Roman Timeline of the 3rd Century BC

Year	Event
299 BC	The Romans capture the territory of Narnia.
298 BC	An alliance is formed with the Picentes, and Gauls raid Roman territory.
298 - 290 BC	Third Samnite War. Rome secures Campania and much of Southern Italy.
298 BC	The Romans capture the Samnite cities of Taurasia, Bovianum Vetus and Aufidena.
295 BC	Roman victory over Samnites, Gauls and Umbirnas at Sentinum.
294 BC	Samnite victory at Luceria.
293 BC	The Romans achieve a victory over the Samnite forces at the battle of Aquilonia.
292 BC	The rebellious city of Falerii is reduced by the Romans.
291 BC	The Romans storm the Samnite city of Venusia.
290 BC	The Sabines are conquered by Man. Curius Dentatus. End of the Third Samnite War.
290 BC	Establishment of the triumviri capitales occurs in Rome.
290 BC	The construction on the Great Library of Alexandria is completed and the structure is dedicated in Egypt.
287 BC	Introduction of the triumviri monetales (official mint supervisors) to control the minting of coins.
287 BC	Plebian dictator Q. Hortensius is appointed, and passes the lex Hortensia, which gives plebiscites power at law.
284 BC	The Gallic Senones renew their incursions into Roman territory and lay siege to the city of Arretium, defeating the army of the consul L. Caecilius Metellus.
283 BC	Boii defeated at Lake Vadimo.
282 BC	Rome conquers territory still held by the Gauls along the Adriatic, Roman Fleet attacked by Tarentum.
282 - 275 BC	War against King Phyrrus of Epirus.
282 BC	Approximated date of the completion of the wonder of the world, the Colossus of Rhodes.
280 BC	Battle of Heraclea, in which Pyrrhus defeats a Roman force under the command of P. Valerius Laevinus.
280 BC	The Great Lighthouse is built on the island of Pharos in the harbor of Alexandria by King Ptolemy II in Egypt.
279 BC	Battle of Asculum, in Apulia. Pyrrhus defeats another Roman army under the command of G. Fabricius Luscinus.
278 BC	Roman treaty with Carthage. Pyrrhus leaves Italy for Sicily.
275 BC	Pyrrhus returns to Italy but is defeated near Malventum and leaves Italy for good.
272 BC	A second aqueduct, the Anio Vetus, is built.
272 BC	Surrender of Tarentum.
270 BC	Capture of Rhegium.
269 BC	Beggining of official coinage of the Roman state.
268 BC	Picentes conquered and granted limited citizenship.
267 BC	The Romans capture the city of Brundisium.
266 BC	Apulia and Messapia reduced to alliance securing the Italian Peninsula for Rome.
264 BC	Introduction of gladiator shows in Rome. Capture of Volsinii. Roman alliance with Mamertines.
264 BC	An alliance between the Romans and a group of mercenaries called Mamertines is signed.
264 BC	Start of the First Punic War. The Mamertines called to Rome for help after being attacked by Carthage.
264 - 241 BC	The First Punic War between Rome and Carthage.
263 BC	Hiero of Syracuse becomes ally of Rome.
263 BC	The first sundial is brought to Rome from Sicily.
262 BC	Agrigentum captured by Rome.
260 BC	Rome builds its first major fleet and defeats Carthage at Mylae.
259 BC	Romans occupy Corsica.
258 BC	Minor naval victory of Sulci.
257 BC	Naval victory of Tyndaris.
256 BC	Major naval victory of Ecnomus.
256 - 255 BC	An expeditionary force sent to Africa under M. Regulus ends in disaster.
255 BC	Battle of Bagradas in Africa, in which the invading Roman army under M. Regulus was virtually destroyed by the Carthaginians under the mercenary leader Xanthippus, a Spartan.
255 BC	A part of the Roman fleet is wrecked off the coast near Pachynus.
254 BC	Capture of the city of Panormus.
254 BC	Birth of the Roman comedy playwright Plautus, in the town of Sarsina, Umbria, in Italy.
253 BC	First plebeian Pontifex Maximus.
253 BC	A small Roman fleet is wrecked off the coast of Sicily near the town of Palinurus.
249 BC	Carthaginian naval victory at Drepana.
247 BC	Birth of the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca.
247 BC	Hamilcar Barca begins offensive in Sicily.
241 BC	Naval victory off Aegates Insulae. Peace with Carthage. Occupation of Sicily which is made a Roman province.
241 BC	Construction of the Via Aurelia from Rome to Pisa.
240 BC	The Roman poet and writer Livius Andronicus produces the first Latin literature in Rome.
239 BC	Birth of the writer Quintus Ennius, born at the town of Rudiae in Calabria.
