Timeline of Rome

2nd Century AD – Rome Dominates

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The 2nd century AD brought Rome to both unparalleled heights and ominous challenges. Emperors such as Trajan and Hadrian oversaw expansive building projects (including the Pantheon) and major military campaigns. Under the Antonine emperors—Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius—the empire reached a zenith of relative peace, even as catastrophic plagues, famines, and barbarian invasions tested its resilience. Christianity grew quietly; new dioceses (e.g., Avellino, Capua, Nola, Syracuse) emerged, and the Christian catacombs began to expand, notably at Naples (San Gennaro). Philosophers like Aristocles of Messana flourished, while a succession of popes dealt with theological matters amid ongoing social and economic upheavals. By the century’s end, internal strife and epidemics cast shadows over Rome’s prosperity, setting the stage for further transformations in the centuries to come.

Full Chronological Summary (2nd Century AD)

Background & Notable Developments

  • Aristocles of Messana (2nd century)
    • A Peripatetic philosopher who authored works on Ethics and composed an excellent history of philosophy.
  • Christian Dioceses founded:
    • Avellino
    • Capua
    • Nola
    • Syracuse (Siracusa)
  • Catacombs of San Gennaro at Neapolis (Naples)
    • Developed around a wealthy Christian family tomb; named for San Gennaro, Naples’s patron, later buried there (5th century).

AD 101

  • 220th Olympiad.
  • Earthquake strikes in Samnium, near modern San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore (Pescara province).

AD 105

  • 221st Olympiad.
  • St. Alexander I becomes Pope (alt. date 109).
  • (Elsewhere) In China, parchment paper is reportedly invented.

AD 108

  • Marcus Raecius serves as Quaestor in Capua.

AD 109

  • 222nd Olympiad.
  • The Via Traiana is extended to Canusium (Apulia).
  • An arch of Trajan is erected at Canusium.

AD 113

  • 223rd Olympiad.

AD 114

  • Arch of Trajan built at Beneventum to mark the Via Traiana’s entry point.
    • Decorated with plaques celebrating Trajan’s public works, including distribution of food to children, founding colonies for veterans, building Ostia’s new port.

AD 115

  • St. Sixtus (Xystus) I becomes Pope (alt. dates: 116, 117, 119).

AD 116

  • Estimates of the Roman Empire’s size: ~2.3 to 3.5 million sq mi; population ~55 to 120 million.
  • City of Rome has ~1 million inhabitants.

AD 117

  • 224th Olympiad.
  • (Aug 9) Emperor Trajan dies at Selinus (Cilicia), age 63.
    • Succeeded by Hadrian (age 41), Trajan’s adopted heir and relative.
  • Silver content of the denarius drops to ~87%.

AD 121

  • 225th Olympiad.
  • (Apr 26) Marcus Aurelius is born in Rome.
  • Hadrian visits Sicily and ascends Mt. Etna (alt. date 126).

AD 124

  • The Pantheon in Rome is completed (the rebuild under Hadrian).

AD 125

  • 226th Olympiad.
  • (c.) St. Telesphorus (a Greek from Calabria) becomes Pope (alt. date 126).
  • Devastating locust swarms ruin North African crops. Famine and plague kill ~650,000 in Numidia and coastal areas.
  • The pestilence spreads to Italy, where abandoned farms cause further famine. Many towns, villages deserted.

AD 126

  • (Aug 1) Publius Helvius Pertinax (future Emperor) is born in Liguria to a freedman family.

AD 128

  • Italy’s population suffers from prior plague and famine; more reliance on imported grain from Egypt/North Africa.
  • Domestic wheat prices plunge, bankrupting many Italian farmers, who flock to overcrowded towns.

AD 129

  • 227th Olympiad.

AD 130

  • Hadrian finishes the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens (started 530 BC, largest Greek temple).
  • (Dec 15) Lucius Verus is born in Rome, of partly Etruscan lineage.

AD 133

  • 228th Olympiad.

