Neolithic Age (New Stone Age) in the Near East. 7000-5600 BC
“Neolithic Revolution”.
Beginning of settled life. 7000-6500 BC
Walled settlement at Jericho. c.7000 BC
Earliest Neolithic culture in Southern Italy, Sicily, and Liguria. c. 6000 BC
Chalcolithic Period (Copper-Stone Age). First metalwork. 5600-3500 BC
Beginning of the Sumerian civilization. c. 5000 BC
First settlements in the fertile river valleys of Sumer.
Northern Mesopotamia.
Appearance of the brilliant Tell Halaf pottery. c. 5000 BC
Sumerians arrive in Southern Mesopotamia. 4500 BC
The Sumerians are of unknown origin.
The Sumerians settle in Southern Mesopotamia. 4500-2800 BC
Mesopotamia means the land between the rivers.
Sumerian Al’Ubaid period in Southern Mesopotamia. c. 4500 BC
Begins with the appearance of painted pottery and a simple agricultural economy in the area.
Sumerian Al’Ubaid culture in Southern Mesopotamia.
Well developed urban life. c. 4260-2750 BC
Earliest exactly dated year in history. 4241 BC
Recorded date in the ancient Egyptian calendar.
Farmers living along the Danube River in villages design stone replicas of their deities.
c. 4000 BC
First year of the Jewish calendar. 3760 BC
Beginning of the Bronze Age in Mesopotamia. 3500 BC
Tools are made of bronze. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.
Beginning of pictogram writing in early Mesopotamia. 3500 BC
First phonetic writing.
The Sumerian civilization in Lower Mesopotamia is considered by many ancient historians to be the first great civilization of mankind.
“White Temple” on Ziggurat. Uruk (Warka). c. 3200 BC
Beginning of ideogram writing in early Mesopotamia. c. 3200 BC
The Sumerians develop cuneiform writing. c. 3200-3100 BC
Beginning of phonogram writing (syllables) in early Mesopotamia.
Temple of Uruk is built in Sumeria. c. 3100 BC
Upper and Lower Egypt are united by Menes (Narmer), the first Pharaoh of the first dynasty. Menes built his capital at Memphis. c. 3100 BC
Kish, which was situated near modern Baghdad, becomes the leading Sumerian city during the reign of King Etana. c. 3000 BC
The “Great Deluge”. c. 3000 BC
The Old Testament (Jewish) account corresponds with the later written Gilgamesh Epic.
The Bronze Age culture begins, in Europe, in the Aegean and Greece. ca. 3000 BC
Meskiaggasher founds dynasty in Erech. ca. 2800 BC
This dynasty begins to rival Kish.
Rise of Kingship in Sumeria. 2800 BC
Rise of early Helladic culture on the mainland of Greece (central Greece and the Peloponnesus). 2800-2100 BC
Bronze Age culture in Melos and other islands of the Cyclades.
Early Cycladic. 2800-2200 BC
Royal burials at Ur. 2750-2650 BC
Gilgamesh. Sumerian.
Reigns as king of Uruk (Erech). ca. 2750 BC
Gilgamesh builds walls around Uruk.
The Gilgamesh epic. c. 2750 BC
Kingship becomes hereditary in Sumeria. 2700 BC
Third Egyptian Dynasty. c. 2600 BC
Imhotep.
Builds stepped pyramid in early Egypt. 2600 BC
The Great Sphinx is built. ca. 2550 BC
Early Minoan Period. 2600-2200 BC
Beginning of the Cretan civilization on Crete (until c.1400 BC).
Knossus (Cnossus) is the leading city on Crete.
Cretan civilization spreads to the Aegean Islands.
Fourth Egyptian dynasty. c. 2550 BC
Celts, who overran western Europe, ride horses, carry iron weapons, and are ruled by Druids, a priestly class. 2500-1200 BC
Eannatum of Lagash, a great warrior, defeats the Sumerian cities of Ur in the south and Kish in the north.
Extends his power into Elam as far as Mari. ca. 2450 BC
Eannatum makes the Sumerian city state of Lagash supreme.
Urakgina takes power in Lagash. ca. 2400 BC
Institutes the first known social reforms in history.
Reign of the Pharaoh Cheops (also known as Khufu). 2589-2566 BC
The Great Pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops (Khufu), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is completed in Gizeh. ca. 2560 BC
Reign of Chephren. 2558-2533 BC
Lugalannemundu, King of Adab.
Briefly unites the Sumerian city states. 2500 BC
Following his death, the city states will fight each other for about 200 years.
The Assyrians settle at the Upper Tigris and Greater Zab rivers. c. 2500 BC
The capital Assur, and the country received their names from Assur,
the chief god of the Assyrians.
Beginning of the Indus valley civilization of northern India. c.2400 BC
A sophisticated culture thrived and cities of Harappa and
Mohenjo-Daro were built with courtyard houses.
Sargon of Akkad conquers Sumer (Sumeria). 2370 BC
Sargon I the Great (2360-2305) of Akkad. 2350-2300 BC
Period of Akkadian dominance.
Sargon conquers Mesopotamia, parts of Syria and Asia Minor, and Elam.
Sargon the Great rules over the vast empire in Mesopotamia.
Founds Agade in Akkad and builds his capital there.
Builds beautiful temples and palace.
Middle Minoan Period. 2200-1550 BC
The cities of Crete reach their maximum expansion.
Middle Cycladic Period. 2200-1650 BC
Egypt fragments with dynasties in rival capitals. ca. 2200 BC
Hsia Dynasty of China. c.2200-c.1776 BC
First historic Chinese dynasty.
Horses are domesticated and rice and millet are cultivated.
Middle Kingdom of Egypt. Reunites Egypt. c. 2200 BC
The Gutians, from what is modern day Iran, conquer Sumeria.
They destroy Agade, and rule Sumeria. ca. 2180-2080 BC
Aryan invasion of India. c.2150 BC
The Aryans, a Sanskrit speaking people from Central Asia,
invade India and destroy the Indus valley civilization.
Egypt expands its territory southward. 2133-1786 BC
Engages in extensive foreign trade.
Reign of Ur-Nammu of Sumeria. 2113-2096 BC
Ur-Nammu, Sumerian ruler.
Builds the Ziggurat of Ur. 2112 BC
Ur-Nammu founds the last Sumerian dynasty and promulgates
law code, the oldest code of laws known. ca. 2112 BC
Middle Helladic culture. 2100-1550 BC
Gudeans are driven out of Sumaria, by Utu-Hegal, King of Erech (Uruk).
The Sumerians are restored back to power. 2050 BC
Abraham, the son of Terah.
Leaves Ur in Chaldea (Ur of the Chaldees). ca. 2100 BC
End of Sumerian rule.
Invasion of Amorites and Elamites. 2000 BC
The Elamites destroy Ur, marking the end of Sumerian dominance in Mesopotamia.
The Mycenaeans enter Greece from the north. c. 2000 BC
The Hebrews live as nomadic shepherds in Canaan. 2000-1700 BC
Settlement of the Hittites in Anatolia in Asia Minor. 2000 BC
Founding of the first Hittite Kingdom.
Fall of the Sumerian Empire to the Amorites and Gutians. 1950 BC
Egypt conquers lower Nubia. 1950 BC
Entrance of Abraham, son of Terah, into Canaan. ca. 1900 BC
Arrival of Indo-European peoples on the Greek mainland. 1900 BC
Start of the first Babylonian Empire. c. 1900 BC
Stonehenge. ca. 1900-1400 BC
A massive stone complex used for religious purposes, is built on Salisbury Plain, England.
Babylonian mathematics. ca. 1900 BC
Reaches its high level with a numbering system that is based upon the developed sexagesimal system with a place value notation for both whole numbers and fractions. Also surviving are tables of squares, of square roots, of cubes, cube roots, and of the sums of squares and cubes.
Minoan culture in Crete. ca. 1800-1700 BC
Founding of Thebes, Greece. ca. 1800 BC
The Old Assyrian Empire. 1800-1375 BC
Hammurabi ascends the throne of Babylonia. 1792 BC
Hammurabi rules the western Semitic Kingdom of Babylonia.
Hammurabia rules Canaan. ca. 1792-1750 BC
Shang Dynasty in northern China. c.1766-1122 BC
Hammurabi writes code of laws.
Law Code of Hammurabi is carved into stele. 1755 BC
Egypt is invaded, conquered, and then ruled by the Hyksos.
The Hyksos, a Semitic people, probably came from Canaan.
They introduced horse drawn chariots. ca. 1730-1570 BC
Jacob, the son of Isaac, enters into Egypt. ca. 1700 BC
Late Cycladic Period. 1650-1300 BC
Beginning of Achaean ascendancy. 1650-1500 BC
Old Kingdom of the Hittites. c. 1650-1500 BC
A volcano explodes on the Minoan island of Thera, near Akrotiri, Greece.
This explosion is twice as violent as that of Krakatoa. 1628 BC
Destroys Minoan cities.
This explosion brings about the abrupt transition from the Minoan culture to the Mycenaean culture.
Reign of Mursilis I, King of the Hittites. 1620-1590 BC
First beginnings of Phoenician cities. 1600-1200 BC
Mursilish I, King of the Hittites, defeats Halpa (Aleppo). c. 1595 BC
Mursili I, King of the Hittites (also called Kassites).
Babylon and Babylonian dynasty is destroyed by the Hittites. 1595 BC
The Hittites came from what will later be known as Anatolia and Syria.
Beginning of the Mycenaean civilization. 1580 BC
Mycenaeans, a Greek speaking people, settle in Greece.
Mycenaeans establish a flourishing civilization, and trade with Crete.
Reign of Amosis I. 1570-1546 BC
New Kingdom in Egypt.
The Hyksos kings are expelled by Amosis I. ca. 1570-1085 BC
Egyptian power and civilization reaches its height.
Egypt conquers Nubia. 1560 BC
Late Helladic culture. 1550-1100 BC
Late Minoan Period. 1550-1100 BC
Decline sets in.
Reign of Amenhotep I (son of Amosis I). c. 1541-1520 BC
Reign of Thutmosis I, Pharaoh of Egypt. 1520-1492 BC
The Birth of Moses. c.1520 BC
Thutmosis I of Egypt penetrates to the Euphrates Valley. 1520-1512 BC
Middle Kingdom of the Hittites. c.1500-1420 BC
Mitanni kingdom of Hurrians (known as the Horites in the Old Testament) rule much of Mesopotamia and Assyria. ca. 1500 BC
Linear B script exists in Crete, indicating evidence of Mycenaean
influence on the language of Crete. ca. 1500 BC
The Hellenic invasion of Greece. ca. 1500-1000 BC
The Palace of Minos. Knossos, Crete. ca. 1500 BC
Reign of Thutmosis III of Egypt. 1480-1448 BC
Under him, Egypt experiences its greatest territorial expansion.
Rules from the Euphrates River to the 4th Cataract of the Nile River.
Battle of Megiddo. 1479 BC
Egyptians under Thutmose III of Egypt, defeat a Confederation of Palestinian states in northern Israel. Egypt conquers Syria and part of Mesopotamia.
Reign of Hatshepsut in Egypt. 1479-1458 BC
Temple of Hatshepsut. Egypt. ca. 1460 BC
Destruction of the Minoan culture. 1450-1375 BC
The destruction of the palace of Knossos by fire occurred during an unsuccessful revolt of the Cretan population against their new masters from Mycenae (the Mycenaeans).
The Exodus.
Moses leads the Jews out of Egypt. c.1446 BC
Definitive establishment of Achaean dominance of Crete. ca. 1425 BC
New Hittite Kingdom. c.1420-1190 BC
Reign of Amenhotep (Amenophis) III. 1417-1379 BC
Marks the beginning of the downfall of Egyptian power.
The Death of Moses. c. 1406 BC
Joshua succeeds Moses as the leader of the Jews.
The Mycenaeans gain supremacy of the Mediterranean. ca. 1400 BC
Mycenae, located in the northern Peloponnesus, becomes the major
ancient city following the collapse of Knossus (the Minoans).
Middle Assyrian Empire. 1375-1047 BC
Assyrian law during this period called for some terrible forms of punishment.
These included blinding, severance of ears, nose, lips, fingers and toes, castration, amputation of arms and legs, and the destruction of faces by the application of boiling asphalt.
Reign of Amenhotep (Amenophis) IV. 1352-1336 BC
Amenhotep (Amenophis) IV changes his name to Akhenaton. ca. 1350 BC
Married to Nofretete, Akhenaton attempts to introduce in Egypt the worship of Aton, or the Sun.
Founding of the city of Corinth (Greece). 1350 BC
Height of expansion of the Hittite Empire. 1350 BC
Reign of Tutenkhamen, son-in-law of Akhnaton. c. 1332-1324 BC
Restores polytheism in Egypt.
Reign of Rameses I of Egypt. 1319-1290 BC
Reign of Rameses II of Egypt. 1304-1237 BC
Ramses II, ruler of Egypt. 1300-1290 BC
Completes the temples of Karnak, Thebes, Luxor, and Abu-Simbel.
Battle of Kadesh (in modern day Syria). 1288 BC
(Part of Egyptian-Hittite Wars).
Egyptian armies under Rameses II lose a major battle to the HIttites led by Mursilish II, at Kadesh in Syria. Fought for mastery of Syria.
Both sides claim the victory.
Ramses II of Egypt makes peace with the Hittites. 1283 BC
Shalmaneser I becomes ruler of Assyria. 1275 BC
The Phoenicians flourish on the coasts of Syria and Lebanon. c. 1250 BC
The Phoenicians establish the city states of Tyre and Sidon.
Phoenicians begin to colonize the Mediterranean coast.
The Israelites conquer and enter into Canaan (Palestine). ca. 1250 BC
Crossing of the Jordan River by the Israelites. c. 1250 BC
The Israelite league is victorious in a battle fought in the Esdraedon Valley.
The victory is celebrated in the Song of Deborah (Judges 5). ca. 1235 BC
Merneptah leads Egyptian army in campaign against Israel in Palestine (first mention of the tribe of Israel in the Israel Stele) and against the Libyans, who were allied with the Sea Peoples (Greeks, Philistines). ca. 1234-1220 BC
Trojan War. ca. 1203- c. 1193 BC
The Greeks led by Agamemnon, Achilles, and Odysseus (Ulysses) lay siege to the ancient city of Troy.
Troy will ultimately fall to the Greeks (c. 1193 BC).
The Latins, an Indo-European speaking Italic people from Central Europe,
cross the Alps, invade Italy, and settle in Central Italy. ca. 1200 BC
Dorian (North Greeks) invaders from the north, begin to invade Greece.
Devastation of Achaean cities. 1200 BC
20th Dynasty in Egypt. 1200-1090 BC
The League of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. ca. 1200 BC
The period of the Judges of Israel. 1200-1020 BC
Destruction of the Hittite Empire and other near eastern civilizations by invaders
(the “Sea Peoples”). c. 1200 BC
The Fall of Troy. 1193 BC
Troy, in Asia Minor, falls to Greek armies after a ten year siege (according to Homer).
Traditional date for the destruction of the city of Troy.
Rameses III becomes ruler of Egypt. 1188 BC
Egyptian delta. c. 1188 BC
Invasion of Egypt by confederation of “Sea Peoples”.
These include Greeks, Philistines, Sardinians, and Sicilians.
The “Sea Peoples” are defeated by Rameses III.
Rameses III defeats an armada of invading “Peoples of the Sea”.
Egyptian independence is preserved.
The Philistines are pushed back from Egypt. 1180 BC
Gideon and the Midianites. c. 1169 BC
Sack of Babylon and overthrow of Kassite power by the Elamites. 1160 BC
The Dorians (Northern Greeks) conquer Crete. 1150 BC
Greeks settle on the Ionian coast of Asia Minor. 1150-1000 BC
Phoenicians found their first north African colony at Utica located in what is modern day Tunisia. 1140 BC
Nebuchadnezzar I, King of Babylon. 1125-1116 BC
Chou Dynasty of China. 1122-480 BC
Overthrows the Shang Dynasty.
Tiglath-Pileser I. Ruler of Assyria. 1116-1077 BC
Founds the Assyrian Empire.
Fortifies it against migrating peoples from the north.
Will conquer Babylon.
The Babylonians defeat the Elamites. 1100 BC
21st Dynasty in Egypt. 1090-945 BC
Civil war under Ramses XI.
Israel is conquered by the Philistines. ca. 1070 BC
The central shrine of the League of Israel at the Battle of Shiloh is destroyed.
The Ark of the Covenant is taken by the Philistines.
Samuel, the last of the Judges of Israel.
He is forced to institute kingship in Israel at the insistence of the twelve tribes of Israel. ca. 1043 BC
Saul is anointed the first King of Israel.
Reign of King Saul of Israel. ca. 1043-1010 BC
Saul leads Israel in the struggle against the Ammonites. ca. 1042 BC
Saul defeats the Ammonites.
Philistines invade central Palestine. 1041 BC
Saul, King of Israel, is at war against the Philistine invaders.
