This is a timeline of Italian history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Italy and its predecessor states, including Ancient Rome and Prehistoric Italy. Date of the prehistoric era are approximate. For further background, see history of Italy and list of prime ministers of Italy.

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Millennia: 1st BC1st–2nd3rd

Centuries: 5th BC4th BC3rd BC2nd BC1st BCSee alsoBibliography

Centuries: 1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th18th19th20th21st

Paleolithic Year Date Event Oldest human habitation is discovered in Italy at Monte Poggiolo. Neanderthal presence in Italy. Paglicci 33 is discovered in Italy, the earliest evidence of Haplogroup I-M170. Villabruna 1 is discovered in Italy, the earliest evidence of Haplogroup R1b.

6th millennium BC Year Date Event Neolithic Italy begins with the spread of Cardium pottery.

4th millennium BC Year Date Event Otzi is born. Otzi is killed.

3rd millennium BC Year Date Event Remedello culture. This is the first evidence of copper use in Italy. The Rinaldone culture appears.

2nd millennium BC Year Date Event Nuragic civilization in Sardinia. Terramare culture. Recent archeology, along with ancient Greek accounts, links this culture to the Etruscans. Apennine culture. Canegrate culture. Proto-Villanovan culture appears in Italy. It is likely a southern extension of the Urnfield culture. This is possibly the introduction of Italic peoples into the peninsula. According to tradition, the beginning of the Trojan War. According to tradition, the end of the Trojan War and the beginning of the Trojan hero Aeneas's journey when he escaped the Greeks with others in search of a new land. According to legend, Aeneas lands in Italy, marries Lavinia, the daughter of Latinus, king of the Latins. Alba Longa is founded. According to legend, Alba Longa was founded by Ascanius, the son of Aeneas.

8th century BC Year Date Event Etruscan civilization. First evidence of Old Italic script. 21 April Rome was founded. According to Roman legend, Romulus was the founder and first king of Rome, beginning the Roman Kingdom. The first Greek colony of Magna Graecia in mainland Italy, Kyme, is founded. Numa Pompilius became the second King of Rome. 706 BC Spartan immigrants found the colony of Taranto in Magna Graecia, Southern Italy.

7th century BC Year Date Event Tullus Hostilius became the third King of Rome. Byzantium was founded by Megarian colonists. Tullus Hostilius died. The Curiate Assembly, one of the legislative assemblies of the Roman Kingdom, elected Ancus Marcius King of Rome. 630 BC The lyric poet Stesichorus is born in Calabria in Southern Italy. Ancus Marcius died. The Curiate Assembly elected Lucius Tarquinius Priscus King of Rome.

6th century BC Year Date Event Lucius Tarquinius Priscus was killed in a riot instigated by the sons of Ancus Marcius. The Senate accepted the regent Servius Tullius as king of Rome. 540 BC The Ancient Greek city of Elea is founded in Southern Italy. Servius Tullius was murdered by his daughter Tullia Minor and her husband Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, who declared himself King of Rome on the steps of the Curia Hostilia. The patrician Lucretia was raped by Lucius Tarquinius Superbus's son Sextus Tarquinius. Overthrow of the Roman monarchy: Following Lucretia's suicide, Lucius Junius Brutus called the Curiate Assembly, one of the legislative assemblies of the Roman Kingdom who agreed to the overthrow and expulsion of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus and to a provisional constitution. Battle of Silva Arsia: Tarquinian and Veientine forces loyal to Lucius Tarquinius Superbus were defeated in the Silva Arsia by a Roman army. Lucius Junius Brutus was killed. Publius Valerius Publicola, returning to Rome with the spoils of war, was awarded the first Roman Triumph on 1 March. The consul Publius Valerius Publicola promulgated a number of liberal reforms, including opening the office of consul to all Roman citizens and placing the treasury under the administration of appointed quaestors. 13 September The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus was ceremonially dedicated to the Capitoline Triad. Roman–Etruscan Wars: A Clusian army failed to conquer Rome. In the face of a potential Sabine invasion, the Senate passed a senatus consultum authorizing the consuls to appoint a dictator, a magistrate who held absolute power during a national emergency. The dictator would in turn appoint the Magister equitum, the commander of the cavalry. The consuls Titus Larcius and Postumus Cominius Auruncus selected the former as dictator.

