Comparing Timelines
Exploring the overlapping histories of "List of tallest buildings" and "Roman Empire".
List of tallest buildings
-2580 - 2030
Roman Empire
-100 - 1453
2580 BCE
Great Pyramid of Giza Completed
The Great Pyramid of Giza was completed in Egypt, becoming the world's tallest man-made structure. This ancient wonder held the record for over 3,800 years, demonstrating the remarkable engineering capabilities of ancient civilizations. The pyramid's construction marked a pinnacle of ancient architectural achievement that would not be surpassed until medieval times.
100 BCE
Roman Expansion Beyond Italy
By 100 BC, Rome had expanded its rule from the Italian peninsula to most of the Mediterranean and beyond. This marked the transformation of Rome from a regional power to a Mediterranean empire, setting the stage for future imperial developments.
44 BCE
Assassination of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was assassinated by a faction that opposed his concentration of power after briefly serving as perpetual dictator. This event triggered a series of civil wars that would ultimately lead to the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Empire.
42 BCE
Battle of Philippi
Mark Antony and Caesar's adopted son Octavian defeated the faction that had assassinated Julius Caesar at the Battle of Philippi. This victory eliminated Caesar's assassins and set up the eventual conflict between Antony and Octavian for control of Rome.
31 BCE
Battle of Actium
Octavian's forces defeated those of Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium, ending the last civil war of the Roman Republic. This decisive naval battle made Octavian the sole ruler of Rome and paved the way for the establishment of the Roman Empire.
27 BCE
Augustus Becomes First Roman Emperor
The Roman Senate granted Octavian the title Augustus and made him princeps with proconsular imperium, marking his accession as the first Roman emperor. This event officially began the Principate and transformed Rome from a republic to an empire.
Augustus of Prima Porta
Statue of Augustus, the first Roman Emperor
9 CE
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
Germanic tribes wiped out three Roman legions in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, dealing a devastating blow to Roman expansion in Germania. This defeat led to the increase of legions from 25 to around 30 and marked the effective end of Roman attempts to conquer Germany.
69 CE
End of Julio-Claudian Dynasty
The Julio-Claudian dynasty ended after four emperors following Augustus—Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero—yielding to the strife-torn Year of the Four Emperors. This period of instability demonstrated the fragility of imperial succession and led to the rise of the Flavian dynasty.
70 CE
Siege of Jerusalem and Destruction of Second Temple
The siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD led to the sacking of the Second Temple and the dispersal of Jewish political power. This event marked a crucial turning point in Jewish history and the beginning of the Jewish diaspora.
129 CE
Hadrian Refounds Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina
Emperor Hadrian visited Judaea and refounded Jerusalem as the Roman colony Aelia Capitolina, overlaying the destroyed Jewish city with a new Roman urban plan. This included construction of a Temple to Jupiter on the site of the former Jewish Temple, which helped spark the Bar Kokhba Revolt.
A segment of the ruins of Hadrian's Wall in northern England, overlooking Crag Lough
Hadrian's Wall represents his policy of consolidating empire frontiers
132 CE
Bar Kokhba Revolt
The Bar Kokhba Revolt (132–135 CE) was sparked by Hadrian's measures and restrictions on Jewish practices. After crushing the uprising, Roman forces expelled most Jews from Jerusalem and rebuilt the city as a statement of imperial power and domination.
180 CE
Accession of Commodus
The accession of Commodus in 180 marked what contemporary historian Cassius Dio called the descent 'from a kingdom of gold to one of rust and iron.' This event is considered by some historians as the beginning of the Empire's decline, ending the period of the 'Five Good Emperors.'
212 CE
Constitutio Antoniniana - Universal Citizenship
During the reign of Caracalla, Roman citizenship was granted to all freeborn inhabitants of the empire through the Constitutio Antoniniana. This legal egalitarianism required a far-reaching revision of existing laws and fundamentally changed the nature of Roman identity.
235 CE
Crisis of the Third Century Begins
The Empire was engulfed by the Crisis of the Third Century, a 49-year period of invasions, civil strife, economic disorder, and plague that threatened its existence. The Gallic and Palmyrene empires broke away from the state during this tumultuous period.
270 CE
Aurelian Reunifies the Empire
Emperor Aurelian stabilized the empire militarily and reunified it after the Crisis of the Third Century. His successful campaigns restored imperial unity and ended the breakaway Gallic and Palmyrene empires.
285 CE
Diocletian's Reforms and Tetrarchy
Diocletian reorganized and restored much of the empire in 285, dividing it into four regions each ruled by a separate tetrarch. His reign brought the empire's most concerted effort against Christianity, known as the 'Great Persecution.'
303 CE
Great Persecution of Christians
Diocletian undertook the most severe persecution of Christians from 303 to 311, representing the empire's most concerted effort against the perceived threat of Christianity. This was the last and most systematic attempt to eliminate Christianity from the Roman Empire.
312 CE
Constantine Becomes First Christian Emperor
Constantine the Great became the first emperor to convert to Christianity, fundamentally changing the relationship between the Roman state and Christianity. His conversion marked the beginning of Christianity's transformation from a persecuted religion to the dominant faith of the empire.
330 CE
Foundation of Constantinople
Constantine the Great moved the imperial seat from Rome to Byzantium in 330 and renamed it Constantinople. This established a new capital in the East that would become the center of the Byzantine Empire and survive for over a thousand years.
