753 BCE
According to Roman tradition, the city of Rome was founded by Romulus on the Palatine Hill, an event that later Romans used as the starting point of their calendar and the origin story of one of history's most consequential civilizations.
Civilization & Governance
- According to Roman legend, Romulus founded the city of Rome on April 21, establishing a settlement on the Palatine Hill that would grow into the capital of a vast empire.
- Archaeological evidence confirms that small Latin and Sabine settlements existed on the hills of Rome during this period, consistent with the traditional founding date though the legendary narrative is largely mythological.
- The Assyrian Empire continued its expansion under powerful kings, exerting military and political dominance across Mesopotamia, the Levant, and parts of Egypt.
Culture & Society
- Greek colonization of the western Mediterranean was under way, with settlements being established in southern Italy and Sicily that would become major centers of Greek culture.
- The Phoenician colony of Carthage in North Africa was growing into a significant commercial power in the western Mediterranean.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 280 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
- The world population was approximately 115 million.