5th century BC Year Date Event Battle of Lake Regillus: Latin League invasion near modern Frascati which sought to reinstall Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. First secessio plebis: Lucius Sicinius Vellutus, the plebs abandoned Rome for the nearby Monte Sacro. 474 BC The Battle of Cumae occurs, resulting in a Siracusani and Cumaea victory against the Etruscans and ending Etruscan expansion in Southern Italy. After a law allowing organization of the plebs tribe, the Plebeian Council was reorganized by tribes rather than curiae. Under popular pressure, the Senate increased the tribunes of the plebs from two to ten. During the first dictatorship of Cincinnatus, the Aequians staged an offensive, breaking a truce. Cincinnatus defeated the Aquians at the Battle of Mount Algidus and after a triumph, returned to his farm after sixteen days. Resolutions of the Plebeian Council were given the full force of law subject to Senate veto. The second of two decemviri, specially-elected ten man commissions, issued the last of the Twelve Tables, the fundamental laws of the Republic. The Tribal Assembly was established, and granted the right to elect quaestors. Marriage between patricians and plebeians was legalized. The offices of the Tribuni militum consulari potestate were established. A collegium of three patrician or plebeian tribunes, one each from specific Roman tribes (the Titienses, the Ramnenses, and the Luceres), would hold the power of the consuls from year to year, subject to the Senate. The office of the censor, a patrician magistrate responsible for conducting the census in years without a consul, was established. Cincinnatus accepted second dictatorship to prevent Spurius Maelius from seizing power; the patricians suspected Spurius of plotting to set himself up as a king. Gaius Servilius Ahala was appointed magister equitum and slew Maelius. Cincinnatus again resigned his dictatorship and returned to his farm after 21 days. Fidenae, an important trade post on the Tiber, was captured from the Veii. The Tribuni militum consulari potestate held office.

4th century BC Year Date Event Battle of Veii: Roman forces led by the dictator Marcus Furius Camillus conquered Veii. Roman soldiers first earned a salary ("salary" from Latin for "salt"). The consuls held office. The Tribuni militum consulari potestate held office. 18 July Battle of the Allia: The Senones routed a Roman force at the confluence of the rivers Allia and Tiber. The Senones sacked Rome. The consuls held office. Lucius Sextius was elected the first plebeian consul. The office of Praetor, which took the judiciary responsibilities of the consul and could be held only by a patrician, was established. The first plebeian dictator was elected. The first plebeian censor was elected. Samnite Wars: Rome marched against the Samnites, probably after an appeal from the Campanians. Battle of Mount Gaurus: A Samnite force was routed by a Roman army near Mount Barbaro. The Leges Genuciae were passed, banning a person from holding two offices at the same time, or during any ten-year period; charging interest on loans was also banned. Samnite Wars: The Senate agreed a peace, following an appeal by the Samnite to a previous treaty of friendship. Latin War: The Latin League invaded Samnium. A law was passed which required the election of at least three plebeian censor every five years. Latin War: Rome defeated the Latin League armies. The first plebeian Praetor was elected. Samnite Wars: Rome declared war on the Samnites after their failure to prevent their subjects raiding Fregellae. Battle of the Caudine Forks: After being trapped in a mountain pass near Caudium without a water supply, Roman forces were allowed to retreat by a Samnite army. Battle of Lautulae: A decisive Samnite victory near Terracina split Roman territory in two. Samnite Wars: The Etruscans laid siege to Sutri. Battle of Lake Vadimo (310 BC): Rome inflicted a substantial military defeat on the Etruscans at Lake Vadimo. Samnite Wars: The Umbri, Picentes and Marsi joined the Samnites against Rome. The Hernici declared their independence from Rome. Battle of Bovianum: A Roman force destroyed the majority of the Samnite army. Rome conquered the Aequi. Samnite Wars: The treaty of friendship between the Romans and Samnites was restored. The Greek tyrant Agathocles takes the title of king of Sicily.

3rd century BC