongst the Italic allies
166		Free port at Delos - Italic negotiatores become active in the Orient
149-146	Gradual admission of elements of the slave population to citizenship in northern Etruria	3rd Punic war: destruction of Carthage - Rome's domination of the Mediterranean is definitively confirmed
134-132	Slave war in Sicily
133	Agrarian reforms and death of Tiberius Gracchus Discontent among the Italic allies
125	Revolt and destruction of Fregellae
123-121	Laws proposed favouring the Italic allies; death of Gaius Gracchus
1st century BC 91	Killing of Livius Drusus the tribune, favourably disposed to the Italic peoples, and outbreak of the Social War involving Oscan-speaking peoples of central and southern Italy - proposal of the Lex Iulia granting Roman citizenship to Italic peoples
90-87	Continuation and gradual fading out of Social War -Marius and his democratic and pro-Italic party in the ascendant at Rome	Italians massacred in the Orient and war with Mithridates king of Pontus - possible contacts between Mithridates and the Italic insurgents
83-82	Sulla returns from the east and carries out repressive policies towards Italic elements -
72-71	Samnite contingents defeated at the battles of Sacriporto, Porta Collina and Palestrina, -Sulla acts against the Etruscans Spartacus' slave war
49-42	Provisions for the granting of Roman citizenship to the northern Italian populations
41-40	War with Perugia: end of traditional Etruscan milieu
1st Century AD 27 BC-14 AD	Rule of emperor Augustus
41-54 AD	Rule of emperor Claudius
117-138 AD	Rule of emperor Hadrian
Late 2nd -3rd century AD	Italic traditions reassert themselves in official Roman art
4th-5th centuries AD	Last evidence concerning the activities of the haruspices (augurs)