At the end of his reign, Saul is defeated by the Philistines at the
catastrophic Battle of Gilboa on the plain of Jezreel. ca. 1010 BC
Saul, King of the Jews, commits suicide by falling on his own sword.
David, King of the Jews. ca. 1010 BC
On the death of King Saul, David is anointed King of the Jews at Hebron.
Reign of David, King of the Jews (kingdom of Judah).
David defeats the Philistines and begins to unite Israel. ca.1010-ca.970 BC
Although David is anointed King of Israel, for 7 ½ years he rules only the southern Kingdom of Judah.
Ishbaal, son of Saul, rules briefly in the northern kingdom of Israel.
Thereafter David will rule all of Israel both northern and southern kingdoms.
David captures Jerusalem (c. 1000 BC) and makes it the religious and political capital of Israel.
David returns the Ark of the Covenant (1000 BC) and the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments) to the city.
David reigns over all of Israel (north and south). c. 1003 BC
Teutonic tribes settle in northern Europe. c. 1000 BC
The Phoenicians dominate the seas. 1000-774 BC
The Phoenicians probably sailed to Cornwall, England, for tin and sailed down
the west coast of Africa.
The Birth of Solomon, the son of David. c. 990 BC
Hyram (Hiram) I is King of the Phoenician city of Tyre. c. 969-936 BC
David is succeeded by Solomon, his son by Bathsheeba.
Solomon rules Israel. ca. 970-ca. 933 BC
Solomon, King of the Jews.
Completes the Temple of Jehovah at Jerusalem. ca. 966 BC
Tiglath-Pileser II. King of Assyria (rules for 32 years). 966-935 BC
Hiram I builds the fortified city of Tyre. c. 950 BC
The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon, King of Israel. c. 946 BC
22nd Dynasty of Egypt. 945-745 BC
Begins with Sheshonk I (rules 945 to 918 BC).
The Death of Solomon, King of Israel. ca. 933 BC
Immediately upon the death of King Solomon, rebellion follows the accession of his son Rehoboam. ca. 933 BC
The Kingdom of Israel is divided into a southern kingdom (Judah, with its capital at Jerusalem) under Rehoboam (to c. 915 BC), the son of King Solomon. The northern kingdom (Israel with its capital at Shechem, later Tirzah and Pneul, then Samaria) is under Jeroboam I (to 912 BC), also the son of Solomon.
Reign of Jeroboam I, First King of Israel. c. 933-912 BC
Civil war between Rehoboam, King of Judah, and Jeroboam I, King of Israel. 933-915 BC
The Kingdom of Israel (the Northern Kingdom). 933-722 BC
The Dynasty of Jeroboam I (ca. 933-901), of the Kingdom of Israel.
Jeroboam is the son of Solomon. 933-900 BC
The Kingdom of Judah (the southern kingdom). 933-586 BC
Reign of Rehoboam, first King of Judah. ca. 933-915 BC
Rehoboam is the son of Solomon.
Shoshenq I of Egypt (called Shishok in the Old Testament) proceeds with
his army out from the Egyptian delta. 918 BC
The civil war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam I is broken off by the
attack of Shoshonq I.
Shoshenq (Sheshonk) of Egypt invades Palestine, plunders the city of
Jerusalem, devastates Edom, Judah, and much of Israel in the north.
Death of Rehoboam, the King of Judah (the kingdom of the south). 915 BC
Reign of Abijah (Abijam) the Second King of Judah. ca. 915-913 BC
Civil War continues between Israel (the kingdom of the north) and Juda (the
kingdom of the south) through his reign.
Asa, Third King of Judah. ca. 913-873 BC
Civil War continues between Israel (the kingdom of the north) and Judah
(the kingdom of the south) throughout his reign.
Nadab. Second King of Israel (the kingdom of the north). c. 912-910 BC
Nadab is son of Jeroboam I of Israel.
The New Assyrian Empire.
The Assyrian Empire controls Mesopotamia (until 606 BC). 910 BC
The murder of Nadab, the son of Jeroboam I, by Baasha. 910 BC
Baasha. Third King of Israel. c. 910-909 BC
The Dynasty of Baasha in the northern Kingdom of Israel. 910-876 BC
Baasha. Third King of Israel (the kingdom of the north).
Attempts to re-ignite the smoldering civil war with the Kingdom of Judah.
Asa, King of Judah (913-873BC), however, calls upon Ben-Hadad I, King of
Aram-Damascus (880-842BC).
Ben-Hadad I attacks Baasha, King of Israel, lays waste to part of Galilee
and annexes the territory northeast of the Yarmuk River. c. 909 BC
Elah. Fourth King of Israel (the kingdom of the north). c. 909-908 BC
Elah is the son of Baasha.
During the New Assyrian Empire, Adad-Nirari II, engages in conflicts
in Northern Mesopotamia. 909-889 BC
Elah, the son of Baasha, King of Israel, is assassinated by Zimri. 908 BC
Zimri. Fifth King of Israel. c. 908 BC
Zimri is burnt to death in his palace in T'irzah by Omri.
Omri. Sixth King of Israel (the kingdom of the north). c. 908-897 BC
Omri advances to the throne by the army of Israel.
Under his reign, Omri builds a new capital at Samaria making
it the religious and governmental capital of Israel.
Omri, King of Israel, establishes the Omride Dynasty. 908-842 BC
Omri. Sixth King of Israel.
Omri will renew alliances with the Phoenician city of Tyre, by the marriage
of the Phoenician princess Jezebel, the daughter of Ittoba'al, King of Tyre
(887-856 BC) to his son Ahab, the crown prince of Israel. c. 908 BC
During his reign, Omri reconquers Moab (from the Mesha inscription).
The founding of Sparta. ca. 900 BC
Four villages (Limnia, Mesoa, Kynosura, and Petane) are consolidated
into a single settlement in the Eurotas River Valley.
Reign of Ahab, the Seventh King of Israel. c. 897-853 BC
Ahab, King of Israel, will fight defensive wars with Ben-Hadad I, King of
Aram-Damascus.
Ittoba’al. King of Tyre. c. 887-856 BC
Ittoba’al is the father of Jezebel.
Reign of Ashurnarspal II (also written Ashurnasirpal). c. 883-859 BC
The great grandson of Adad-Nirari, he is considered to be the most vicious
of the Assyrian kings. He subsequently formed an empire which
corresponded in size to that of Tiglath-Pileser I.
The resistance of neighboring peoples was broken by annual campaigns
which used cavalry probably for the first time in the history of warfare.
Methods of subjugation put the conquered peoples into a state of fear.
Used blinding, impalement, scourging, boiling alive, and mass executions.
The Assyrians under Ashurbanipal II conquered Phoenicia.
Reign of Ben-Hadad I, the King of Aram-Damascus. ca. 880-842 BC
Samaria (formerly Shechem or Sichem) is rebuilt as the capital of Israel,
the kingdom of the north. 879 BC
Jehosophat, Fourth King of Judah.
Judah is the kingdom of the south. ca. 873-849 BC
Jehoshaphat. Fourth King of Judah. c. 860 BC
Makes peace with Ahab, King of Israel (kingdom of the north).
Ahab joins Jehoshaphat in the wars against Damascus.
Reign of Shalmaneser III, King of Assyria. 859-824 BC
Rules for 35 years.
Shalmaneser III, King of Assyria, son of Ashurbanipal, cemented
overlordship in Syria and Palestine in order to control the trade routes
from the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers to the Mediterranean Sea.
The subjugation of Damascus, the Aramean capital was not accomplished.
Shalmaneser III, King of Assyria.
Meets a coalition of Aramaean kings (Sam’al, Hattini, Carchemish, and
Bît Adini) at Lutibu near Sam'al (modern Zincirli). 858 BC
Shalmaneser III claims the victory even though he did not break the
power of the allies.
Shalmaneser III, King of Assyria.
Conquers Bît Adini, captures its prince, and annexes the country to the Assyrian Empire. 857-855 BC
Once again the west unites against Shalmaneser III of Assyria. 854 BC
The chiefs of the alliance are Irkhuleni of Hamath and Ben Hadad I
(Hadadezer) of Damascus.
Battle of Quarqar on the Orontes. 854 BC
Ahab, King of Israel, Ben-Hadad I of Damascus, and Irkhuleni of Hamath
head the coalition that stops Shalmaneser's march of conquest.
Shalmaneser III, however, is stopped, but he is not defeated.
Death of Ahab, the King of Israel. 854 BC
Dies in Transjordan while fighting against Ben Hadad of Damascus.
Ahab is succeeded by Ahaziah as King of Israel. c. 854 BC
Reign of Ahaziah the Eighth King of Israel. c. 854-853 BC
Ahaziah is succeeded by Joram in the Kingdom of Israel (the kingdom of
the north). 853 BC
Joram (Jehoram). Ninth King of Israel. c. 853-842 BC
Elijah the Prophet, flourishes at this time. ca. 852 BC
Elijah becomes the leader of a counter movement against the
"House of Omri".
Elijah battles against the worship of the Tyrian (Tyre) false god Ba'al
that was worshipped by Jezebel. Elijah began a religious revolution
that eventually brought down the "House of Omri".
Shalmaneser III, King of Assyria, continues his attacks against the western
forces. 850, 849, and 846 BC
The Greeks adopt the Phoenician alphabet. c. 850 BC
Arrival of the Etruscans in Rome. c. 850 BC
Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, is succeeded by his son Jehoram. 849 BC
Reign of Jehoram. Fifth King of Judah. c. 849-842 BC
Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, King of Israel, and his wife Jezebel,
marries Joram, King of Judah. c. 849 BC
Phoenician gods are introduced and worshiped in Israel.
Ahaziah. Sixth King of Judah. 842 BC
Ahaziah, grandson of Jehosophat, the King of Judah, succeeds
Jehoram as the King of Judah.
Ahaziah rules Judah for less than one year.
Inspired by the prophet Elisha, the warrior Jehu leads an open rebellion
against the King of Israel and his worship of false gods. 842 BC
Ahaziah, the King of Judah, is killed in the blood purge. 842 BC
Jehu is annointed King of Israel (kingdom of the north) by a delegate of the
prophet Elisha. ca. 842 BC
Reign of Jehu,Tenth King of Israel. ca. 842- 815 BC
Jehu, King of Israel, eliminates the Omrites and suppresses the worship of
Baal, the false god of the Phoenicians.
The Dynasty of Jehu of Israel. 842-748 BC
Athaliah seizes power over the kingdom of Judah. 842 BC
Athaliah is a descendant of the Omri Dynasty of Israel.
Athaliah, the dowager queen, rules Judah tyrannically after the elimination
of the Omrites. 842-836 BC
Athaliah attempts to secure her throne by attempting to completely
destroy the Davidic house. However, a small son of Ahaziah escapes
(his name is Jehoash).
Hazael. Rules as King of Damascus. ca. 842-806 BC
Shalmaneser III, King of Assyria.
Conquers Syria. He attacks and defeats Hazael, King of Damascus, who
had just come to the throne. 842 BC
Shalmaneser III, King of Assyria.
Finally defeats the western enemies.
Jehu, King of Israel, submits to Shalmaneser III, of Assyria. 842 BC
Tribute is paid to the Assyrian Empire by Jehu, King of Israel.
The enthronement of Jehoash, King of Judah, with the backing of the
High Priest. c. 836 BC
Reign of Jehoash, the Eighth King of Judah. c. 836-797 BC
The murder of Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and wife of
Joram, King of Judah. 836 BC
During his reign, Jehoash, King of Judah, is forced to pay a heavy
tribute to Aram.
Shalmaneser III of Assyria makes conquests in Cilicia. ca. 835 BC
Shalmaneser III fights against Sardur I, king of Urartu. ca. 830 BC
Reign of Shalmaneser III ends in revolution. 824 BC
Jehoahaz. Rules as the Eleventh King of Israel. c. 815-798 BC
Hazael, King of Damascus.
During the time of Jehoahaz (King of Israel), Hazael reduced the Kingdom
of Israel to a dependency, conquered Philistia, and put the Kingdom of
Judah under enormous tribute. Hazael also had unified the Aramaen
states. 814-798 BC
The founding and building of Carthage (New City), in North Africa by
Phoenicians of Tyre. 814 BC
Carthage becomes a wealthy commercial center.
Queen Samuramat of Assyria. 811-807 BC
This is the so-called Queen of Semiramis.
Appearance of Jonah. 810-790 BC
Death of Hazael, King of Damascus. ca. 806 BC
“The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”. ca. 800-750 BC
Written by Homer.
The establishment of the Phrygian Kingdom (Phrygia), in Northern
Anatolia, with its capital at Gordium. ca. 800 BC
The most important ruler of Phrygia is Midas.
23rd Dynasty of Egypt. 800-730 BC
In dual reign with 22nd Dynasty.
Amaziah, Ninth King of Judah. ca. 797-769 BC
Amaziah is the son of Jehoash, King of Judah.
Succeeds to the throne of Judah (the kingdom of the south).
Jehoash (Joash), Twelfth King of Israel. c. 797-780 BC
Fights against Judah and defeats Amaziah, King of Judah.
Takes Jerusalem and reduces the southern kingdom to vassalage.
Brief conquest of Egypt by Ethiopia. 790 BC
Joel, the Prophet of Israel. c. 790-760 BC
The Prophet Hosea of Israel. c. 785-725 BC
Reign of Jeroboam II, Thirteenth King of Israel. c. 780-741 BC
Jeroboam is the son of Jehoash.
Under the reign of Jeroboam II, Damascus and Hamath come
under Israel's control for the first time since the days of King Solomon.
The Prophet Amos of Israel. c. 780-760 BC
The Prophets Amos and Hosea prophesy the complete destruction of the
kingdom of Israel if the people do not cease the worship of false gods.
They prophesize against the idol worship and corruption of the ca. 780 BC
time of Jeroboam II, King of Israel.
First Olympiad is held in ancient Greece. 776 BC
Olympic games are initiated.
Phoenicia comes under Assyrian rule. 774-625 BC
Amaziah, King of Judah, is defeated by Israel. 769 BC
He is killed in Judean rebellion.
Reign of Uzziah (Azariah). Tenth King of Judah. c. 769-734 BC
During his reign, Uzziah becomes the head of a western coalition formed
against Syria.
Traditional date for the founding and building of the city of Rome. 753 BC
Founded by Romulus and Remus. Hills were occupied for centuries by
Indo-Europeans and Sabines, sheep herders.
Romulus is the first King of Rome (Rex Romae).
Romulus rules 753-716 BC.
The Prophet Isaiah. c. 750-695 BC
Etruscans from the north capture Rome. ca. 750 BC
The Etruscans will rule until 509 BC which marks the founding of the
Roman Republic.
The Romans seize Sabine women at a public spectacle, taking them as
wives. 750 BC
Founding of the first Greek colonies in southern Italy (called Magna
Graecia) and eastern Sicily. c. 750 BC
Magna Graecia was the ancient name for southern Italy.
The founding of Cumae (Cyme), one of the first Greek colonies in
southern Italy. c. 750 BC
Founded by Greeks from Chalcis and Kyme.
Hesiod of Ascra (in Boeotia). Greek.
Author of "Theogony". 750-700 BC
Jotham, Uzziah's son, serves as regent of Judah. c. 749-734 BC
Rome is taken by the Sabines who unite with the Romans as one people. 747 BC
Micah. The Jewish Prophet of Israel. c. 745-725 BC
Reign of Tiglath-Pileser III, King of Assyria. c. 744-727 BC
Subjugates Syria and Philistia
Zechariah. 14th King of Israel. c. 741 BC
Assassination of Zechariah, King of Israel, the last of the dynasty of Jehu.
He is killed by Shallum. ca. 741 BC
Shallum. 15th King of Israel (kingdom of the north). c. 741 BC
Shallum is killed by Menahem in continued civil strife. 741 BC
Menahem. 16th King of Israel. c. 741-731 BC
The First Messenian War. c. 740-720 BC
The conquest of Messenia by Sparta under King Theopompus.
The Spartans, like the Athenians, feel the pressures of population
expansion. But rather than send out colonies, they conquer Messenia.
Sparta becomes a powerful military force on the Greek mainland. c. 736-730 BC
Greek colonists continue to settle in Sicily. 735 BC
In Sicily, the native peoples, including the Sicels, Sicans, and
Elymians, retain their identity, although the east coast of the island
becomes Hellenized.
Rezin, King of Aram (754-732 BC) and Pekah, King of Israel, enter into a
league against Assyria. ca. 735 BC
Ahaz. Twelfth King of Judah. ca. 735-715 BC
Ahaz, King of Judah.
Ahaz refuses to join the conspiracy of Israel and Aram formed against the Assyrian Empire. 735 BC
Pekah, King of Israel, and Rezin, King of Aram, declare war on Ahaz,
King of Judah. 735 BC
Uzziah, King of Judah.
Defeated by Tiglath-pileser III, King of Assyria. c. 734 BC
Unlike Hamath and his northern allies, he escapes with little harm.