AD 135

  • End of Second Jewish Revolt: Rebel leader Simon Bar Kokhba is killed.
  • Jerusalem is razed; Aelia Capitolina is founded. Jews banned; Christians allowed.

AD 136

  • (c.) St. Hyginus becomes Pope (alt. date 138), a native Athenian philosopher’s son.
  • Introduces naming of baptismal godparents.

AD 137

  • 229th Olympiad.

AD 138: Hadrian’s Death

  • (July 10) Emperor Hadrian dies at Baiae (age 62).
  • Succeeded by Antoninus Pius (age 52), who requests Hadrian’s deification—earning “Pius” epithet.
  • Silver denarius content at ~75%.

AD 139

  • The Mausoleum of Hadrian (future Castel Sant’Angelo) is completed for imperial burials until Caracalla.
  • Pope Hyginus dies (date uncertain), succeeded by St. Pius I.
  • (c.) Pescennius Niger (future emperor, 193–194) is born at Aquinum (Aquino).

AD 140

  • 230th Olympiad.
  • Aqueduct built at Canusium (Apulia).

AD 144

  • Eruption on Vulcano Island.

AD 145

  • 231st Olympiad.
  • Possible volcanic eruption on Ischia.

AD 146

  • (Apr 11) Lucius Septimius Severus is born at Leptis Magna (North Africa) to a Libyan-Phoenician father and an Italian mother.

AD 149

  • 232nd Olympiad.

AD 150

  • Possible Ischia eruption; eruption on Stromboli.

AD 153

  • 233rd Olympiad.

AD 155

  • Anicetus becomes Pope (alt. date 154).

AD 157

  • 234th Olympiad.

AD 161: Marcus Aurelius & Lucius Verus

  • 235th Olympiad.
  • (Mar 7) Antoninus Pius dies at Lorium, age 75.
    • Marcus Aurelius & Lucius Verus become co-emperors.
  • Tiber floods Rome; denarius silver content at ~68%.

AD 162

  • Co-Emperor Lucius Verus goes East to fight the Parthians.

AD 165: Antonine Plague

  • 236th Olympiad.
  • The Antonine plague (smallpox or measles) begins, likely introduced by returning troops.
  • It lasts until ~180, killing 25–35% of the population in some regions.
  • (c.) Local legend states St. Leucius is first bishop of Brundisium.

AD 166

  • Pope Anicetus dies, succeeded by St. Soter (a Campanian).
  • Parthian War ends favorably; returning soldiers receive confiscated farmland, displacing prior peasant owners to Rome.
  • St. Soter becomes Pope (alt. date 167).

AD 167

  • The plague continues, killing about 10% of Rome’s inhabitants.
  • Marcomanni begin major Germanic invasions.

AD 168

  • Emperors Marcus Aurelius & Lucius Verus defeat the Marcomanni, sign a treaty.

AD 169

  • 237th Olympiad.
  • (Jan) Lucius Verus dies at 39 (food poisoning or smallpox).
  • Marcus Aurelius reigns alone; plague persists.
  • War reignites vs. Marcomanni & Iazyges until ~172.

AD 170

  • Barbarians threaten Aquileia in NE Italy.

AD 172

  • Eruption of Vesuvius.

AD 173

  • 238th Olympiad.
  • Pestilence in Rome.

AD 174

  • Marcus Aurelius defeats the Quadi (Germanic tribe).

AD 175

  • (Spring) General Avidius Cassius revolts in Syria but is killed by his troops before Aurelius arrives.
  • Faustina (Marcus’s wife) dies (~age 46); possibly suicide or illness.
  • St. Eleutherus becomes Pope (alt. date 174).
  • Plague in Rome (to 179).

AD 176

  • Marcus Aurelius grants title Imperator to his son Commodus.

AD 177

  • 239th Olympiad.
  • Commodus made co-Augustus.
  • Marcus Aurelius persecutes Christians for political reasons (suspected secrecy, refusal of Roman rituals).
  • Christians retreat to catacombs and use a “fish” symbol for recognition.
  • Aurelius limits spending on gladiatorial games.

