The Mighty Roman Empire which started with 19 years old Gaius Octavius (The Grand Nephew of Gaius Caeser) in 27 BC, who assumed the title of Augustus (The Venerable) after defeating his last enemy, the warlord Mark Antony in 31 BC. Thus establishing his 43 years rule, in which

"Pax Romana" (Roman Peace) was introduced. An era so peaceful and great that bread was distributed free for people. He introduced building height rules, limiting all skyscrapers to six floors.

The golden century of poetry dawned, temples would be built in the honor of the Augustus and even a month was named after him.

After Augustus the power became hereditary and came the first emperors.
Suspicious Tiberius unleashed terror under the pretext of law and treason.
Caligula wanted to make his horse a council.
Claudius was too busy with the feasting and poisoned by his second wife.

His son the famous Nero became the emperor who allegedly set Rome ablaze, accusing the first Christians of arson he later on took his own life.
By now states of the empire were not decided by the senate but the Praetorian Guards, the emperor's personal security force.

In the meantime the empire grew more vast and Roman legions conquered part of the Britain where they founded a town Londinium, modern day London.
Titus Flavius the son of Vespasian Flavius committed a genocide and reduced the temple of Jerusalem to a mere wall.

Afterwards he assumed the title of "Merciful" and opened the coloseum for the general public. After such festivities, Vesuvius destroyed the Pompei, half of Italy was plagued and Titus became a God.

The second century would go down as the era of good emperors and was height of the empire. Trajan was considered as the best emperor ever as the empire reached its largest extent. New roads were built for transportation which still connects most of Europe. T

The last good emperor, the throned philosopher, Marcus Aurelius would spend most of his time on Mil expeditions. It was under his son Commodus that the Pax Romana ended. As he preferred Gladiator's glory to the state affairs and killed by a fellow fighter.
Rome sank into chaos.

The next 100 years brought sequence of random emperors. In 212 emperor granted Roman citizenship to every free subject.
Diocletian split the empire into 4 province with four co-rulers and capitals. Rome lost its significance and Senate became a town council.

The country was now ruled by army of officials personally reporting to the emperor and the emperor became "Dominus (Lord)", a title by which slaves used to address their masters. Citizens became subjects and soldiers as warriors. Diocletian resigned from his post 20 years later.

After his departure infighting started and Constantine the Great (future Saint Constantine) emerged as Victor. Before the battle of Rome he allegedly had a vision about a cross in the sky and made all religion equal afterwards.

Constantine would take the cross from the Jerusalem to the new capital of Roman Empire "Constantinople".
Theodosius the first made Christianity the official religion and began destroying the old temples. He would also be the last emperor of the United Roman Empire. 378-395

His sons divided the empire in East and West. The Eastern half would live for another 1000 years as "Byzantine Empire". The Western part could not stand the onslaught of the coming refugees.

So the Great Roman history which started with Romulus who was the first king of Rome 753-716 BC, ended ironically with Romulus Augustus the last Roman Emperor.
Who also had Augustus in his name as the first Roman Emperor Augustus 27BC-14AD.

Sorry the thread grew so much but I think I covered 500 years in a lot less time than its actual reality.
Feel free to ask any Q on Roman History.