238 BC	Annexation of Sardinia and Corsica.
237 BC	Hamilcar Barca goes to Spain.
236 BC	Birth of the Roman general P. Cornelius Scipio, later Africanus.
236 BC	Gallic raids in northern Italy.
234 BC	Birth of the Roman statesman and general Cato the Censor in Tusculum.
233 BC	Roman general Q. Fabius Maximus Verrucosus wins a victory over the Gallic Ligurians.
232 BC	T. Flaminius passes a law for the distribution of the ager Gallicus.
229 - 228 BC	First Illyrian War - Romans start war with Queen Teuta.
228 BC	Death of the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca.
226 BC	Treaty defining river Iberus (Ebro) as border of influence between Rome and Carthage.
225 BC	Invading Gauls defeated in northern Italy.
223 BC	T. Flaminius is victorious in a war against the tribe the Insubres.
222 BC	Battle of Clastidium under the Roman general M. Claudius Marcellus, the Gallic Insubres of Cisalpine Gaul and their chieftain Viridomarus surrender
221 BC	The Spanish allied city of Saguntum appeals to Rome for help against Hannibal who succeeds to power in Carthaginian Spain.
220 BC	Construction begins on a new circus to be built on the Campus Martius. It was built by T. Flaminius, and is known as the Circus Flaminius.
220 BC	The via Flaminia is built by the general T. Flaminius. It connects Italy to northern Greece.
219 BC	Capture of town of Saguntum by Hannibal.
219 BC	Second Illyrian War, ending in conquest of Illyria.
219 BC	The first foreign surgeon to practice in Rome arrives in the city.
218 - 202 BC	Second Punic War.
218 BC	Hannibal crosses Alps and arrives in northern Italy. Battle of Ticinus and Battle of Trebia.
218 BC	Lex Claudia is passed, which prohibits senators from owning vessels with the ability to be launched at sea.
217 BC	Battle of Lake Trasimene under Roman commander Gaius Flaminius. This ends in victory for the Carthaginians.
217 BC	Elevation of Q. Fabius Maximus later (Verucosis Cunctator) to Dictator.
217 BC	The Romans gain a victory in a naval encounter near the Ebro River.
217 BC	The Saturnalia festival is established. During the festival, masters were required to wait on their servants.
216 BC	Hannibal crushes a large Roman army at the Battle of Cannae under commanders G. Terentius Varro and L. Aemilius Paullus.
216 BC	Hannibal marches through the district of Cannae into Campania, and begins to plunder and ravage the countryside. Capua revolts against Rome.
215 BC	Hasdrubal defeated by Cn. and P. Cornelius Scipio at Dertosa, Spain.
215 BC	Battle of Nola.
214 - 205 BC	First Macedonian War.
213 BC	Siege of Syracuse in Sicily begins.
213 BC	Hannibal captured Tarentum.
212 BC	Romans besiege the city of Capua.
212 BC	The senate decrees the start of a new festival, the Ludi Apollinares.
212 BC	The introduction of a new coinage to Rome, the denarius.
211 BC	Hannibal's march on Rome. Fall of Capua and Syracuse. Defeat of the Scipios in Spain.
211 BC	Rome enters into an alliance with the Aetolians against Macedonia.
210 BC	P. Cornelius Scipio (later Africanus) is given the command in Spain.
209 BC	Recapture of Tarentum. Capture of Carthago Nova.
208 BC	Scipio defeats army of Hasdrubal Barca near the town of Baecula.
207 BC	Victory for Rome in the Battle of Metaurus River.
206 BC	Battle of Ilipa. Victory for Rome in Spain.
205 BC	Scipio to Sicily.
205 BC	End of the First Macedonian War, essentially ends in a stalemate.
205 BC	The worship of the cult of Magna Mater is introduced to Rome from Phrygia.
204 BC	Scipio Invades Africa.
203 BC	Scipio defeats Syphax and wins battle of the Great Plains. Hannibal recalled to Carthage.
203 BC	King Syphax of Numidia is defeated and captured in the battle of Cirta.
202 BC	Scipio defeats Hannibal at the Battle of Zama. End of the Second Punic War.
200 BC	Birth of the Greek historian Polybius, in Megalopolis, Arcadia, Greece.
200 - 197 BC	Second Macedonian War.
200 BC	Romans sack the Macedonian town of Acanthus.

Roman Timeline of Events - Table of Contents

Did you know...
The Library of Alexandria was once the largest in the world. It is usually assumed to have been founded at the beginning of the 3rd century BC during the reign of Ptolemy II of Egypt after his father had set up the Temple of the Muses or Museum. The Library is estimated to have stored at its peak 400,000 to 700,000 scrolls.