In his later years, Uzziah, King of Judah, becomes a leper and lives in
isolation from his court. ca. 734 BC
The founding of the city of Syracuse in Sicily by Greeks from the Greek city
Corinth. ca. 734 BC
The Carthaginians control the western part of Sicily. They prove a
continual source of friction to the Greeks in the east of the island.
Ahaz, King of Judah.
Against the warning of the prophet Isaiah, Ahaz appeals to Assyria for help
against the Syro-Ephraimite coalition. 734 BC
Tiglathpileser III of Assyria comes westward. 734-732 BC
Tiglathpileser III of Assyria lays waste the kingdom of Israel. 732 BC
Much of Israel is turned into an Assyrian province.
Tiglathpileser III of Assyria appoints Hosea (732-722) king in Samaria.
Hosea (Hoshea) is the 19th, and the last, King of Israel. c. 732 BC
Tiglathpileser III of Assyria.
Lays waste Babylon and Damascus. 732-729 BC
The whole of Aram is turned into a province of the Assyrian Empire.
In his last year, Menahem, King of Israel (741-731), pays tribute to
Tiglath-pileser III, King of Assyria. 731 BC
Reign of Pekahiah, 17th King of Israel. c. 731-729 BC
Founding of Rhegium (modern day Reggio Calabria), Italy, by Greeks from
Chalcis, Messenia, and Sparta. 730 BC
Chalcis and Eretria in Euboea send colonies to Rhegium, Italy. 730 BC
Pekahiah, King of Israel, is killed by the anti-Assyrian group led by Pekah. c. 729 BC
Pekah. Eighteenth King of Israel. ca. 729-732 BC
Tiglath-Pileser III. Becomes Babylonian King. 729 BC
Hoshea, King of Israel.
Rebels against Assyria, hoping to receive military
assistance from Tefnakhte, the ruler of Egypt. 725 BC
Destruction of the Kingdom of Israel (the kingdom of the north). 722 BC
Sargon II, Assyrian King, destroys Samaria, the capital of Israel,
after a 3 year siege, completing the Assyrian conquest of the kingdom of
Israel.
Sargon II of Assyria exiles most of the Jews that are in Israel.
Resettlement of many of the Jews in Media and Mesopotamia.
Israel becomes a province of the Assyrian Empire.
Sargon II claims to have taken 27,290 Israelites into captivity.
The Citadel of Sargon II. Khorsabad. 722-706 BC
Reign of Sargon II, King of Assyria. 722-705 BC
Rules for 17 years.
Sargon II, King of Assyria.
Arms the Assyrian armies with iron weapons. 722 BC
Achaeans from Greece found the ancient city of Sybaris in southern Italy. c.720 BC
Sargon II (son of Tiglath-Pileser III), King of Assyria.
Captures the city of Carchemish. 717 BC
Numa Pompilius. Second King of Rome (Rex Romae). 716-672 BC
Hezekiah. Thirteenth King of Judah. c. 715-687 BC
Victory of Assyria over the kingdom of Urartu. 714 BC
Achaeans (Greek) found Crotona (Croton) in southern Italy. c. 710 BC
Sargon II, King of Assyria, captures Babylon. 709 BC
After struggles with the Assyrian Empire, the Phrygians conclude
a peace and begin paying tribute to Sargon II, King of Assyria. 709 BC
Founding of the Spartan colony of Taras (Tarentum) in Magna Graecia
(southern Italy) by Sparta. 706 BC
Reign of Sennacherib (son of Sargon II), King of Assyria. c.705-682 BC
Achaemenes. First ruler of the Achaemenid kingdom.
This is the Teispid kingdom (c. 705-559 BC). c. 705 BC
Height of Assyrian expansionism. 704-669 BC
Hezekiah, King of Judah (kingdom of the south).
Enters into an alliance with Phoenicia, Philistia, and Egypt, against
Sennacherib, the new King of Assyria. ca. 702 BC
Sennacherib of Assyria, marches westward to meet Hezekiah, King of Judah, and his Phoenician, Philistine, and Egyptian allies.
Conquest of Phoenicia (except for Tyre) by Sennacherib of Assyria. 701 BC
Luli, King of the Sidonians (Sidon), flees in terror to Cyprus.
Egyptian forces under Shabaka are easily defeated by the Assyrians at
The Battle of Elteqeh.
Philistia falls to the Assyrians. 701 BC
Subjugation of Judea by Sennacherib of Assyria. 701 BC
Sennacherib reduces 46 walled cities of Judah and leaves Hezekiah, King
of Judah, shut up in Jerusalem "like a bird in a cage".
Sennacherib of Assyria is at Jerusalem. 701 BC
Sennacherib threatens to destroy the city of Jerusalem.
Hezekiah, King of Judea, capitulates, paying heavy tribute to the Assyrian
Empire.
The Achaeans (Greek) found the city of Metapontion (Metapontum) in
southern Italy. c. 700 BC
Founding of the Empire of the Medes (lasts until 549 BC). 700 BC
Celts (Celtics) begin to invade Spain and France. 700 BC
Deloces. First King of the Medes. 700-647 BC
Greeks settle in Anatolia (Asia Minor) and Syria. c. 700-650 BC
Temple of Hera is erected at Olympus. ca. 700 BC
This is an example of an early Doric style temple.
The destruction of Babylon by Sennacherib, King of Assyria. 689 BC
Sennacherib of Assyria builds a magnificent palace at Nineveh.
Sennacherib transforms Nineveh into the country's capital. 689 BC
Rhodes and Crete settle the city of Gela in Sicily. 688 BC
Manasseh. Fourteenth King of Judah. c. 687-642 BC
Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, and his son Amon will rule as puppets of the
Assyrian Empire during the reigns of Esarhaddon (681-669 BC) and
Ashurbanapal (669-631 BC).
Manasseh, King of Judah, is particularly remembered for his worship of
false gods, including the Assyrian cult, and for the practice of child
sacrifice.
Reign of Gyges, King of Lydia. c. 685-652 BC
King Gyges dethroned Candaules (Kandaules), King of Lydia, and
subjected Western Asia Minor. Gyges fought without success against the
Greek cities, conquering only Colophon.
The severity, waste, and brutal conduct of Sennacherib of Assyria bring
about his murder. 681 BC
Reign of Essarhaddon, King of Assyria (son of Sennacherib). 681-669 BC
Essarhaddon orders the rebuilding of Babylon.
Allied with the Scythians, he pushed the Cimmerians back and conquered Egypt, short of Nubia. Under Essarhaddon, the Assyrian Empire achieves its greatest territorial expansion extending from what is now Iran to Egypt.
Locrians, from Locri, Greece, found the city of Locri in southern Italy.
Legal code is drawn up by Zaleucus. c. 680 BC
Tullus Hostilius. Third King of Rome (Rex Romae). c. 672-640 BC
Second Babylonian Empire is established. c.670 BC
Conquest of Egypt by Esarhadon (Essarhaddon), King of Assyria. 669 BC
Essarhadon dies while fighting in Egypt.
Reign of Ashurbanipal, King of Assyria. 669-631 BC
Ruled for 38 years.
Under his reign, the large library at Nineveh is established.
Contains 30,000 clay tablets of writings, including poetry, literature, historical, philosophical, religious, medical, astronomical, and other scientific writings as well as records of business transactions.
The destruction of Thebes by Ashurbanipal, King of Assyria. 667 BC
The founding of Byzantium by the Greek city Megara. ca.667 BC
Reign of Psamtik I of Egypt. 663-609 BC
Psamtik, frees Egypt from Assyrian rule.
During his reign, Ionian mercenaries settle (c. 640 BC) in the Egyptian delta and Ionian trading stations are founded (Naucratis).
Nahum. Prophet of the Kingdom of Judah. c. 660-630 BC
Cypselus establishes tyranny at Corinth, Greece. 655 BC
Gyges, King of Lydia, is killed during the defensive struggle fighting against
the Cimmerians. 652 BC
The Second Messenian War. ca.650-630 BC
The Messenians revolt against Sparta. A tightly disciplined Spartan hoplite Phalanx finally defeats the Messenians after 20 years of warfare.
Phraortes. Second King of the Medes. 647-625 BC
Amon. Fifteenth King of Judah. 642-640 BC
Teispes. Son of Achaemenes is ruler of Achaemenid kingdom. c. 640 BC
Josiah. Sixteenth King of Judah (the kingdom of the south). c.640-609 BC
Ancus Marcius. Fourth King of Rome (Rex Romae). c. 640-616 BC
Miletus joins other cities in the founding of the important trading post of Naucratis, in the Nile Delta, Egypt. 640 BC
Greeks found the north African city of Cyrene. ca.631 BC
Cyrene becomes an important commercial center.
Death of Assurbanipal, King of Assyria. 631 BC
Jeremiah. Prophet of the Kingdom of Judah.
His warnings of the impending and final destruction of Israel and Judah are rejected by the Hebrew people. c. 628-588 BC
Ashur-etil-ilani. King of Assyria. 631-627 BC
Zephaniah. Prophet of Judah. c. 630-620 BC
Josiah. King of Judah.
Moves into the old territory of Israel, annexing the Assyrian provinces of Samaria, Gilead, and Galilee. c. 627 BC
Chaldean Empire of Mesopotamia. 625-539 BC
Also known as the New Babylonian Empire.
Nabopolasser, King of the New Babylonian Empire. 625-605 BC
Includes western Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine.
Cyaxares. Third King of the Medes. 624-585 BC
Coming out of what is now called Turkestan and pursuing the Cimmerians into Asia Minor, the Sycthians are pushed back by Cyaxares, King of the Medes. c. 624 BC
An ancient forgotten text, the core of the Book of Deuteronomy, is found in the Temple of Jerusalem. 622 BC
Josiah, the King of Judah, initiates a religious renewal, after the ancient text is found in the Temple of Jerusalem.
The Temple is purified and all other symbols and false idols are destroyed.
The forgotten law book is republished and made the basis of the religious reform of the Jews.
False gods, false idols, and all false religions are rejected.
Worship is centralized in the city of Jerusalem.
Draco. Promulgates a very strict law code in Athens. 621 BC
Habakkuk. Prophet of the Kingdom of Judah. c. 620-610 BC
Lucius Tarquinius Priscus. Fifth King of Rome (Rex Romae). c.616-578 BC
Conquest and destruction of Assur and all Assyrian cities by the Medes under Cyaxares, King of Media (the Medes), and Nabopolassar, King of the New Babylonian Empire. 614-608 BC
The conquest and destruction of the Assyrian city of Ashur by
Cyaxares, King of the Medes. 614 BC
The population is wiped out and the land is made waste.
Cyaxares, King of Media, besieges Nineveh but fails to take it. 614 BC
The Fall of Nineveh. 612 BC
Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, is conquered and destroyed by the alliance of Nabopolassar of the Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians) and Cyaxares, King of Media (the Medes).
The allies attack the Assyrian capital of Nineveh on the Tigris River.
Nineveh is destroyed, never to be rebuilt.
The population is wiped out and the land is laid waste.
In an attempt to keep the kingdom of Assyria alive, Ashur-uballit, an Assyrian general, sets up new headquarters at Harran.
Anaximander. Greek philosopher. 611-546 BC
Battle of Megiddo. 609 BC
Josiah, King of Judah, meets his death at the Battle of Megiddo fighting a delaying action against Pharaoh Necho (Neko) II, who was hastening to the aid of Assyria.
Jehoahaz. 17th King of Judah. 609 BC
Jehoiakim. 18th King of Judah. 609-598 BC
Conquest and destruction of the Assyrian city of Harran (Haran). 609 BC
The population is wiped out and the land laid waste.
Nabopollassar of the Babylonian Chaldean dynasty annihilates the Assyrian army. Ashur-uballit is defeated.
The Assyrian Empire ceases to exist.
Battle of Carchemish. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar defeats the Egyptians at Carchemish in Mesopotamia.
Pharaoh Necho (Neko) II of Egypt arrives too late to help. Necho was delayed by Jewish forces under King Josiah who was killed at Megiddo.
Upon arriving at Carchemish, Necho’s army is defeated, chased to Hamath and destroyed.
Death of Nabopolassar.
Nebuchadnezzar, the son of Nabopolassar, becomes king.
Reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon. 605-562 BC
Babylon, with its hanging gardens (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), is the greatest city of its time during his reign.
Birth of Lao Tzu (name at birth was Li Erh) according to tradition.
Author of the “Tao Te Ching”. ca.604 BC
Lao Tzu is the founder of Taoism.
Zarathustra. Persia. c. 600 BC
Founder of Zoroastrianism.
The Zend Avesta.
Founding of a “League of Twelve Cities” in Italy.
Modeled after the Ionian League of Cities in Greece. ca.600 BC
Phocaea (Greeks) settles Marssalia in Gaul.
This is the modern day Marseilles, France. c. 600 BC
Joiachim (Jechoniah). 19th King of Judah. c. 598-597 BC
Zedekiah. 20th and the last King of Judah. 597-586 BC
Laws of Solon are promulgated in Athens. 594 BC
Apries, Pharaoh of Egypt. 589-570 BC
Destruction of the Kingdom of Judah. 586 BC
Nebuchadnezzar II , King of Babylon, invades and destroys Jerusalem.
Nebuchadnezzar destroys the Temple of Solomon and carries the inhabitants of Judah to Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar II burns the city of Jerusalem.
Beginning of the “Babylonian Captivity” of the Jews.
Conquest of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of the New Babylonian Empire, because of the alliance (see Hezekiah 715-687 BC) between Judah and Egypt.
The “Babylonian Captivity” of the Jews. 586-538 BC
Subsequently the Diaspora (Greek=”dispersal”) became the fate of the Jews.
Conquest of Phoenicia by the New Babylonian Empire. 586 BC
Only Tyre was able to withstand siege.
The Phoenician city of Tyre withstands a siege by the New Babylonian Empire lasting 13 years. 585-573 BC
Thales of Miletus (fl.625-545 BC). Greek natural philosopher.
Thales taught the existence of the soul and the immortality of the soul. 585 BC
Awed by a solar eclipse predicted by Thales of Miletus, Cyaxares, King of
the Medes, breaks off an undecided battle (at the Halys River in Asia Minor)
with Alyottes of Lydia. May 28, 585 BC
Astyages. Fourth King of the Medes. 585-549 BC
Astyages is the son of Cyaxares and will be the last King of the Medes.
He will be dethroned in 549 BC by Cyrus the Great of Persia.
Cyrus I.
The son of Teispes (Teispid kingdom) Cyrus I is ruler of Achaemenid kingdom. c.580 BC
Birth of Pythagoras of Samos (580-500 BC). 580 BC
Greek natural philosopher is born on the island of Samos.
The Temple of Artemis. Corfu. ca.580 BC
Servius Tullius. Sixth King of Rome (“Rex Romae”). c. 578-534 BC
Temple of Apollo. Syracuse, Sicily. ca.575 BC
Example of early Doric style architecture.
Apries of Egypt launches a military expedition against Cyrene.
Greeks of Cyrene in North Africa defeat Apries of Egypt. 570 BC
Amasis II, Pharaoh of Egypt. 570-526 BC
Overthrows Apries of Egypt and declares himself pharaoh.
Amasis II is a friend of Polycrates of Greece.
Adopts parts of Greek culture. Encourages Greek settlement in Egypt.
Pisistratus conquers Salamis for Athens. c.565 BC
Birth of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha).
Born in what is now Nepal. c.563 BC
Death of Nebuchadrezzar, King of Babylon. 562 BC
Effectively marks the end of Babylonian power.
Croesus is the last King of Lydia. 561-546 BC
Pisistratus becomes ruler of Athens. 561 BC
He is expelled almost at once by Lycurgus and Megacles.
Cambyses I. Ruler of the Achaemenid kingdom. c.560 BC
Cambyses is the son of Cyrus I and father of Cyrus II.
Attic black figure vases are made at this time. c.560 BC
Temple of Hera at Samos. c.560 BC
A huge Ionic style temple with double peristyle.
Celtic peoples are established in Ireland and Scotland. c.560 BC
First Roman census is taken. 560 BC
Pisistratus regains power in Athens. c.560 BC
Introduces the cult of Dionysus which derived from Thrace in what
is now called Bulgaria.
Cyrus II, the Great, Achaemenid King of Anzan. c.559 BC
Founds the first Persian Empire.
Includes vast areas of the Near and Middle East.
Cyrus II rules the Persian Empire (559-529 BC).
Nabonidus. 555-539 BC
Briefly revives the declining Babylon.
Birth of Confucius (Latinized form of K’ung-fu-tze). 551 BC
Chinese philosopher, teacher, and scholar. Lives 551-479 BC.
Confucius is considered by many to be the most influential figure in the
history of China. He is the founder of Confucianism.
Zoroaster dies (founder of Zoroastrianism). c. 551 BC
The “Basilica.” Paestum, Italy. ca.550 BC
Carthaginian armies campaign in Sicily. 550 BC
Temple of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus is erected at Ephesus. ca.550 BC
Enormous Ionic style temple in Asia Minor with double peristyle.
Cyrus, the Great, of Persia.