AD 178

  • (Aug 3) Marcus Aurelius & Commodus campaign vs. Marcomanni.
  • (c.) Martyrdom of St. Concordius at Spoletum (Spoleto).

AD 180: Death of Marcus Aurelius

  • (Mar 17) Marcus Aurelius dies at 58, likely from plague.
    • End of “Five Good Emperors.”
    • Commodus, age 18, rules alone.
  • About this time, the Platonist Celsus writes “True Discourse,” critical of Christianity; it survives largely via Origen’s excerpts.

AD 181

  • 240th Olympiad.

AD 182

  • Eruption of Vesuvius.
  • Lucilla, Commodus’s sister, conspires against him; plot fails, many senators executed.

AD 185

  • 241st Olympiad.
  • Commodus drains the treasury, confiscates wealth, finances extravagant gladiatorial events.

AD 186

  • (Apr 4) Caracalla is born at Lugdunum (Lyon).

AD 187

  • Plague strikes Rome again.

AD 189

  • 242nd Olympiad.
  • Severe plague, likely smallpox, kills up to 8,000 daily in Rome; wagoners die, halting grain transport.
  • Riots ensue amid food shortages.
  • Prefect Cleander is sacrificed to the mob by Commodus.
  • St. Victor I becomes Pope.

AD 190

  • Pescennius Niger (future emperor) is born at Aquinum (Aquino).
  • Famine worsens in Rome; grain speculators raise prices.

AD 192: Murder of Commodus

  • (Dec 30) Commodus is assassinated by Narcissus, paid by Marcia (his mistress).
  • (Dec 31) Pertinax succeeds him.

AD 193: Civil War

  • 243rd Olympiad.
  • (Jan 3) Statues of Commodus overturned.
  • (Mar 28) Pertinax is killed by the Praetorian Guard.
    • Didius Julianus buys the throne at auction, causing outrage.
  • Generals Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus, and Septimius Severus contest power.
  • (June 1) Julianus is executed; Severus secures Rome’s loyalty.
  • Denarius silver content falls to ~50%.

AD 197

  • 244th Olympiad.
  • (Feb 19) Severus defeats Clodius Albinus at Lugdunum (Lyon), becomes sole emperor.
  • New war with Parthia begins.

AD 198

  • (Jan 28) Severus names Commodus (a posthumous adoption to placate the army) as co-Augustus? (There is some confusion in historical texts; also references to naming his son Caracalla “Antoninus.”)
  • Geta is titled Caesar.

AD 199

  • Pope Victor I dies, succeeded by St. Zephyrinus (alt. date: 198).

AD 200

  • Population of Rome remains ~800,000 to 1 million—still among the ancient world’s largest urban centers.

Key Takeaways

  1. Peak & Transition
    • Under Trajan and Hadrian, Rome expanded in territory and monumental architecture. The Antonine emperors (Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius) presided over a relatively stable golden era, though plagues and wars loomed.
  2. Religious Growth
    • Christianity gained further ground, despite periodic persecutions. Multiple dioceses emerged; Roman catacombs expanded, especially near Naples and Rome.
  3. Economic & Demographic Strains
    • Antonine Plague (165–180) decimated the population; repeated famines hit Italy, and rural depopulation increased reliance on grain imports from Africa and Egypt.
    • Worsening monetary debasement: the silver denarius purity steadily declined.
  4. Barbarian & Internal Conflicts
    • Germanic invasions by the Marcomanni, internal rebellions (Avidius Cassius), and civil wars after Commodus’s death undermined the empire’s stability near the century’s end.
  5. Philosophy & Literature
    • Aristocles of Messana contributed to Peripatetic thought and historiography.
    • Celsus, a Platonist, authored one of the earliest pagan critiques of Christianity.

By AD 200, Rome’s population remained large but faced ongoing challenges from epidemics, military pressures, and economic struggles. The end of the Antonine era and Commodus’s reign foreshadowed increasing turbulence in the 3rd century.