| 30 B.C.E. | Octavian (the future Augustus) conquers Ptolemaic Egypt |
| 27 B.C.E. | Augustus inaugurates the principate |
| 30 C.E. | Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem |
| 64 C.E. | Great fire in Rome; Nero blames Christians |
| 69 C.E. | Civil war after death of Nero in 68 C.E. |
| 70 C.E. | Titus captures Jerusalem; the Jewish temple is destroyed |
| 70–90 C.E. | New Testament Gospels are written |
| 80s C.E. | Domitian leads campaigns against multiethnic invaders on northern frontiers |
| 161–180 C.E. | Marcus Aurelius battles multiethnic bands attacking northern frontiers |
| 212 C.E. | Caracalla extends Roman citizenship to almost all free inhabitants of the provinces |
| 230s–280s C.E. | Third-century financial and political crisis |
| 249–251 C.E. | Decius persecutes Christians |