Deposes his overlord Astyages, the last king of the Medes (Media). Overthrows the Median dynasty and strengthens his rule in what
is now called Iran. Rules Media 549-529 BC. 549 BC
Croesus, King of Lydia, attacks Cyrus II of Persia at the Halys River.
The battle is inconclusive. 547 BC
The fall of Sardis (the capital of Lydia). 547 BC
Persian conquest of Lydia.
Cyrus the Great of Persia, conquers the kingdom of Lydia of Croesus.
10,000 are killed in battle.
Croesus, the last King of Lydia, is defeated by Cyrus the Great of Persia.
One by one the city states along the coast of Asia Minor are taken by the Persian armies of Cyrus the Great.
Cyrus the Great now also rules as King of Lydia. 547-529 BC
Sparta strengthens its military power in the Peloponnesus and forms the Peloponnesian League. 546 BC
Cyrus the Great of Persia.
Leads the Persian armies in the conquest of Greek cities of western
Asia Minor. c. 546 BC
Cyrus the Great of Persia.
Sacks Phocaea, Greece, forcing Phocaeans to flee westward. 546 BC
Some of them found Elea on the Tyrrhenian coastline.
This may possibly be the last settlement of Greeks in Italy.
Polycrates is tyrant of Samos. 540-520 BC
Xenophanes of Colophon. Greek natural philosopher. ca.540 BC
Xenophanes founds a school of philosophy at Elea in southern Italy.
Elea is a recently formed Greek colony.
Parmenides of Elea. 540-470 BC
Greek philosopher of the Eleatic school.
Temple of Apollo, Corinth. ca.540 BC
Doric style temple with thick, monolithic columns.
Seven of these columns are still standing.
Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II), King of Persia.
Persian conquest of the New Babylonian Empire. 539 BC
Conquers the Chaldeans. Enters into and conquers Babylon, making it a Persian Province. Cyrus II the Great will permit the Jews to return to Jerusalem in 536 BC.
Cyrus the Great. King of Babylon. 539-529 BC
Cyrus the Great. 539 BC
With the conquest of the New Babylonian Empire by Cyrus II, Palestine now becomes part of Persia.
Some of the Jews in captivity will return in 536 BC.
A revival begins under the prophets Nehemiah and Ezra.
Palestine is under Persian dominion. 539-332 BC
Phoenicia becomes a Persian province. 539 BC
The Persian Empire of Cyrus II the Great now runs from the Mediterranean Sea to
the Indus Valley, and south from the Caucasus to the Arabian Sea. 539 BC
Thespis.
Establishes tragic drama at Athens, Greece. 539 BC
Edict of Cyrus the Great. 536 BC
The Jews are freed by Cyrus the Great from their “Babylonian Captivity”.
The Jews are permitted to return back to Judah.
Judah, however, is now a Persian province.
Battle of Alalia. 535 BC
Naval victory of the Etruscans, in alliance with the Carthaginians, over Phocaean Greek settlers on Corsica in the sea battle at Alalia.
Naval supremacy of the Etruscans in the north western Mediterranean is thereby secured (maritime trade).
Reign of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (Etruscan ruler). 534-509 BC
Seventh and last King of Rome (“Rex Romae”).
Pythagoras. Greek philosopher.
Leaves his native island of Samos (because of the tyranny of Polycrates) and goes to the Greek colony of Croton in Southern Italy where he founds a group devoted to a life of contemplation and study. 531 BC
Subjects studied are psychology, philosophy, astronomy, physics, arithmetic, geometry, mathematics, music, logic, and acoustics.
Carthage becomes independent of Phoenicia. 530 BC
Anakreon of Teos (570-488 BC) and Ibycus of Rhegium. Poets.
Spend part of their lives at the court of Polycrates of Samos. ca.530 BC
Temple of Ceres, Paestum. ca.530 BC
Doric style temple with elaborate ornament and pronounced curvature
of the columns.
The Treasury of the Syphnians. Delphi. ca.530 BC
Polycrates of Samos.
Dominates the Aegean Sea with his naval fleet. c.530 BC
Death of Cyrus II, the Great. 529 BC
Dies in the struggles against the Massagetae in what is now eastern Iran (near the Oxus and Jaxartes Rivers).
Cambyses, son of Cyrus II, kills his brother Smerdis.
Cambyses II, son of Cyrus the Great, becomes King of Persia. 529 BC
Rules for seven years (rules 529-522 BC).
Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha).
At about the age of 35, Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) begins to teach his ideas in India. Founder of Buddhism. ca.528 BC
Hippias and Hipparchus, sons of Pisistratus.
Succeed to his rulership of Athens. 527 BC
Destruction of Siris. 527 BC
Battle of Pelusium. 525 BC
The Persians defeat the Egyptians after a hard fought battle at Pelusium.
Conquest of Egypt by the Persians.
The Persians under Cambyses II, conquer Egypt (Psammetichus III) and make it a Persian province.
Cambyses II of Persia has himself crowned Pharaoh of Egypt.
Egypt becomes a Persian province from 525 BC until 404 BC.
Cambyses II, the King of Persia, goes mad in Egypt. 525 BC
Persian rule in Egypt. 525-404 BC
Red figure style vases replace black figure style vases in Athens. c. 525 BC
The Etruscans dominate Italy. c. 525-509 BC
Etruscan expansion in Italy is ended by Greeks at Cumae. 524 BC
Death of Cambyses of Persia in Syria, on the way back to Susa,
of an accidental wound. Leaves no heirs to succeed him. 522 BC
Darius the Mede, son of Hystaspes, one of the chief counsellors of Cyrus the Great,
is made King of Persia. 522 BC
Darius I divides the Persian Empire into twenty satrapies (provinces), of which Egypt is one.
Darius I rules from the Hellespont to the Indus.
His rule includes all of Asia Minor and Syria, that is, the ancient Lydian and Hittite Empires, all of the previous Assyrian and Babylonian Empires, Egypt, the Caucasus, and Caspian regions, Media, Persia, and is extended into India to the Indus.
Darius I rules Persian Empire. 522-486 BC
Darius I. King of Persia.
Expedition to Scythia. 521 BC
Darius I of Persia’s conquest of Greek cities in Asia Minor causes a shift of the Greek’s cultural center westward to mainland Greece and Sicily. c.520 BC
Rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem is resumed by the Jews.
The Jews are urged on by the prophet Haggai.
The Temple will be completed 515 BC. 520 BC
Founders of Buddhism and Jainism in India each begins to develop
their alternatives to Brahmanism. c.520 BC
Capture of Thebes (Luxor), and transplantation of 6,000 Egyptians to Susiana. 520 BC
Cleomenes I of Sparta.
Leads an abortive thrust against Attica. c.520 BC
Darius I, the son-in-law of Cyrus II the Great, brings the Persian Empire to its greatest territorial extent. 520 BC
Conquest of Sardinia by Carthage. 520 BC
Darius I of Persia.
Crushes the revolt of the false Smerdis. c.519 BC
Thrusts his boundaries east beyond the Indus.
Darius I of Persia founds the city of Persepolis. 518 BC
Darius I of Persia.
Rules from palaces at Babylon, Ecbatana, Susa, and his chief capital (from 518 BC),
the newly founded Persepolis. 518 BC
Hecataeus.
Produces a map showing the world as a disk. 517 BC
Darius I of Persia.
Takes Gandhara in India and sends the Greek admiral Skylax to investigate the Indus Valley. 517-509 BC
Invasion of Egypt by Darius I, King of Persia. 517 BC
Secures the lands that Cambyses had previously conquered.
Scythian expedition of Darius I, of Persia. c.516 BC
Completion and dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem. 515 BC
Hipparchus, the dictator of Athens, is killed by Harmodius and Aristogeiton. 514 BC
Darius I completes the subjugation of the Indus River region. 513 BC
Darius I of Persia.
Leads the Persian armies into Europe by crossing the Hellespont.
Darius conquers Thrace. 513 BC
Darius I of Persia is unsuccessful in his campaign against the Scythians across the Bosphorus. 512 BC
Expulsion of Hipparchus’s brother Hippias by the Athenians led by Cleisthenes.
End of the Peisistratid tyranny. 510 BC
High point of Etruscan power and civilization in Italy. c.510 BC
Darius I of Persia.
Persians annex the Indus Valley. c.510 BC
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the seventh and the last King of Rome, is overthrown by rebellion. 509 BC
Ejection of the Tarquins (Etruscans) from Rome.
End of Etruscan supremacy of Rome.
Founding of the Roman Republic. 509 BC
Ruled by consuls annually elected by the “comitia centuriata” as assembly.
The Roman Republic will last from 509 BC to 27 BC.
Treaty between the Roman Republic and Carthage. 509 BC
This is the first public Roman treaty.
Recognition of Carthaginian trade monopoly in the western Mediterranean Sea by Rome. Roman allies are not to be troubled by Carthage.
Completion of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, called the
Capitol in Rome. 509 BC
Reforms of Cleisthenes. 508 BC
Cleisthenes’ reforms bring democracy to Greece.
Introduction of “ostracism” as a means of banishing without loss of property or privileges, citizens that are considered to be dangerous to the state.
Ostracism of Cleisthenes at the instigation of Sparta. 508 BC
The Etruscan ruler, Lars Porsena, attacks Rome. 508 BC
Heroic defense of the bridge over the river Tiber by Horatius Cocles.
Brief restoration of Etruscan dominion over Rome by the Etruscan Lars Porsena.
Spartans under Cleomenes attempt to restore the aristocracy in Athens.
Athenians rise up and put Cleisthenes back into power. 507 BC
Death of Pythagoras of Samos. ca.500 BC
Heracleitus of Ephesus. Greek natural philosopher.
“On Nature.” ca.500 BC
Capture of Sardinia by Greeks, Phoenicians, and Carthaginians. c. 500 BC
Founding of Greek and Carthaginian colonies in Spain. c.500 BC
Anaxagoras. Greek natural philosopher. 500-428 BC
Persian-Greek Wars. 500-479 BC
The Persians control Greek colonies on the coast of Asia Minor.
Greek colonies on the coast of Asia Minor revolt against Persian rule.
They receive military aid (ships) from Athens. 500 BC
Ionian War. 499-494 BC
Ionian Greek cities in Asia Minor revolt against Persian rule. 499-494 BC
The Ionian revolt under the leadership of Aristagoras of Miletus (assisted only by Athens and Eretria) is beaten down by the Persians after initial successes.
Persians advance against Sardis.
Burning of Sardis by the Persians. 499 BC
Battle of Ephesus. 499 BC
The Persians defeat the Greeks at Ephesus.
Defeat of the Persian fleet at Cyprus. 498 BC
The Persians counter-attack the Greeks. c.497 BC
The Persians will reconquer Cyprus and destroy the Ionian fleet near the
island of Lade (494 BC).
Battle of Lake Regillus. c.496 BC
Roman dictator Postumius defeats the Latins at Lake Regillus.
Tarquin is defeated and killed.
Empedocles. Greek philosopher. 495-430 BC
The capture and destruction of Miletus by the Persians. 494 BC
The Ionian revolt is crushed and the inhabitants of Miletus are deported to
Mesopotamia.
Rome reenters the Latin League. 494 BC
Latin League, under the leadership of Rome in Latium, is directed against the Etruscans. 494 BC
Plebians in Rome revolt and win political rights from the patricians. 494 BC
Conquest of the city of Corioli by the Romans under their general Gaius Marcius who later receives the surname Coriolanus. 493 BC
Themistocles fortifies the Piraeus. 493 BC
Darius I, of Persia, sends his son-in-law, Mardonius, to lead the first
Persian expedition to punish Athens. 492 BC
Conquest of Macedonia by the Persians under their commander Mardonius. 492 BC
Miltiades, the Younger, ruler of Chersones, flees to Athens where
he is elected one of the ten “strategoi”.
First Persian expedition against Greece.
A storm destroys the Persian fleet of Mardonius at the rocky promontory of Mount Athos.
Sparta and Athens reject the Persian (Darius I) demand that all Greek city states submit (i.e. to send tokens of water and earth). 492 BC
Banishment of dissident Coriolanus from Rome. 491 BC
Second Persian Expedition to Greece. 490 BC
Under the command of Datis and Artaphernes and accompanied by
Hippias, 30,000 men are sent by the Persian King Darius I.
Destruction of Eretria from the island of Euboea, and deportation
of its inhabitants.
Battle of Marathon. September 12, 490 BC
The Persian army lands at Marathon, Greece, to march on to Athens.
By the use of superior Greek military strategy, an Athenian land army numbering some 10,000 men led by Miltiades, defeats 30,000 Persians. The victory was reported by the “Marathon runner”.
The Athenians defeat the Persians, turning back the second Persian invasion of Greece.
Return of the Persian fleet (the second Persian expedition to Greece) to Asia Minor. 490 BC
Athens is at war with Aegina. c.489-483 BC
Miltiades attacks Paros but fails. 489 BC
Following the failure of his campaign against Paros, Miltiades is condemned and dies in prison. 489 BC
Themistocles carries through fleet building program. 487-483 BC
180 triremes (= oars arranged by threes) were completed by 481.
Darius I of Persia dies while preparing still another campaign against Greece. 486 BC
Accession of Xerxes I, King of Persia (reigns 486-465 BC). 486 BC
Xerxes I is the son of Darius I, the Great, of Persia.
Revolt in Egypt against Persian rule. 486-484 BC
Xerxes I, King of Persia, crushes revolts in Babylonia. c.485 BC
Xerxes I, King of Persia (to 465 BC) demands tribute from the Greek states. 485 BC
Most of the Greek states refuse.
Gela (Gelon), is master of Syracuse, Sicily. 485 BC
Xerxes I, King of Persia.
Crushes the revolt in Egypt against Persian rule. 484 BC
Birth of Herodotus of Halicarnassus (484-408 BC). 484 BC
Death of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). 483 BC
Wars with the Veii in Rome. 481-475 BC
Period of the Warring States in China. 481-221 BC
Third Persian expedition to Greece. 481-480 BC
Xerxes I (Ahasuerus), King of Persia, and the son of Darius I, assembles a great host of more than 180,000 men at Sardis in Asia Minor in order to invade Greece. His Phoenicians and Egyptians build two ship bridges across the Hellespont from Abydos (Nagara) to Sestos, 2000 yards long.
One bridge of planks and dirt rests on 360 ships; the other on 314 ships. Herodotus says that the army crossed for seven days and seven nights.
Xerxes I, launches the third Persian expedition to invade Greece.
Battle of Thermopylae. 480 BC
In order to secure the retreat of the Greek army under Leonidas, the
King of Sparta, the Greek rearguard, consisting of 300 Spartan warriors, supported by 5600 Thespians and Thebans, holds off the Persians in the Pass of Thermopylae until they are overcome.
All of the Spartans die in battle.
Persians move on and devastate Boeotia, Athens, and Attica. 480 BC
The population of Athens is evacuated to nearby islands. 480 BC
Destruction of the Acropolis. Burning of the great city of Athens.
Battle of Artemisium. 480 BC
Naval battle fought between Greeks and Persians. Indecisive.
Battle of Salamis. September 480 BC
(Part of the Persian Greek Wars).
Athenians, led by the Spartan Eurybiades who followed the plans of Themistocles, destroy the Persian fleet near Salamis, under the eyes of King Xerxes I in the Battle of Salamis.
Limited by the narrowness of the strait, the superior Persian fleet had no maneuverability against the 310 Greek ships.
Themistocles’ fleet sinks between 200-300 out of the 600 Persian ships.
Unpursued by the Greeks, the Persian fleet withdraws to Asia Minor.
Mardonius moves the Persian army into winter quarters in Thessalia.
The great city of Athens is saved.
The mother city, Tyre, commands Carthage to attack the Sicilian
Greeks (i.e. the Greeks in Sicily). 480 BC
Carthaginians attack Sicily. 480 BC
The Battle of Himera. 480 BC
The Carthaginians under Hamilcar I (ruled 510-480 BC) are
defeated by Gelon (Gela) of Syracuse at Himera, Sicily.
Hamilcar I dies in battle.
Syracuse gains control of Sicily.
Temple of Zeus Olympius, Agrigentum. ca.480-06 BC
This is the largest of the Doric style temples.
Polygnotus. Athenian.
Paints large masterpieces. c.480 BC
Fourth Persian expedition against Greece. 479 BC
Battle of Platea. 479 BC
The Greeks rally about 70,000 men from Greek states, under the Spartan general Pausanias. The Fourth Persian expedition under Mardonius against Greece is defeated and turned back on land at the Battle of Platea, near the Attica border. Mardonius dies in battle.
Battle of Mycale (near Miletus).
A Greek naval force under Leotychides, the King of Sparta, defeats the Persians at sea in the Battle of Mycale.
The Persian army is virtually destroyed.
Completion of the repulse of the Persian invasion. 479 BC
Persia loses Sestos and the Hellespont.
The Persians are expelled from Greece. 479 BC
Capture and destruction of Babylon by the Persians. 479 BC
City walls surrounding Athens and Piraeus are rebuilt despite the objection of Sparta. 479 BC
The Ionian city states are liberated by a Greek fleet under the Spartan general Pausanias. Byzantium, Bosporus, and Cyprus are recaptured from the Persians by the Greeks. 478 BC
Delian League. c. 478 BC
Aristides (opponent of Themistocles) founds the Delian League (First Attican Maritime Alliance, composed of Athens and the Ionian cities) as a defense against the Persians.