395 CE
Death of Theodosius I - Final Division
Theodosius I, the last emperor to rule over both East and West, died in 395 after making Christianity the state religion. His death marked the permanent division of the empire into Eastern and Western halves, each with its own emperor.
The administrative divisions of the Roman Empire in 395 AD
Map showing the division of the empire after Theodosius I's death
476 CE
Fall of the Western Roman Empire
Romulus Augustulus was forced to abdicate to the Germanic warlord Odoacer, marking the end of the Western Roman Empire. Odoacer declared Zeno sole emperor and placed himself as Zeno's nominal subordinate, effectively ending Western imperial rule.
The Roman Empire by 476, noting western and eastern divisions
Map showing the state of the empire at the fall of the West
1311 CE
Lincoln Cathedral Becomes World's Tallest Structure
Lincoln Cathedral in England was completed, surpassing the Great Pyramid of Giza to become the world's tallest man-made structure. This marked the end of the pyramid's 3,800-year reign as the tallest structure. The cathedral represented the height of medieval Gothic architecture and engineering prowess.
1439 CE
Strasbourg Cathedral Completed
The Strasbourg Cathedral in France was completed, becoming the world's tallest building. This Gothic masterpiece held the title of world's tallest structure until 1874, representing the pinnacle of medieval cathedral construction. The cathedral's spire demonstrated advanced engineering techniques of the medieval period.
1453 CE
Fall of Constantinople
The Eastern Roman Empire, called the Byzantine Empire by later historians, continued until Constantine XI Palaiologos died in battle in 1453 against Mehmed II and his Ottoman forces during the siege of Constantinople. This marked the final end of the Roman Empire after over 1,400 years.
1874 CE
Strasbourg Cathedral's Height Record Ends
The Strasbourg Cathedral's reign as the world's tallest building came to an end after 435 years. This marked the transition from medieval cathedral architecture to the modern era of tall building construction, paving the way for the development of skyscrapers in the following decades.
1885 CE
Home Insurance Building - First Skyscraper
The Home Insurance Building was constructed in Chicago, widely considered to be the first true skyscraper. This 10-story building introduced steel-frame construction techniques that would revolutionize tall building design. The building marked the beginning of the skyscraper era and established Chicago as a center of architectural innovation.
1931 CE
Empire State Building Completed
The Empire State Building was completed in New York City, becoming the world's tallest building at 381 meters. This Art Deco masterpiece became an iconic symbol of American achievement and held the world height record for 41 years. The building's rapid construction during the Great Depression demonstrated American engineering prowess and determination.
Empire State Building
The iconic Empire State Building in New York City
1974 CE
Willis Tower (Sears Tower) Completed
The Willis Tower (originally Sears Tower) was completed in Chicago, becoming the world's tallest building at 442 meters. This modernist skyscraper held the world height record for 24 years and established new standards for office building design. The tower's bundled tube structural system was an innovative engineering solution that influenced future skyscraper design.
Willis Tower
The Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) in Chicago
1996 CE
Council on Vertical Urbanism Establishes Building Categories
The Council on Vertical Urbanism established four categories for measuring building height in response to disputes over whether the Petronas Towers or Sears Tower was taller. These categories included height to structural top, highest occupied floor, roof, and any part of the building. This standardization helped resolve architectural height disputes and established clear criteria for determining the world's tallest buildings.
1998 CE
Petronas Towers Completed
The Petronas Towers were completed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, becoming the world's tallest buildings at 452 meters. These twin towers marked the first time since 1931 that the world's tallest building was located outside the United States. The towers' Islamic-inspired design and innovative structural system represented a new era of international skyscraper construction.
Petronas Towers
The iconic twin Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur
2004 CE
TAIPEI 101 Completed
TAIPEI 101 was completed in Taipei, Taiwan, becoming the world's tallest building at 508 meters. This postmodern skyscraper incorporated traditional Chinese architectural elements and advanced engineering to withstand earthquakes and typhoons. The building held the world height record for five years and demonstrated Taiwan's emergence as a major economic power.
TAIPEI 101
TAIPEI 101 tower in Taipei, Taiwan
2010 CE
Burj Khalifa Completed
The Burj Khalifa was completed in Dubai, UAE, becoming the world's tallest building at 828 meters. This neo-futuristic skyscraper shattered all previous height records and established Dubai as a global architectural destination. The building's innovative design and construction techniques set new standards for supertall skyscrapers and marked the beginning of the Middle East's skyscraper boom.
Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world's tallest building since 2009
2014 CE
One World Trade Center Completed
One World Trade Center was completed in New York City, becoming the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at 541 meters. Built on the site of the original World Trade Center, this building served as both a memorial and symbol of resilience following the September 11 attacks. The tower's completion marked a significant moment in New York's recovery and rebuilding efforts.
One World Trade Center
One World Trade Center in New York City
2015 CE
Shanghai Tower Completed
Shanghai Tower was completed in Shanghai, China, becoming the world's second-tallest building at 632 meters. This twisted supertall skyscraper incorporated advanced sustainable design features and became the tallest building in East Asia. The tower's innovative spiral design and mixed-use programming established new standards for sustainable skyscraper construction.
Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower in Shanghai, China
2024 CE
Merdeka 118 Completed
Merdeka 118 was completed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, becoming the world's second-tallest building at 679 meters. This mixed-use supertall skyscraper features a distinctive crystalline crown and represents Malaysia's continued investment in iconic architecture. The tower's completion reinforced Southeast Asia's position as a major center for skyscraper construction.
Merdeka 118
Merdeka 118 tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia