Grand strategy games like Imperator Rome are so-called not just because they comprise such a vast scale or go into such fine detail, but often because they cover such a sizeable swathe of history, real or imagined.

That’s definitely the case in Paradox’s classical era strategy sandbox. Beginning about 400 years after Romulus founded Rome, Imperator Rome spans the years 304 BCE to 27 BCE. That’s three centuries of classical era history to cover - and to stamp your mark on as leader of an empire.

Imperator Rome - start date

304 BCE marks a tumultuous time for the Roman empire, already four centuries old. The preceding decades had been marked by the Samnite wars, in which Rome battled several nearby Italian territories who had united against it. One year previously, at the Battle of Bovianum, Rome defeated the majority of the Samnite army however, and conquered the mountainous Aequi territory. With their enemy increasing their territory, and their own forces depleted, the Samnites agreed to restore a treaty of friendship between themselves and Rome.

That’s the backdrop for Imperator Rome’s beginning. A relatively peaceful and prosperous time for Rome, considering the near-constant battles that marked the classical era. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you as ruler of Rome from breaking that treaty of friendship, or waging war on any number of other fronts.

Imperator Rome - 3rd century BCE

304 BCE marks a tumultuous time for the Roman empire, already four centuries old. The preceding decades had been marked by the Samnite wars, in which Rome battled several nearby Italian territories who had united against it. One year previously, at the Battle of Bovianum, Rome defeated the majority of the Samnite army however, and conquered the mountainous Aequi territory. With their enemy increasing their territory, and their own forces depleted, the Samnites agreed to restore a treaty of friendship between themselves and Rome.

That’s the backdrop for Imperator Rome’s beginning. A relatively peaceful and prosperous time for Rome, considering the near-constant battles that marked the classical era. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you as ruler of Rome from breaking that treaty of friendship, or waging war on any number of other fronts.

Imperator Rome - 2nd century BCE

In the year 200 BCE, Rome began the Second Macedonian War and would ultimately gain control over what’s not Greece and its bordering Eastern European countries. Macedonia was organised into a province in 146 BCE.

During this period Rome’s public officials grew in number, with twelve quaestors and six praetors in office in 197 BCE. As its systems of governance grew more advanced, Rome was able to effectively maintain control of a much broader territory separated by the Mediterranean sea - and harness the resources from it. By the end of the century, Rome’s territory covered most of the Iberian peninsula, Italy, Greece, the North African coast, and the coastline between Italy and Greece.

Imperator Rome: 1st century BCE

Marius was elected consul in 100 BCE, the highest position of public office anyone could attain. Gaius Memmius, his political rival, was killed by assassins hired by Marius and his allies on December 10th that same year.

Julius Caesar, one of Rome’s most celebrated rulers, ascended to the throne in 49 BCE and was famously assassinated in 44 BCE. During this same period, another celebrity of the classical era, Cleopatra, was held in custody by Rome while it established Egypt as its own territory - she killed herself, likely by snake bite, in 30 BCE.

By the conclusion of Imperator Rome’s timeline, Rome controlled a huge area spanning all of Western Europe, the Mediterranean, the North African coast, Egypt, Turkey and the Middle East.