Cimon, Athenian general, and son of Miltiades.
Continues the defensive war against the Persians, commanding the fleet of the newly
formed Delian League. 477-449 BC
Beginning of the ascendancy of Athens in Greece. 477 BC
Death of the 306 Roman Fabii in battle with Etruscan forces. 477 BC
Sicily is threatened by the southward expansion of Etruria from
the mainland of Italy. 475 BC
Battle of Cumae (Cyme). 474 BC
Defeat and destruction of the Etruscan fleet, by a fleet of Sicilian
Greeks of Syracuse, Sicily, under Hiero I of Syracuse, brother of Gelon (Gela) of Syracuse, in the naval battle of Cyme (Latin, Cumae).
Aeschylus (525-456 BC).
“The Persians”. Tragedy. 472 BC
Banishment of Themistocles from Athens. 471 BC
First Publilian Laws in Rome. 471 BC
Temple of Zeus at Olympia. ca. 470-460 BC
Early classical masterpiece of Doric order.
This is the focal point of Greece’s greatest international sanctuary.
Ludovisi Throne. ca. 470-460 BC
Enigmatic work probably produced somewhere in Southern Italy.
“The Charioteer”. Bronze sculpture. Delphi. ca. 470 BC
Themistocles.
Dies as a Persian vassal at Magnesia on the Meander River. 470 BC
Voyage of Hanno. Carthaginian. c. 470 BC
Sails down the coast of Africa as far as what is now called Cameroon.
Birth of Socrates (469 BC-399 BC). 469 BC
Athens becomes the leading member of the Delian League and
subdues dissident members beginning with Naxos. 468 BC
Battle of Naxos. 468 BC
Aeschylus (525-456 BC).
“Seven Against Thebes”. 467 BC
Rhegium and Taras are defeated with heavy losses by the native Italian Iapyges (native inhabitants of Southern Italy). 467 BC
Battle of Eurymedon River. 466 BC
Athens takes the offensive in the struggle against Persia.
Athenian general Cimon destroys the Persian army and navy at the Eurymedon River in Asia Minor. Victory of Cimon over the Persians.
Final defeat of the Persians.
Assassination of Xerxes I, King of Persia. August 465 BC
Artaxerxes I, his son, becomes King of Persia.
Reign of Artaxerxes I: 465-424 BC.
The population of Sparta is greatly reduced in numbers because of a series of disastrous earthquakes. 465 BC
Third Messenian War. 464-455 BC
Spartans win.
Second Revolt in Egypt (under Inaros) against Persian rule. 462-454 BC
Alliance of Athens with Argos and Thessaly. 462 BC
Ostracism of Cimon. 462-454 BC
Murder of Ephialtes.
Pericles comes to prominence in Athens, Greece. 461 BC
“Temple of Poseidon”. Paestum, Italy. ca. 460 BC
First Greek temple built in Italy that reflects the Greek classical style of architecture.
Aeschylus (525-456 BC).
“Prometheus Bound”. 460 BC
Hippocrates. Greek physician. 460-377 BC
Democritus of Abdera. Greek natural philosopher. 460-370 BC
Postulates the atomic structure of matter.
Outbreak of the First Peloponnesian War. 460 BC
First Peloponnesian War (460-446 BC).
Athens wars against Sparta and the Peloponnesian cities which are allied with Sparta.
Return of the prophet Ezra to Jerusalem. 458 BC
Ezra. Jewish prophet. c. 458 BC
A law promulgated by Ezra forms the basis of the religion of the Law, which was the gift of God. The Pentateuch, the Sacred Law, is the first five books of the Old Testament.
Battle of Aegina. 458-457 BC
(Part of the First Peloponnesian War).
Aegina allied itself with the Peloponnesians.
The Athenians under Leosthenes conquers the island of Aegina and forces it to accept membership in the Athenian dominated Delian League.
War between Athens and Corinth.
Defeat of the Corinthians by the Athenians. 458 BC
Aeschylus (525-456 BC).
“The Oresteia”. Considered by many to be his greatest work. 458 BC
Sparta joins the war against Athens. 457 BC
Battle of Tanagra. 457 BC
(Part of the First Peloponnesian War).
The Spartans defeat the Athenians.
Battle of Oenophyta. 457 BC
(Part of the First Peloponnesian War).
Myronides rallies the Athenians and crushes the Thebans and their allied armies at Oenophyta.
War of the Spartans and Boeotians against Athens. 457-446 BC
Cincinnatus becomes Roman dictator and rescues the Roman army surrounded by the neighboring Aequi and saves the Roman Republic. 458 BC
Persian army reaches Egypt under the Persian general Megabyxus. 456 BC
Athen’s land empire reaches its greatest extent. 456 BC
Jewish law forbids marriage between Jews and gentiles (non-Jews). 456 BC
Athenians aid an anti-Persian revolt in Egypt. 456-454 BC
Athenians are defeated by the Persian army under Megabyxus. 454 BC
The Athenian expedition to aid Egypt ends in disaster.
End of the second revolt of Egypt against Persian rule. 454 BC
Achaea joins the Athenian alliance. 454 BC
Three Roman senators are sent to Athens in order to study the
laws that were developed by Solon. 451 BC
Herodotus of Halicarnassus (484-408 BC).
“History of the Persian Wars.” c.451 BC
The Decemvirate in Rome. 451-449 BC
Law of the Twelve Tablets. 451-450 BC
Codification of Roman Law by the Decemvirs.
The Law of the Twelve Tablets is the basis of all Roman Law.
Roman Law is codified for the first time.
Temple of Hephaestus; also called the Temple of Theseus (so-called “Theseum”), Athens. Well preserved Greek temple. ca. 450-440 BC
Myron. Greek sculptor.
“Discobolus”. Sculpture. ca. 450 BC
Herodotus of Halicarnassus (484-408 BC). Greek historian.
His journey to Egypt. c. 450 BC
Thucydides (471-402 BC). Greek historian.
“History of the Peloponnesian Wars”. 450-406 BC
Battle of Salamis. 449 BC
Persia is defeated by an Athenian force in Greek Cyprus.
Peace of Callias.
Peace between Greek states and Persia. 449 BC
Persia agrees to acknowledge the independence of Greek cities.
War between Athens and Sparta. 448 BC
Spartan expedition to Delphi.
Building of the Acropolis, Athens. 448-433 BC
The Acropolis is designed by Ictinus and Callicrates.
Much of the sculpture is by Phidias.
Valerian and Horatian Laws in Rome. 448 BC
Boeotian League. 447 BC
Emergence of the Boeotian League as a hostile rival to the Athenian League.
Battle of Coronea. 447 BC
(Part of the First Peloponnesian War).
Boeotia defeats the Athenians at Coronea.
End of the First Peloponnesian War (460-446 BC). 446 BC
Thirty Years Peace between Athens and Sparta. 446 BC
Athens is forced to conclude the Thirty Year Peace with Sparta and to recognize the hegemony of Sparta in the Peloponnesus.
Athens surrenders land empire. Next to Persia and Carthage, Athens is now the third great power in the Mediterranean world.
Canuleian Laws in Rome. 445 BC
End of the Greek war with Persia. 445 BC
Return of the prophet Nehemiah to Jerusalem. 444 BC
Nehemiah will rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem.
Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sunium is built. c. 445 BC
Consular Tribunes.
Rome appoints military tribunes with consul’s powers. 444 BC
Pericles founds the colony of Thurii in Southern Italy. c. 443 BC
Herodotus is one of its citizens.
Nehemiah completes the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. 443 BC
Pericles is elected Athenian general for fifteen years. 443 BC
Athens is under the administration of Pericles (b.499-d.429 BC).
Athens reaches the zenith of its greatness. 443-429 BC
Ostracism of Thucydides, the Greek historian, by Pericles. 443 BC
Syracuse becomes the chief power in Sicily. c. 443 BC
Parthenon frieze. Athens, Greece. ca. 442-438 BC
Sophocles (497-406 BC). Greek playwright.
“Antigone”. c. 442 BC
Polyclitus. Greek sculptor.
“Canon”. Book on proportions written for sculptors. ca. 440 BC
Polyclitus.
“Doryphoros” (the spear bearer). ca. 440 BC
Ideal athletic type by the greatest classical master of proportion.
Temple of Hera. Agrigento. ca. 440 BC
Doric style architecture.
Athens under Pericles takes Samos. 440 BC
Plebian revolt in Rome. 439 BC
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus is appointed dictator.
Herodotus. Greek historian.
Recites his “History of Athens”. 438 BC
Mnesicles. “The Propylaea”. 437-432 BC
Acropolis, Athens.
Parthenon pediments. 437-32 BC
Corcyra (Corfu) crushes Corinthian fleet at Leucimme. 435 BC
Phidias completes his statue of Zeus (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) for the temple of Zeus, Olympia. ca. 435-430 BC
Gold and ivory statue, now lost.
One of the most famous statues of the ancient world.
The Parthenon is completed (begun c. 448 BC) in Athens on the Acropolis.
Designed by Ictinus and Callicrates. 432 BC
It is 228 feet long and 102 feet wide.
Doric style columns are 33 feet high. Roof height is 60 feet.
Finest of all Greek buildings, a Doric style temple with Ionic style features.
Revolt of the Potidaeans against Athens. 432 BC
The Archidamian War. 431-421 BC
Marks the start of the Second Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC).
The Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta begins out of Spartan-Athenian
rivalry and involves most of the Greek city-states. 431 BC
Causes: The alliance of Corcyra with Athens against Sparta.
The Athenian attack on Potidaea (432 BC).
The Athenian commercial blockade of Megara.
This led to Sparta’s demand for autonomy for all the cities of the league.
“Funeral Oration” of Pericles. 431 BC
Recorded by the Greek historian, Thucydides.
Euripides (480-406 BC). Greek author.
“Medea”. 431 BC
Rome expands against the Aequi and the Volsci. 431 BC
Malachi. The Book of Malachi. 430 BC
Birth of Xenophon (b.430-d.354 BC). Greek. 430 BC
Plague in Athens. 430-423 BC
A terrifying plague from the east strikes Athens.
Its spread could not be arrested, and people just died in the streets with no one to take care of them. One third of the population perished, and many others were left crippled. Possibly smallpox or typhus.
The destruction of Athens. 430 BC
Pericles (495-429 BC) dies of the plague. 429 BC
The Acropolis is completed. 429 BC
The birth of Plato (429-347 BC). 429 BC
Euripides (480-406 BC). Greek author.
“Hippolytus”. 428 BC
Sophocles (c.497-406 BC). Greek author.
“Oedipus Rex”. 427 BC
Temple of Athena Nike. Acropolis, Athens. ca. 427-424 BC
Ionic style columns.
General war starts in Sicily. 427 BC
The Melian affair. 425 BC
The Dorian island of Melos is assessed tribute by Athens.
Melos justifiably refuses to pay the tribute.
Xerxes II becomes King of Persia. 424 BC
He is assassinated two months later by his brother Sogdianus.
Xerxes II is succeeded by Darius II (rules 424-404 BC).
End of the plague at Athens. 423 BC
Battle of Amphipolis. 422 BC
(Part of the Peloponnesian War).
Victory of the Spartans over the Athenians.
Both Brasidas, the Spartan general, and Cleon, the Athenian leader, die in battle.
Peace of Nicias. 421 BC
Brings temporary respite from the Peloponnesian War fought between Sparta and Athens. Peace is negotiated by Nicias. Supposed to have lasted for 50 years.
Alcibiades is in power at Athens. 421 BC
Erechtheum on the Acropolis at Athens. ca. 421-406 BC
Ionic style temple built on different levels.
Porch of the caryatid is on the south side.
Sparta quickly breaks the “Peace of Nicias” (421 BC) with Athens by
making a treaty with Boeotia. 420 BC
Temple of Apollo Epicurius. Bassae. ca. 420 BC
Designed by Ictinus.
This is a Doric style temple that is oriented north and south.
Contains first Corinthian style column.
Invasion of Gauls into northeastern Italy devastating Etruria. ca. 420 BC
Euripides (480 BC-406 BC). Greek author.
”Electra”. Tragedy. c. 420 BC
Sparta invades Argos and defeats the Athenians, the Argives, and the
Mantineans at Mantinea. 418 BC
Athens tries to pressure the island of Melos into its empire.
Melos refuses. Capture of the island of Melos by Athens. 416 BC
The destruction of the Dorian island of Melos by Athens.
Death of Nehemiah. c.415 BC
Jewish High Priests rule under Persian authority.
Euripides (480-406 BC). Greek writer.
“The Trojan Women”. 415 BC
Segesta in Sicily asks Athens for aid in its military problems against Syracuse and Selinus. 415 BC
Athens decides on a military expedition to Sicily (415-413 BC) under Alcibiades, Lamachus, and Nicias. 415 BC
Athens prepares to send an ill fated expedition to Sicily. 415 BC
Renewal of the war between Athens and Sparta.
The Athenians invade the island of Sicily. 415 BC
Accusal of Alcibiades of sacrilege by the Athenians during his absence (mutilation of the Hermae). 415 BC
Withdrawal of Alcibiades from the Sicilian expedition.
Alcibiades changes his allegiance from Athens to the Spartans.
Battle of Syracuse. 415 BC-413 BC
Attempted siege of Syracuse, Sicily by the Athenians.
Athens is defeated by the Syracusans and a Spartan contingent under Gylippus to aid them.
Decelean War also called the Ionian War (414-404 BC). 414 BC
Peloponnesian War enters into its decisive stage.
Euripides.
“Iphigenia in Tauris”. c. 414 BC
Athenian attack on Sicily fails. 413 BC
As a result of the defeat of Athens at Syracuse, Athens loses important land and sea forces in Sicily.
Destruction of the Athenian fleet in the harbour of Syracuse. 413 BC
Destruction of the Athenian army on the Asinaros.
Execution of the Athenian general Nicias after the Sicilian disaster. 413 BC
Greek prisoners are forced to work in stone quarries.
Decline of Athenian power.
Seizure of the Attic stronghold of Decelea by the Spartans during the Decelean War (414-404 BC). 413 BC
Following the advice of Alcibiades, the Spartans occupy the fortress of Decelea in order to lay waste to the Athenian lands.
Peloponnesian ships force Athens to end the siege of Miletus. 412 BC
Treaty between Persia and Sparta. 412 BC
Sparta recognizes Persian rule in Asia Minor, but not in Greece.
Revolution in Athens. 411 BC
“Government of the 5000” seizes power.
Democracy is soon restored.
Return of Alcibiades to Athens.
Alcibiades is elected ”strategos”. 411 BC
Battle of Cynossema. 411 BC
Alcibiades sends a force of 76 triremes into the eastern Aegean Sea
under Generals Thrasybulus and Theramenes.
This fleet defeats the Peloponnesian navy commanded by Mindarus.
Battle of Cyzicus (in Asia Minor). 410 BC
Athenians led by Alcibiades defeat the Spartan fleet at Cyzicus.
A Spartan peace offer is rejected.
Hannibal (this is not the Hannibal of the future Punic Wars) and Himilco begin the Carthaginian invasion of Sicily (c. 409-341 BC). 409 BC
Battle of Selinus-Himera. 409 BC
Destruction of the Sicilian cities Selinus and Himera by some 50,000
Carthaginians under Hannibal (not the Hannibal of the Punic Wars).
Founding of Rhodes. 408 BC
Failure of the attempt of the Medes to throw off Persian rule. 408 BC
Capture of Byzantium by the Athenians. 408 BC
Alcibiades, Athenian general, quells revolt in subject states. 408 BC
Battle of Notium. 407 BC
(Part of the Peloponnesian War).
Defeat of the Athenian fleet off Notium by the Peloponnesian fleet
under the command of Lysander.
Plato (429-347 BC).
Becomes the student of Socrates (469-399 BC). 407 BC
From 407 until the death of Socrates in 399 BC.
Battle of the Arginusae Islands. 406 BC
(Part of the Peloponnesian War).
Athenian fleet under Conon defeats a Peloponnesian fleet under Callicratidas.
Proves to be the last Athenian victory in the war.
In spite of the plea of Socrates, eight leaders of the Athenian fleet are condemned to death (because shipwrecked crews had not been rescued).
Battle of Acragas (Agrigentum). 406 BC
Conquest of Acragas in Sicily by the Carthaginians.
Battle of Aegospotami. 405 BC
The Spartans under Lysander defeat the Athenian fleet off Aegospotami.
Destruction of the Athenian fleet.
This defeat will lead to the capture of Athens in 404 BC.
Peace treaty between Carthage and Syracuse, Sicily. 405 BC
Egypt declares its independence from the Persian Empire. 405 BC
Euripides (480-406 BC). Greek author.
“Iphigenia in Aulis”. Tragedy. Posthumous. 405 BC
Veii (Rise of Rome). 405 BC-396 BC
The Romans lay siege to the southern Etruscan stronghold of Veii,
12 miles north of Rome.
