['753 BC - The city of Rome is founded. ... ', '509 BC - Rome becomes a republic. ... ', '218 BC - Hannibal invades Italy. ... ', '73 BC - Spartacus the gladiator leads the slaves in an uprising.', '45 BC - Julius Caesar becomes the first dictator of Rome. ... ', '44 BC - Julius Caesar is assassinated on the Ides of March by Marcus Brutus.']