No one knows for sure when the city of Rome was founded. Perhaps that is one of the reasons it is referred to as "the eternal city." Legend has it that Rome was founded in 753 BC by twin brothers Romulus and Remus. The legend says that these two were cast in the Tiber River as babes and then washed ashore to be suckled by a she-wolf until they were found by a shepherd and raised to manhood. For about 150 years Rome was content to be an enlightened city-state fashioned along the lines of the great city-states of Greece. Expansion soon began and continued almost unabated for over 600 years. The major highlights in the history of Rome from city to empire are listed below.

• 753 BC: Rome was founded (according to legend).
• 509 BC: The Romans defeat the Etruscans and establish the world's first republic.
• 390 BC: Rome was destroyed by the Gauls.
• 241 BC: Rome defeats Carthage (First Punic War).
• 201 BC: Rome again deafeats Carthage (Second Punic War).
• 146 BC: Rome utterly destroys the city of Carthage.
• 54 BC: Julius Caesar invades Britain.
• 44 BC: Julius Caesar is assassinated.
• 27 BC: Augustus becomes the first Emporer (Caesar) of Rome.
• 27 BC to 180 AD: The Pax Romana. 200 years of peace for Rome.
• 43 AD: Claudius Caesar oversees the conquest of Britain.
• 64 AD: Nero "fiddles" while Rome burns. He blames it on the Jews.
• 70 AD: Roman armies under Titus destroy Jerusalem.
• 79 AD: Mount Vesuvius erupts, destroying Pompeii and Herculeneum.
• 293 AD: Diocletian divides the empire into 4 parts and establishes two new capitals. One at Nicomedia in Asia Minor (Turkey) and the other at Milan (Italy).
• 313 AD: Constantine grants tolerance to the Christians.
• 330 AD: Constantine moves the capital of the Western Empire to Istanbul (Constantinople).
• 410 AD: The Visigoths (Germanic tribes) capture Rome.
• 455 AD: The Vandals (Germanic/Scandanavian tribes) attack Rome.
• 476 AD: Odoacer (Vandal) deposes Romulus Augustus and takes control of Rome. Thus ends the Roman Empire.

              When Jesus lived (4 BC to 29 AD) Rome had conquered all the lands that circled the Meditteranean Sea. (See Map Here.) Good paved roads and a fairly reliable mail system traversed the Empire. While Rome was tyranical and demanded high tribute from its provinces, the world experienced one of the longest periods of security ever known (The Pax Romana).

              Jesus lived in the Roman province of Palestine. (See Palestine Map here.) Palestine contained the districts of Judea, Samaria, Perea, and Galilee. The Roman provinces were ruled by Imperial appointees known locally as governors. Quirinius was the governor of Syria (north of Palestine), and Herod was the governor of Palestine at the time of Jesus' birth. Herod was called "king" because he held almost absolute sway over the entire province. The districts were ruled by procurators (governors) who were Roman citizens sent to watch over the local populace and protect Rome's interests in the area. During Jesus' adulthood, Pontius Pilate was made the procurator (governor) of the district of Judea. The authority of the procurator often overlapped and sometimes even superceded the rule of the provincial governors. Syria and Palestine were later divided into four regions called tetrarchies. They were the Tetrarchy of Judea (Judea, Samaria, Idumea); the Tertarchy of Iturea (Iturea, Trachonitis, Gaulinitis, etc); the Tetrarchy of Galilee (Galilee and Perea); and the Tetrarchy of Abilene (Chalcis and the northern regions).

              Here is a list of most of the Roman officials and Roman appointees mentioned in scripture who served during the lifetime of Jesus. You may click on each name to learn more about that individual.

• Augustus Caesar (Octavian), Emporer of Rome from 27 BC to 14 AD.
• Tiberius Caesar, Emporer of Rome from 14 AD to 37 AD.
• Herod the Great, king over all Palestine from 37 BC to 4 BC.
• Quirinius, king of Syria at time of Jesus' birth (exact dates unknown).
• Archelaus, Tetrarch of Judea from 4 BC to 6 AD.
• Lysanias, Tetrarch of Abilene at time of Jesus' baptism (exact dates unknown).
• Herod Philip, Tetrarch of Iturea from 4 BC to 34 AD.
• Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee from 4 BC to 39 AD.
• Pontius Pilate, Procurator of Judea from 26 AD to 36 AD.

              Because of its decadence, tyranny, and mismanagement, the Roman Empire finally fell and passed into obscurity. The greatness of Rome and its fall from glory are a continuing reminder that the eastern philosopher was right when he said: "One statement which is forever true is: 'And this too shall pass.' "