The Romans will finally take Veii in 396 BC.
Artaxerxes II. King of Persia. 404 BC-358 BC
Revolt of his younger brother Cyrus, aided by Greeks (404 BC).
Athens is forced to surrender to Sparta. Nov. 404 BC
Theramenes surrenders Athens to the Spartan general Lysander.
End of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. 404 BC
Sparta is victorious.
End of the Athenian Empire. 404 BC
Murder of Alcibiades while he is in exile by order of Sparta. 404 BC
Spartan Empire. 404-371 BC
Sparta is now the leading Greek power.
Sparta is supreme in the Greek territories.
Egypt very briefly regains its independence from the Persian Empire under Pharaoh Amyrtaeus of Sais. 404-399 BC
Egypt had fallen to the Persians under Cambyses II in 525 BC.
Restoration of Athenian democracy by Pausanius. 403 BC
Expulsion of the thirty Tyrants by Thrasybulus.
Cyrus the Younger gathers his army at Sardis. 401 BC
Battle of Cunaxa. 401 BC
Artaxerxes II Mnemnon of Persia defeats his rebellious brother
Cyrus the Younger, the satrap of Anatolia, near Babylon at Cunaxa.
Cyrus the Younger is killed in battle.
“Retreat of the Ten Thousand” (led by Xenophon). c. 401 BC
Xenophon’s Greek army who were on the side of Cyrus the Younger, successfully withdraw to the Black Sea after the defeat of Cyrus the Younger at the Battle of Cunaxa.
Only half of Xenophon’s band will survive the 4,000 mile retreat that takes two years.
Plato (429-347 BC). Greek philosopher.
Writes the Dialogues: “Gorgias”, “Apology”, “Crito”, “Phaedo”, “Republic”,
“Phaedrus”, “The Symposium”, “Xenophon”, “Laws”, etc. c.400-347 BC
Sparta declares war on Tissaphernes, Persian general.
Tissaphernes besieges Cyme. 400 BC
Etruscan bronze statue of Mars. 400 BC
The Celtics (Celts) spread throughout Bohemia, the Carpathians, and the Ukraine. c. 400 BC
War of the Spartans against Persia. 399-394 BC
Under Agesilaus, Sparta renews the war to free the Ionian cities.
Death of Socrates. 399 BC
Socrates, Greek philosopher, is condemned to death by the Athenian state.
He is made to drink hemlock (dropwort).
Artaxerxes II. King of Persia.
Part of the War between Persia and Greece. 398 BC
Egypt and Cyprus assist Greece in the war against the Persian Empire.
Return of Ezra to Jerusalem. 397 BC
Dionysius I of Syracuse (432-367 BC).
Fights war with Carthage. 397-392 BC
Decay of Etruscan power in the Po valley as a result of Celtic incursions. 396 BC
Destruction of Messana (Messina), located in northeast Sicily, by the Carthaginians. 396 BC
Marcus Furius Camillus. Roman general.
In a determined assault conquers the Etruscan stronghold, the city of Veii. Ends Etruscan power in central Italy. 396 BC
The Romans conquer the important Etruscan city of Veii after a ten year siege they began in 405 BC.
Formation of a coalition of Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Argos against Sparta. 395 BC
The Corinthian War. 395-387 BC
Persia supports the allied Greek states Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Argos against Sparta.
Battle of Haliartus. 395 BC
Lysander marches a Spartan army into Boeotia to Haliartus.
The Spartans are defeated by the Boeotians and a force of Thebans.
Lysander is killed in battle.
Battle of Nemea (also known as the Battle of Corinth). 394 BC
(Part of the Corinthian War).
Fought between 14,000 Spartans and 26,000 Athenians, Corinthians, Thebans, and Argives.
The allies are defeated by the Spartans, losing twice as man men as the Spartans.
The Spartans are obliged to retire, leaving the Isthmus in their possession.
Battle of Coronea. August 394 BC
(Part of the Corinthian War).
Fought between the Athenians, Corinthians, Thebans, and Argives, and the Spartan general Agesilaus II.
The Spartans defeat the allies after a desperate struggle.
The Spartans, however, suffer so severely that Agesilaus is forced to evacuate Boeotia.
Because of the attempted reorganization of the Athenian cities and the reconstruction of the fortress Athens-Piraeus, Persia and Sparta negotiated: the Bosporus was blockaded by a Persian-Spartan fleet in order to cut off Athenian grain imports from southern Russia. 394 BC
Battle of Cnidus. 394 BC
(Part of the Corinthian War).
Fought between 120 Spartan triremes under Pisander and a superior Persian fleet under Pharnabazus, and Conan the Athenian. Conan had reorganized the Persian fleet.
Pisander is defeated and killed, and his Spartan fleet is destroyed.
Persia re-establishes its power in the Greek cities of Asia Minor. The naval power of Sparta is destroyed.
Rebuilding of Athenian power in the Aegean by the leaders of Athens. 392 BC
Marcus Furius Camillus. Roman general.
Brings all of Etruria (Etruscans) under Roman rule. 391 BC
Battle of Lechaeum. 391 BC
(Part of the Corinthian War).
Invasion of Italy by the Gauls. 390 BC
Battle of Allia. 390 BC
(Gallic invasion of Rome).
Rome is invaded and sacked by the Gauls (a Celtic people) from northern Italy under Brennus. The Gauls invade, capture, sack, and burn Rome.
The barbarians however, are fought off and withdraw (“Vae victis”).
Regain of control of parts of the Aegean Sea by the Athenian navy. 389 BC
Marcus Furius Camillus. Roman general.
Rebuilding of Rome after the invasion of the horde of Gauls. 387 BC
M.F. Camillus begins to rebuild the city of Rome.
The King’s Peace (also called the Peace of Antalcidas). 387 BC
End of the Corinthian War (395-387 BC).
Peace between Athens and Sparta is mediated by the Persian king.
The Greek cities of Asia Minor come under the rule of Persia.
The remaining Greek cities receive autonomy to be guaranteed by Sparta.
Plato (429-347 BC).
“The Symposium”. 387 BC
Dionysius I of Syracuse (432-367 BC).
Siege and capture of Rhegium after a long siege. 386 BC
Artaxerxes II of Persia is at war with Egypt. 385-383 BC
Plato (429-347 BC).
Founds the Academy in Athens. 385 BC
The Academy is considered the first university in the Western world.
The Birth of Aristotle of Stagira (384-322 BC). 384 BC
M. Manlius Capitolinus is accused of royal ambitions.
He is thrown from the Tarpeian rock. 384 BC
Second war of Dionysius I of Syracuse with Carthage. 383 BC
Occupation of the Theban citadel, the Cadmeia, by the Spartans. 382 BC
Last native dynasty of Egypt begins. 380 BC
The XXXth dynasty (380-343 BC).
Plato (429-347 BC).
“Phaedo”. 379 BC
Plato expresses his belief in the existence and immortality of the soul.
Dionysius I of Syracuse takes Crotona (Croton). 379 BC
Liberation of Thebes. 379 BC
Massacre of the Spartan tyrants at Thebes by Epaminondas and Peleopidas.
War between Thebes and Sparta. 379-362 BC
Thebes, a Greek city state, largely led by Epaminondas,
establishes a democracy. 378 BC
Formation of the Second Athenian Naval League against
Spartan encroachments. 377 BC
Athens is joined by Thebes and other city states.
Battle of Naxos. 376 BC
(Greek City States’ Wars).
Athenian victory over Sparta off the island of Naxos.
Artaxerxes II sends a Persian army against Egypt with no success.
Egypt repulses the attack made by Persia. 373 BC
Birth of Mencius in China. Chinese philosopher. 372 BC
General peace made between Sparta and the Athenian League. 371 BC
The peace however will not last to the end of the year.
Battle of Leuctra. July 371 BC
(Part of Greek City States’ War).
Defeat of the Spartan army by Epaminondas, Theban commander.
Epaminondas uses the “oblique battle order”.
This first defeat of a Spartan army in open battle marks the onset of the decline of Sparta. Epaminondas of Thebes destroys Sparta’s prestige.
The Thebans advance on to Laconia. Thebes is supreme in Greece.
Xenophon (430-354 BC). Greek general.
“Anabasis”. 371 BC
Xenophon provides a first hand account of the campaigns of Cyrus the Younger.
Includes a description of the 4,000 mile retreat of the 10,000 (Greeks) to the sea. The Greeks were mercenaries fighting for Cyrus the Younger.
Persian satrap suppresses civil war of the Hebrews. 370 BC
Thebes, Greek city state, forms the Arcadian League (370-362 BC). 370 BC
Purpose is to balance the power of Sparta.
Liberation of Messenia and Arcadia from Spartan control by Thebes,
a Greek city state. 370 BC
Alliance of Sparta and Athens is formed against Thebes, which
was building its own naval fleet. 369 BC
Birth of Chuang Tzu (369-286 BC). 369 BC
Chinese philosopher. Taoism.
Thebes founds the cities of Messene and Megalopolis and unifies
almost all of Thessaly. c. 369 BC
Third war of Dionysius I of Syracuse with Carthage. 368 BC
Licinian Laws are passed in Rome. 367 BC
Licinius and Sextius, Roman tribunes, put through reform measures that open one consulship to plebeians.
Aristotle (384-322 BC).
Joins the Academy of Plato (429-347 BC). c. 367 BC
Rome is at war with the Gauls. 367-349 BC
First Plebeian is elected to the office of Consul in Rome. 366 BC
Temple of Concordia is built in Rome by Camillus. 366 BC
Outbreak of renewed insurrections in Persian controlled Asia Minor.
Egypt joins the rebels and invades Syria. c. 366-360 BC
First drama is produced in Rome. 365 BC
Battle of Cynoscephalae. 364 BC
Thebes is defeated by Thessaly.
Dissolution of the Arcadian League. 362 BC
Battle of Mantinea. 362 BC
(Part of the Greek City States’ War).
The Thebans defeat Sparta and Athens.
Epaminondas, the Theban general, is wounded in battle and dies fighting the coalition including Athens and Sparta.
End of the Theban hegemony in Greece.
Rome subdues the Latins in a revolt. 362-345 BC
Egypt makes a treaty with Sparta vs. the Persians. 361 BC
The Carthaginians form settlements in Spain. 360 BC
Persian invasions of Egypt. 359-342 BC
Nectanebo II, last native king of Egypt.
Philip II becomes King of Macedonia (Macedon). 359 BC
Philip II rules 359-336 BC.
Artaxerxes III seizes the throne of Persia. Rules 358-338 BC. 358 BC
Persian King Artaxerxes III begins to strengthen royal power over
his provinces.
Unification of Macedonia under Philip II. 358 BC
Philip II of Macedonia conquers Amphipolis with an army reorganized
using infantry phalanx.
Rise of Macedonian power under Philip II. 358 BC
The Social War. 357-355 BC
Caused by the refusal of Byzantium, Chios, Cos, and Rhodes to pay protection money to Athens.
Birth of Alexander of Macedonia (356-323 BC). 356 BC
Alexander is the son of Philip II and Olympia of Macedonia.
New Temple at Ephesus is begun on an even grander scale than the first. c. 356 BC
Building of the first Wall of China, against invaders. c. 356 BC
Athens loses the Social War (357-355 BC). 355 BC
Outbreak of the Third "Sacred War" (355-346 BC). 355 BC
Fought by Thebes against the Phocians, who seized Delphi. Caused by the dispute been Phocis and Thebes over the guardianship
of the temple at Delphi.
Conquest of Thessaly by Philip II, King of Macedonia. 352 BC
Artaxerxes III. King of Persia.
Sends an expedition against Egypt which fails. c.351 BC
This leads to a wave of revolts in the western empire.
Completion of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. c.350 BC
This is the Tomb of Mausolus of Caria in Asia Minor.
Becomes one of the wonders of the ancient world.
Built c.359-350 BC
Demosthenes. Athenian statesman.
Fearing Philip II of Macedon’s expansionist plans, draws Athens
into war against Philip. c. 350 BC
Demosthenes delivers a series of "Philippics" against Philip II.
The Phoenician cities of Sidon, Tyre, Aradus, and Byblus secede from the Persian Empire. c. 350 BC
The Gauls leave Southern France and settle in Northern Italy. c. 350 BC
Revolt of the Jews against Artaxerxes III, King of Persia. c. 350 BC
The Temple of Jerusalem is destroyed by the Persians. c. 350 BC
Heraclidus, a student of Plato, teaches the heliocentric theory of the solar system. c. 350 BC
Pamphilus. Greek painter.
Teaches that without mathematics and geometry no perfect art can exist. c. 350 BC
The Greek theatre of Epidaurus is built. c. 350 BC
Appearance of Corinthian style columns in Greek architecture. c. 350 BC
Second treaty between Rome and Carthage (trade agreement). 348 BC
Philip II of Macedon.
Conquest of the cities of Chalcidice. 348 BC
Conquest and razing of Olynthus by Philip II of Macedon. 348 BC
Peace of Philocrates. 346 BC
Between Athens and Macedonia.
Philip II of Macedon joins on the side of the Thebans in the "Third Sacred War" (355-346 BC) fought against the Phocians. 346 BC
Conquest of Phocis by Philip II of Macedon. 346 BC
Aristotle (384-322 BC).
Appointed to be the teacher of the future Alexander the Great, the son of Philip II, King of Macedon. 343 BC
The First Samnite War. 343-341 BC
Roman wars with the Samnites (Samnium).
Greek cities of Sicily are freed from Carthage. 343 BC
Persian reconquest of Egypt (until 332 BC). 342 BC
Artaxerxes III, King of Persia, himself leads his armies against Egypt.
In a brilliant campaign Artaxerxes III of Persia finally conquers Egypt.
Conquest of Thrace by Philip II of Macedonia. 342 BC
Birth of Epicurus of Samos. Greek philosopher. 342-271 BC
Founder of Epicureanism.
The Second Latin War. 340-338 BC
Rome will defeat the revolting Latin allies.
Will end in the dissolution of the Latin League and subordination of all of its members.
Aristotle (384-322 BC).
Lays down the foundations of the theory of music. c. 340 BC
Praxagoras of Cos.
Discovers the difference between arteries and veins. c. 340 BC
Philip II of Macedon besieges Byzantium. 340 BC
Thracian expedition of Philip II of Macedon. 339 BC
Conquest of Greek city states by Philip II of Macedonia. 338-337 BC
Macedonian conquests. 338-332 BC
Almost 200,000 are killed in battle.
Battle of Chaeronea. September 1, 338 BC
(Part of Macedonian Conquests).
Philip II of Macedon defeats Athens, Thebes, and other Greek city-states at the Battle of Chaeronea. Philip II is now master of all of Greece.
Philip's victory over the Greeks was decided by the cavalry led by his son Alexander (age 18).
Macedonia, under Philip II, is the supreme state in Greece. 338 BC
Battle of Pedum. 338 BC
Roman generals Gaius Maenius and Lucius Furius Camillus defeat the combined Latin armies of Antium, Lanuvium, Aricia, and Velitrae.
Battle of Trifanum. 338 BC
(Part of the Latin War).
Roman general T. Manlius Torquatus wins a decisive victory over the Latins.
The Romans annex all of Latium (the land of the Latins).
End of the Latin War (340-338 BC).
Assassination of Artaxerxes III of Persia.
Accession of Arses to the Persian throne. 338 BC
Corinthian League. 337 BC
Formation of the Corinthian League of all Greek cities (with the
exception of Sparta) under the patronage of Philip II, King of Macedon.
Organization: a League Council at Corinth, the Macedonian king is named leader (hegemon) and supreme general, autonomy of all members of the League.
Philip II of Macedonia.
Makes decision for war against the Persian Empire. 337 BC
Mithridates I of Pontus becomes independent of Persia. 337 BC
Macedonian troops cross into Asia. 336 BC
Assassination of Arses of Persia. 336 BC
Accession of Darius III Codomannus, King of Persia.
Darius III rules 336-330 BC.
Assassination of Philip II of Macedonia at Aegae. 336 BC
His son Alexander III becomes King of Macedonia (336-323 BC).
Beginning of the reign of Alexander III of Macedon, the son of Philip II. Alexander
rules from 336 until his death in 323 BC. 336 BC
Birth of Zeno of Citium (336-263 BC). Greek philosopher. 336 BC
Founder of Stoicism.
Aristotle of Stagira (384-322 BC).
Returns to Athens and founds his school in Lyceum at Athens. 335 BC
It is known as the Peripatetic School from his practice of lecturing in
a covered portico (peripatos).
Alexander of Macedon.
Crushes revolts of Athens, Thebes, and other Greek cities. 335 BC
The destruction of Thebes, Egypt by Alexander of Macedon and the enslavement
of its inhabitants. 335 BC
Alexander of Macedon is in Thrace. 335 BC
Temple of Athena Polias in Priene. 334 BC
Dedicated by Alexander the Great.
This is a finely ornamented Ionic style temple constructed according to precise
mathematical measurements.
Beginning of Alexander's Persian campaign. 334 BC
A Greek war of revenge and a Macedonian war of conquest.
