814 BC: Foundation of Carthage.

264 BC to 146 BC: The Punic Wars: Three wars with Rome, including elephant-mounted expedition by Hannibal across the Alps (218-202 BC,) end with the defeat of Carthage.
146 BC-439: Establishment of the first Roman Colony, Africa, and its attachment to the Roman Empire.
439: Takeover of Carthage by the Vandals.
533: Takeover of Carthage by the Byzantines.

647-698: Advent of the Arab-Islamic period. Foundation of Kairouan by Oqba lbn Nafaa (670), and takeover of Carthage by the Arabs (698).

800-909: Expansion of Islam and establishment of the Aghlabid Dynasty. (Construction of the Zitouna Mosque in Tunis).

909-1159: Fatimid and Zirides dynasties. Foundation of Mahdia (921).

1159-1230: Almohads unify the Maghreb countries and Moslem Andalusia.

1230-1574: The Hafsids break away from Almohads and establish new dynasty based in Tunis.

1574: Tunisia becomes part of the Ottoman Empire.

1705-1881: Husseinite Dynasty.

1881-1956: French Protectorate (established 12 May 1881). Anti-colonial resistance, led mostly by the Neo-Destour party, persisted for most of the 75 years of French domination.

1956 (20 March): Independence from France.

1957 (25 July): Proclamation of the Republic. Habib Bourguiba becomes first President of Independent Tunisia.

1959 (1st June): Adoption of the first Constitution of the Republic of Tunisia.

1963 (15 October): The French evacuate Bizerta, their last base in the country.

1987 (7 November): Prime Minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali succeeds President Bourguiba