Alexander has 40,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry.
Alexander crosses the Hellespont and invades Asia Minor. May 334 BC
Entrance of Alexander's Greco-Macedonian invasion force into Asia
Minor. Alexander lands at the ancient city of Troy. 334 BC
Battle of the Granicus River. June 334 BC
Alexander the Great defeats the Persian satraps of Asia Minor under Darius III at the Granicus River in Asia Minor.
Alexander uses the Macedonian "oblique battle order".
Alexander takes the Greek cities of the coast of Asia Minor. 334 BC
Sieges of Miletus (July) and Halicarnassus (August).
Alexander takes Phrygia at Gordium. 333 BC
Alexander cuts through the famous “Gordian knot".
Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) experiences setbacks from the premature
dissolution of the Ionian fleet. Summer 333 BC
The Persians conquer Chios and Mytilene.
Battle of Issus. November 333 BC
Alexander defeats the Persians under Darius III at the Battle of Issus (using the "oblique battle order" once again) but does not give chase.
Alexander captures the wife and children of Darius III of Persia.
Alexander refuses Darius's offer of ransom and part of his empire.
Phoenicia submits to Alexander the Great without any resistance except for Tyre (Lebanon). 333 BC
Siege of Tyre. Jan.-July 332 BC
Tyre falls to Alexander the Great after a seven month siege.
End of the Phoenician Empire.
Battle of Gaza. Sept.-Nov. 332 BC
Fall of Palestine to Alexander. End of Persian rule in Palestine.
Palestine had been under Persian rule since 538 BC.
Palestine is now under the rule of Alexander the Great.
Jerusalem is also taken.
Palestine is under Greek domination. 332-198 BC
Subjugation of Syria by Alexander. 332-331 BC
Alexander invades and conquers Egypt from the Persians. Nov. 332 BC
End of Persian rule in Egypt.
Alexander the Great.
Foundation of the great port of Alexandria, Egypt. 332-331 BC
Campaign of Alexander the Great to the Siwa Oasis (Amonium) and the shrine of Zeus Ammon. 331 BC
Alexander founds the city of Alexandria. April 331 BC
Battle of Megalopolis. 331 BC
Antipater of Macedon, Alexander’s governor of Greece, suppresses a Spartan
uprising led by Agis III, King of Sparta.
Sparta joins the Corinthian League.
Alexander renews his Persian campaign. 331 BC
Battle of Arbela (also called the Battle of Gaugamela). Oct. 1, 331 BC
After crossing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, 47,000 Macedonians and Greeks under Alexander defeat 250,000 Persian forces on a plain near Arbela in Mesopotamia.
Once again, Alexander uses the “oblique battle order”.
Darius III, King of Persia, flees for his life.
End of the Persian Empire.
Occupation of Pasargadae and Ecbatana by Alexander. 331 BC
Alexander the Great conquers Babylon. 331 BC
Entrance of Alexander into Babylon and Susa.
Conquers the Fertile Crescent (Persian) and all of Mesopotamia.
Alexander reaches Persepolis. Jan. 330 BC
Destruction of Persepolis. 330 BC
Alexander burns the palace buildings at Persepolis in revenge for
the destruction of Athens and the Acropolis by the Persians in 480 BC.
Seizure of the Persian gold treasures (50,000 talents). 330 BC
Alexander is now in complete control of Persia.
Apelles of Colophon, Greek painter, and Lysippus of Sicyon,
Greek sculptor, are at the court of Alexander the Great. 330 BC
Alexander conquers the whole of Central Asia. 330 BC
Occupation of Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis by Alexander the Great.
Murder of Darius III, King of Persia, by Bessus, a cousin. July 330 BC
Proclamation of Alexander the Great as King of Asia. 330 BC
Polyclitus the Younger. Theater at Epidaurus. ca. 330 BC
This is probably the most perfect and best preserved of the Greek theaters.
Praxiteles. Greek sculptor.
“Hermes and the Infant Dionysus”. ca. 330 BC
From the Temple of Hera, Olympia.
Pythias. Greek explorer.
Circumnavigation of Britain. c. 330 BC
Temple of Apollo at Didyma in Asia Minor is begun. ca. 330 BC
A gigantic temple containing an open air court, still unfinished in the early
AD period - 40 AD.
Complete subjugation of the Vosci by the Romans (Roman Republic)
after the seizure of Privernum. 329 BC
Subjugation of what is eastern Persia by Alexander. 329 BC
Alexander the Great conquers Bactria and Sogdiana. 328 BC
Introduction of Persian court ceremonial (proskynesis = prostration)
is opposed by Alexander’s Greek and Macedonian retinue. 328 BC
Alexander kills Clitus, the friend of his youth, in a fit of anger. 328 BC
Marriage of Alexander the Great to Roxane, the daughter of Sogdian (Bactrian) prince.327 BC
Execution of the historian Callisthenes (a nephew of Aristotle) by Alexander. 327 BC
Alexander begins his invasion of India. 327 BC
The Indian Campaign of Alexander is to reach the southern and eastern
limits of the inhabited world. Alexander will reach as far as the Indus River valley and the Punjab.
Alexander crosses the Hindu Kush mountains. May 329 BC
Alexander the Great invades the Punjab. 326 BC
Battle of Hydaspes River (Jhelum River). May 326 BC
This is the last major battle of Alexander the Great.
The Greeks and Macedonians defeat a 50,000 man Indian army that is led by Porus, in northern India.
Alexander adds this Indian territory to his empire.
At the Beas River, Alexander’s exhausted troops refuse to go any further east.
Alexander is forced to turn back by his generals. 326 BC
Construction of a fleet and a journey south down the Indus River.
Return march of the army is under Alexander and Craterus through Gedrosia and Carmania Persepolis. Return journey of the fleet under Nearchus travels along the coasts of the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf to the mouths of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Alexander is in Gedrosia. Sept. 325 BC
Timotheus of Miletus.
“Persae” (“The Persians”). c. 325 BC
Earliest extant papyrus that is written in Greek.
Pytheas of Massalia. Greek explorer.
Sails with a crew of 25 men to the British Isles. c. 325 BC
Visits Cornwall, continues to Scotland, and possibly even Iceland or Norway.
Alexander meets Nearchus in Carmania. Jan. 324 BC
Alexander is at Ecbatana. Oct. 324 BC
Alexander is in Babylon. April-May 323 BC
Reorganization of Alexander's empire at Babylon. 323 BC
The three parts of his empire are brought together under Alexander in personal union.
He is Persian king in Asia, “hegemon” of the Corinthian League in Greece, and the King of Macedonia.
The Death of Alexander the Great. June 13, 323 BC
While preparing for further campaigns against Carthage and in the Western Mediterranean, Alexander dies of fever at Babylon. He is 33 years old.
"The name of Alexander stands for the end of an epoch of world history and the beginning of a new one" (J.G. Droysen).
Alexander's Empire begins to be broken up.
Division of Alexander’s realms of power. 323 BC
Perdiccas becomes regent for Philip III, King of Macedonia.
Antipater takes charge of Macedonia and Greece.
General Antigonus rules Phrygia and Lycia.
Antigonus founds the Antigonid Dynasty (323-167 BC).
Greek general Ptolemy Soter becomes the ruler of Egypt, Judea, and part of Syria.
Lysimachus rules over Asia Minor.
The Wars of the Diadochi. 323-280 BC
After the death of Alexander the Great, the struggle for power began between his successors (the “Diadochi”).
Alexander’s generals Antigonus, Craterus, and Ptolemy refuse to give their allegiance to Perdiccas, the regent for Philip III, King of Macedonia.
The “Diadochi” fight over Alexander’s empire.
Ptolemy I Soter, the son of Lagus.
The Ptolemies, a Greek dynasty, will rule Egypt from 323 BC until the death of
Cleopatra in 30 BC. 323 BC
Ptolemaic Dynasty in Egypt. 323-30 BC
The Ptolemaic Dynasty in Egypt is a Greek dynasty.
Palestine is annexed with Phoenicia to Syria. 323 BC
The death of Demosthenes, Greek statesman, by suicide. 322 BC
Destruction of the Athenian fleet at Amorgos by Macedonia. 322 BC
Aristotle (384-322 BC).
Greek philosopher and a student of Plato, dies. 322 BC
Reign of Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the Mauryan Dynasty (321-184 BC)
and attempted to unite India. 321-297 BC
Chandragupta Maurya reconquers northern India from the Macedonians.
Perdiccas, the regent for Philip III, King of Macedonia, is killed. 321 BC
Antipater, is regent of the Greek empire. 321 BC
The Kingdom of Seleucidae (Seleucid Empire), is founded by Seleucus Nicator,
who had been a general of Alexander the Great. 321 BC
Rules 321 to 281 BC.
Seleucas receives Babylon as his province.
The Seleucid Empire (321-64 BC) will fall to the Romans in 64 BC.
Second Roman-Samnite War. 321-305 BC
Renewal of Roman War with the Samnites.
Battle of Caudine Forks. 321 BC
(Part of the Second Samnite War).
The Romans are surrounded and completely beaten by the Samnites at the Battle of Caudine Forks. The Romans are allowed to withdraw under humiliating circumstances (under the yoke).
Defeat of the Samnites by the Romans at Luceria. 320 BC
Invasion and annexation of Syria by Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. 320 BC
Ptolemy I Soter captures Jerusalem.
Ptolemy I Soter makes himself master of Cyprus. 320 BC
Libya becomes an Egyptian province under Ptolemy I Soter. 320 BC
Birth of Aristarchus of Samos (320-230 BC). 320 BC
Aristoxenus.
Defines rhythm as tripartite: speech, melody, and movement. c. 320 BC
Restoration of liberty to Greek cities by Polysperchon, the successor of Antipater. 319 BC
Antigonus, ruler of Macedonia, takes Lydia and Phrygia. 319 BC
Agathocles is leader of Syracuse, Sicily. 319-313 BC
Demetrius Phalerus governs the city of Athens. 317 BC
Carthage and Syracuse are at war. 317 BC
Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great, is put to death by
Cassander, the son of Antipater, for killings that she had ordered. 316 BC
Cassander, the son of Antipater.
Founding of Thessalonica (Salonika). 316 BC
Rebuilding of Thebes by Cassander, the son of Antipater. 315 BC
Ptolemy Soter, Cassander, Lysimachus, and Seleucus Nicator combine forces against Antigonus, the ruler of Macedonia. 315 BC
Palestine is under the rule of the Seleucids of Syria. 314 BC
Syria is ruled by Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander’s generals. 312 BC
Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander’s generals, takes Babylon from Antigonus, the
ruler of Macedonia. c. 312 BC
Seleucus Nicator attempts to recover provinces in India that had been
conquered by Alexander the Great. 312-306 BC
Appius Claudius Caecus.
Begins construction on the Via Appia (the Appian Way), the great
road connecting Rome to Caprua and later to Brindisi. 312 BC
Appius Claudius Caecus.
Completes construction of the Aqua Appia (Appian aqueduct). 312 BC
Capture of the city of Jerusalem by Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander’s generals. 312 BC
Judea is put under the rule of Antigonus I. 312 BC
Until 301 BC.
Colony of Jews in Alexandria, Egypt. 312 BC
End of civil wars in Alexander’s empire. 311 BC
Macedonia goes to Cassander as regent.
Thrace goes to Lysimachus.
Egypt is under Ptolemy I Soter. Asia goes to Antigonus.
Battle of the Himera River. 311 BC
The Carthaginians under Hamilcar besiege Syracuse in Sicily and defeat Agathocles, the ruler of Syracuse.
Battle of the Vadimonian Lake (aka the Battle of Lake Vadimo). 310 BC
Fought between the Roman Republic and the Etruscans.
The Romans under Quintus Fabius Maximus defeat the Etruscans.
The Etruscans will never rise up from this defeat.
Agathocles of Syracuse invades Carthaginian territory in northern
Africa to carry the war to Carthage. 310 BC
Conquest of the Etruscan city of Perusia (modern day Perugia) by Roman forces. 309 BC
Antigonus I of Macedonia and his son Demetrius I declare themselves kings of
Macedonia in succession to Alexander the Great. 307 BC
Demetrius Poliocertes, King of Macedonia, seizes the city of Athens from Cassander. 307 BC
Agathocles of Syracuse returns back to Syracuse.
He will make peace with Carthage the following year. 307 BC
Lysimachus seizes the throne of Thrace. 307 BC
Ptolemy I Soter. Greek ruler of Egypt.
Begins construction of the Museum and the great Library of Alexandria in Egypt. 307 BC
Third Roman Treaty with Carthage. 306 BC
Agathocles of Syracuse in Sicily makes peace with Carthage. 306 BC
Antigonus I assumes the title of King of Macedonia. 306 BC
Alexander’s successors take the title of king. 305 BC
Ptolemy I Soter declares himself King of Egypt as the founder of the
Ptolemaic Dynasty (323-30 BC). 305 BC
Seleucus I Nicator himself King in Syria, as the founder of the Seleucid Empire (321-64 BC) centered in Babylon and Syria.
Battle of Bovianum (the capital of Samnium). 305 BC
The Samnites suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of Roman general Titus Minucius.
End of the Second Samnite War (321-305 BC).
Seleucus I Nicator attempts to invade India. 305 BC
Seleucus I Nicator cedes his claim on India to Chandragupta in exchange for 500 war elephants. 304 BC
Demetrius Poliocertes, general of the Grecia states, opposes Cassander of Macedonia. 303 BC
Cassander, claims to be king of Macedonia. 302 BC
Battle of Ipsus. 301 BC
(Part of the Wars of the Diadochi).
Great battle fought between the successors of Alexander the Great for the control of Asia Minor.
The 30,000 man army of Antigonus I is defeated by an allied force under Seleucus I Nicator, Lysimachus of Thrace, Antiochus, and Cassander.
Antigonus I, age 81, is killed in battle.
Alexander’s empire is again divided into four chief parts.
Palestine is under Egyptian rule (Ptolemy I Soter) once again.
Cassander wins control of Macedonia which continues to dominate all of Greece.
Lysimachus becomes ruler of Thrace and most of Asia Minor.
Seleucus I Nicator of Syria.
After the Battle of Ipsus, gains the provinces of Syria, Cappadocia, Mesopotamia, and Armenia. 301 BC
Canon of the Old Testament under Simon the Just. 300 BC
Euclid is established in the Greek city of Alexandria, Egypt. c.300 BC
Treaty between the Roman Republic and Carthage. 300 BC
Invasion of China by savage Huns (Xiongnu). ca.300 BC
Development of the Mayan calendar at Yucatan. ca.300 BC
Gives the Solar Year 365.24 days and the Lunar Month 29.52 days.
This calendar is considered to be more exact than the older calendars
of Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, and even Greece.
Third Samnite War. 298-290 BC
Rome vs. Samnium.
Battle of Camerinum.
The Samnites, Lucanians, Gauls, and Etruscans defeat the Romans. 298 BC
Death of Cassander, King of Macedonia. 296 BC
Followed by quarrels of his two sons, Antipater and Alexander.
Battle of Sentinum. 295 BC
(Part of the Third Samnite War).
Romans under Quintus Fabius Maximus defeat the Etruscans, Sabines, Gauls, and Samnites at Sentinum.
Euclid. c.295 BC
“Optica.”
Euclid (c. 320-230 BC).
“The Elements of Geometry”. c. 295 BC
Provides the first formal statement of the principles of Geometry.
Siege of Athens by Demetrius I Poliorcetes, the previously exiled
king of Macedonia. 294 BC
Demetrius Poliorcetes becomes King of Macedonia (294-288 BC).
Romans under Lucius Papirius Cursor defeat the Samnites at Aguilonia.
Roman Peace is made with the Etruscans.
The Etruscans are now subject to the Roman Republic. 293 BC
Colossus of Rhodes (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World).
A bronze statue, more than 100 feet tall, of the sun god, Helios, was constructed on a promontory overlooking harbor. By Chares. c. 290-275 BC
End of the Third Samnite War (298-290 BC). 290 BC
Roman victory over the Samnites in Central Italy.
Roman Peace with the Samnites, who are obliged to do military service.
Romans take control of Samnium in Italy.
Messina is seized by Mamertine pirates. 289 BC
Syracuse in Sicily is under the Greek King Hiero.
Defeat of the Romans by the Senones, a Gaulish tribe, at Arretium. 289 BC
Athens revolts against Demetrius Poliorcetes, King of Macedon. 287 BC
Lysimachus and Pyrrhus of Epirus attack Demetrius Poliorcetes. 287 BC
Demetrius I of Macedonia is deposed by an army revolt and replaced by Pyrrhus, King of Epirus.
Lysimachus, one of Alexander’s former generals, drives Pyrrhus out of Macedonia.
Lex Hortensia (Law of Hortenius). 287 BC
The Roman ruler Quintus Hortensius passes a law making the plebians legal equals of the patricians. End of the long struggle between the Patricians and Plebians in the Roman Republic.
Birth of Archimedes of Syracuse (ca.287-212 BC). ca.287 BC
Archimedes is the greatest mathematician and engineer of the BC era.
Makes the following discoveries in mathematics and physics.
Anticipation of integral calculus.
“On Method.”
Determination of the Specific Weight of Objects.
Engines hurling projectiles during the defense of Syracuse against the Romans.
Discovery of the laws of floating bodies establishing the study of hydrostatics.
The Library of Alexandria in Egypt is completed. c.286 BC
Rome defeats the Gauls, Etruscans, and Greeks, and occupies
other Greek cities in Italy, except for Tarentum. 285-282 BC
Abdication of Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. 285 BC
He is succeeded by his son Ptolemy II Philadelphus.
Ptolemy II inherits Egypt from his father, Ptolemy I Soter.
Ptolemy II Philadelphus rules 285 to 247 BC.
Lysimachus, one of Alexander’s former generals, takes over all of Macedonia and consolidates his position in Greece. 284 BC
Livius Andronicus. 284-204 BC
Translator of the Odyssey from Greek into Latin.
Capture of Corsica by the Romans. 283 BC
Ptolemy I Soter dies. 283 BC
Death of Demetrius Poliorcetes. 283 BC
Outbreak of the Tarentine (Pyrrhic) Wars (282-272 BC). 282 BC
Roman War with Tarentum.
Tarentum attacks Thurii and starts Rome’s war with Pyrrhus of Epirus.
Tarentum’s sphere of interest is encroached upon by Roman assistance to Thurii (against the Lucanians), Locri, and Rhegium.
Open war follows when a Roman fleet is attacked in the harbour of Tarentum, which it was not allowed to use by the terms of a treaty of 303.
Battle of Corupedium. 281 BC
(Part of the Wars of the Diadochi).
Seleucus I defeats and kills Lysimachus, age 80 (Macedonia).
Seleucus becomes undisputed master of Asia Minor.
Formation of the Achaean League. 281 BC
Seleucus I Nicator of Babylon and Syria is assassinated. 281 BC
Seleucus I is the last of the generals of Alexander the Great.
His son, Antiochus I Soter succeeds Seleucus I Nicator as the ruler of the Seleucid Empire (Syria).
Antiochus I Soter rules the Seleucid Empire 281-261 BC.
The Greeks of Sicily and Italy are alarmed at the spread of Roman power in Magna Graecia at the southern end of the Italian peninsula.
They seek help from Pyrrhus, King of Epirus. 281 BC
Landing of Pyrrhus, the King of Epirus, on the western coast of Lucania, Italy with an
army of almost 30,000 men. 281 BC
Battle of Heraclea. 280 BC
Tarentum (modern Taranto) allies with Pyrrhus, the King of Epirus, and defeats the Romans at the Battle of Heraclea.
Pyrrhus leads at the head of his army of over 25,000 mercenaries, 3,000 Thessalian mounted men, and 26 war elephants.
The Bruttians, Lucians, and Samnites join forces with Pyrrhus.
Mithridates.
Establishment of the kingdom of Pontus on the Black Sea. ca.280 BC
Sosthenes.
Is elected “strategos” and conquers Macedon from the Seleucid Empire.
Macedon will fall to the Romans in 146 BC. 280 BC
Colossus of Rhodes is built. ca.280 BC
Lighthouse at Alexandria on the island of Pharos is built. c. 280-275 BC
Battle of Ausculum. 279 BC
Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, defeats the Romans again at the Battle of Ausculum in their own territory.
However, Pyrrhus of Epirus suffers great losses (“Pyrrhic victory”).
His peace offer, demanding the vacating of Graecia Magna (lower Italy) is rejected by the Roman Senate.
Carthage forms an alliance with Rome in order to repel Pyrrhus of Epirus.
Carthage sends an auxiliary fleet to Ostia, under the leadership of Mago.
Pyrrhus of Epirus lands in Sicily. 278 BC
Pyrrhus of Epirus. 278-275 BC
Successful campaigns of Pyrrhus against the Carthaginians in Sicily.
Called by the Greek cities, he conquered all the Carthaginian cities with the exception of Lilybaeum. His aim to create a kingdom of Sicily and southern Italy was thwarted by the opposition of the Greek cities and their surreptitious alliance with Carthage.
Pyrrhus returned to Italy after suffering great losses.
Invasion of Macedonia and Greece by the barbarian Gauls. c.278 BC
The Gauls invade Asia Minor. 277 BC
The Gauls found the kingdom of Galatia in Asia Minor.
Antigonus II Gonatus of Macedon.
Defeats the Celts at Lysimacheia. 277 BC
Antigonus II Gonatas, becomes King of Macedonia. 276 BC
He is a descendant of Antigonus I, one of Alexander’s generals.
He is master of all of Greece except for Sparta. Rules 276-239 BC.
Antigonus II founds the Antigonid Dynasty in Macedonia.
The Antigonid Dynasty in Macedonia will last 276-167 BC.
Hiero II. Greek King of Syracuse. 275-215 BC
Battle of Beneventum. 275 BC
After a disastrous repulse by the Carthaginian fleet during an attack upon the Roman camp at Beneventum, Pyrrhus is defeated by the Romans.
Pyrrhus is forced to return back to Epirus.
Pyrrhus, King of Epirus.
Leaves Italy from the city of Rhegium and returns back to Greece. 275 BC
Carthage takes all of Sicily except for the eastern end.
The Romans come all the way down southern Italy.
Romans capture the Greek colonies in southern Italy (Graecia Magna).
End of history of Babylon. 275 BC
The Babylonians re-establish the new city of Seleucia.
Completion of the lighthouse at Pharos, Alexandria, Egypt. c.275 BC
Pyrrhus of Epirus invades Macedonia, defeats Antigunos II Gonatas,
and is proclaimed king. 274 BC
First Syrian War. 274-271 BC
Ptolemy II, of Egypt, and Antiochus II of the Seleucid Empire are at war.
Asoka, Emperor in India, grandson of Chandragupta, rules the northern two thirds of India. Ashoka is a Mauryan emperor. c.274-236 BC
Makes Buddhism the state religion. Suppresses Hinduism.
Ptolemy II of Egypt.
Sends ambassadors from Ptolemaic Egypt to the Roman Republic. 273 BC
The Roman Republic sends an embassy to Ptolemaic Egypt. 272 BC
Roman defeat of Tarentum (modern Taranto). 272 BC
Peace after the surrender of Tarentum to the Romans.
Romans conquer the Greek cities of central and southern Italy.
These Greek cities become allies of the Roman Republic.
Roman domination of Southern Italy is secured.
End of the Roman War with Tarentum (282-272 BC).
Romans continue the construction of the Via Appia (the Appian Way)
from Capua to Tarentum and Brundisium. c.272 BC
Death of Pyrrhus, King of Epirus. 272 BC
Pyrrhus besieges Sparta and Argos.
Pyrrhus is killed. Antigonas is restored.
Carthage comes to the aid of Hiero II, King of Syracuse, and puts a Carthaginian garrison at Messina, Sicily. 270 BC
Roman wars with the Umbrians and Etruscans. 270-266 BC
Rome will gain control of all of Italy.
Hiero II, King of Syracuse.
Suppresses the Mamertine pirates of Messina, Sicily. c. 269 BC
Romans capture the city of Rhegium. 268 BC
Conquest of Calabria by the Romans (the Roman Republic). 268 BC
The Roman subjugation of Italy is completed.
Chremonidean War. 266-262 BC
Athens and Sparta are allied in war against Macedonia.
First contact of the Romans with Greek medicine through Greek prisoners of wa 265 BC
First gladiatorial games in Rome in the Forum. 264 BC
The Mamertine pirates of Messina, Sicily, appeal to Rome. 264 BC
The “Mamertines” (sons of Mars, Campanian mercenaries), occupying Messana,
appeal to Rome for help against Hiero II, King of Syracuse.
First Punic War (also called Carthaginian War). 264-241 BC
Between Rome and Carthage. Fought over Sicily.
Battle of Messina. 264 BC Rome dispatches a military expedition to Messina, Sicily, which marks the beginning of the First Punic (or Carthaginian) War against Carthage, a rich commercial seaport on what is now the Bay of Tunis.
Following the landing of the Roman army, Syracuse and Carthage form an alliance against the Romans (Roman Republic).
The Romans, under Appius Claudius Pulcher, defeat the combined armies of Syracuse (Hiero II) and Carthage, at Messana (Messina).
The Romans capture Messina, Sicily.
Messina becomes a free city under the protection of Rome.
After the defeat of their armies at Messana, Hiero II, King of Syracuse, sues for peace and allies himself with the Romans.
The Romans will conquer Sicily as far as Agrigentum (261 BC).
Founding of the kingdom of Pergamon by Eumenes I. 263 BC
Pergamum located in Asia Minor breaks away from Antiochus I of the Seleucid Empire (Syria).
Eumenes I founds Pergamum’s Attalid Dynasty (263-133 BC).
End of the Chremonidean War (266-262 BC). 262 BC
Athens and Sparta fight in revolt against Antigonus of Macedonia.
Antigonus takes Athens. Athens is left under Macedonian control.
End of the independence of Athens.
Antiochus II Theos.
Rules the Seleucid Empire. 261-246 BC
First Roman fleet (120 ships) is built. 260 BC
Built by Gaius Duilius with the assistance of South Italian Greeks.
Ships were modelled after a 5 oared Carthaginian vessel that they had found stranded.
Rome begins to become a naval power.
Spread of Ptolemaic (Greek Egypt) influence from Egypt down the Red Sea
and into Arabia. 260 BC
Battle of Mylae. 260 BC
(Part of the First Punic War).
Romans under Consul Gaius Duilius defeat Carthage at the naval Battle of Mylae in northwestern Sicily.
With the invention of the boarding bridge, land war tactics are used by the Romans in naval warfare.
Aristarchus of Samos (320-230 BC). Greek philosopher. c.260 BC
Makes observations and calculations leading to the following conclusions.
The Earth is much smaller than the Sun.
The Earth rotates on an axis, an inclined axis of rotation.
The Earth revolves around the Sun (heliocentric theory).
Explanation of the seasons.
Second Syrian War. 260-253 BC
Ptolemy II of Egypt against Antiochus II of the Seleucid Empire and Antigonus II Gonatas of Macedonia.
Antiochus II recovers some lost land in Asia Minor in the Second Syrian War against Ptolemy II of Egypt.
Battle of Tyndaris (modern Tindari). 257 BC
A Roman fleet under Gaius Atilius Regulus defeats Carthaginian fleet.
Battle of Ecnomus. 256 BC
(Part of the First Punic War).
The Roman fleet defeats Carthage at the naval Battle of Cape Ecnomus. This victory enables the Romans to land in north Africa.
Roman general Gaius Atilius Regillus lands an invasion force in north Africa near Carthage itself.
The Romans advance to Carthage, which sued for peace, but then rejected the severe Roman peace conditions.
Liberation of Athens by Antigonus II Gonatas. 255 BC
Athens joins the Achaean League. 255 BC
Battle of Tunes (modern Tunis). 255 BC
(Part of the First Punic War).
Utilizing cavalry and war elephants, the Carthaginians under Xanthippus, the Spartan general fighting for Carthage, are victorious over the Romans who are under Marcus Atilius Regulus.
Roman general Regillus is captured near Carthage.
A Roman fleet transporting the survivors is destroyed by a storm.
The Romans for the moment give up naval warfare.
However they conquer Sicily, except for the Carthaginian bases of Lilybaeum, Drepanum, and Eryx.
Battle of Panormus. 254 BC
(Part of the First Punic War).
Cornelius Scipio’s newly built Roman fleet is victorious over Carthage at the harbor of Panormus (modern day Palermo), Sicily.
Rome takes Panormus in Sicily.
Peace between Ptolemaic Egypt and the Seleucid Empire (Syria). 253 BC
Antiochus II of the Seleucid Empire marries Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy II of Egypt.
Rome defeats Hasdrubal of Carthage. 251 BC
Archimedes (287-212 BC). Greek mathematician. c. 250 BC
“On the Sphere and the Cylinder”.
Gives formulas for calculating the volume of a sphere and a cylinder.
“Measurement of the Circle”.
Gives an approximation of the value of “pi”.
“On Floating Bodies”.
Presents what is now called “Archimedes Principle” and begins the study of hydrostatics.
Writes works on two and three dimensional geometry.
Studies circles, spheres, and spirals.
Siege of Lilybaeum by the Romans. 250-241 BC
The fortress of Lilybaeum, located on the west coast of Sicily, is defended by a 10,000 man garrison.
Diodotus I becomes king of an independent Bactria. 250 BC
Invasion of Britain by La Tène, an Iron Age people. c. 250 BC
Asoka, the ruler of the Maurya Empire in India, erects columns 40 feet high inscribed
with his laws. c. 250 BC
The Septuagint. ca.250 BC
Translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek (Septuaginta). Another center of Judaism is developed in Egypt (Alexandria).
Battle of Drepanum. 249 BC
(Part of the First Punic War).
Modern: Trapani, Sicily.
Destruction of the Roman fleet by Carthaginian navy at Drepanum.
Founding of the Kingdom of Parthia by Arsaces I (Arsores). 247 BC
The Parthians revolted against the Seleucid Empire.
The Parthian Empire will end in 226 AD.
Reign of Arsaces I (Arsores) of Parthia. 247-217 BC
Ptolemy III, Euergetes, King of Egypt. 247-221 BC
Extends his empire by conquests in Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Persia, Susiana, and Media. Extends his influence as far as Thrace and Macedonia.
Hamilcar Barca, the father of Hannibal, takes command of the Carthaginian forces in Sicily. 247 BC
Murder of Antiochus II Theos, ruler of the Seleucid Empire, by his wife. He is succeeded
by his son Seleucus II Callinicus. 246 BC
Seleucus II Callinicus rules 246-225 BC.
Third Syrian War. 246-241 BC
Seleucus II Callinicus, ruler of the Seleucid Empire (Syria), loses the east
Mediterranean coast to Ptolemy III of Egypt.
Capture of Corinth by Aratus of Sicyon. 243 BC
Attalus I becomes King of Pergamum. 241 BC
Battle of the Aegates Islands. March 10, 241 BC
The Roman fleet under G. Lutatius Catulus defeats and destroys the Carthaginians off the Aegates (Egadi) Islands.
Romans defeat Carthage at Lilybaeum, the chief Carthaginian city in Western Sicily. 241 BC
Destruction of the Carthaginian fleet by the Romans.
Carthage admits defeat. 241 BC
Peace treaty between Rome and Carthage.
Hamilcar Barca, the father of Hannibal, surrenders Sicily and the Lipari Islands to the Romans.
End of the First Punic War (264-241 BC).
Total number of war dead of the First Punic War (264-241 BC) is approximately 150,000 men.
Sicilia (Sicily) becomes the first Roman province. 241 BC
Mercenary War. 241 BC
Revolt of Carthaginian mercenaries.
Will be crushed by Hamilcar Barca in 238 BC.
Death of Antigonus Gonatas of Macedonia. 239 BC
Demetrius II of Macedonia succeeds Antigonus II. 239 BC
War and rebellion weaken Demetrius II of Macedonia’s hold on
mainland Greece. 239-229 BC
Seizure and annexation of Sardinia (238 BC) and Corsica (237 BC) from
Carthage by Rome (Roman Republic). 238-237 BC
Hamilcar Barca, Carthaginian general, and father of Hannibal.
Begins the conquest of Spain (237-230 BC). 237 BC
Carthage begins to conquer Spain to compensate for the loss of Sicily, Sardinia, and the Lipari Islands.
Outbreak of war between Sparta and the Achaean League. 236 BC
Death of Asoka. c. 236 BC
His kingdom is divided between his grandsons.
Beginning of the decline of the Maurya Empire in India.
Eratosthenes of Cyrene (ca.280-194 BC). ca.235 BC
Calculates the polar diameter of the Earth to be only 50 miles short of the modern value.
First measurement of the Earth’s circumference (accomplished without the use of astronomical instruments).
Makes contributions to Geography.
Studies Historical Chronology.
Heliocentric theory of the Solar System.
Death of Han Fei Tzu. Chinese philosopher. 233 BC
Hasdrubal is in Spain. 230-221 BC
Egyptian temple of the sun god Horus is built at Edfu. c. 230 BC
First Illyrian War (aka First Illyro-Roman War). 230-228 BC
War between Roman fleet and Illyrian pirates.
The Romans will defeat the Illyrian pirates.
Nicomedes.
Treatise “On Conchoid Lines”. c. 230 BC
Contains the discovery of the curve that is now known as the “Conchoid of Nicomedes”.
Attalus I of Pergamum.
Makes Pergamum master of western Asia Minor. c. 230 BC
Ch’in state conquers its rivals. 230-221 BC
Carthage rules southern Spain. 229 BC
Antigonus III of Macedonia succeeds Demetrius II. 229 BC
Organization of the first Roman Provinces. 227 BC
Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica.
Foundation of Carthago Nova (New Carthage) in eastern Spain by Hasdrubal of Carthage. 227 BC
War between Cleomenes, King of Sparta, and the Aetolian League. 227 BC
Ebro River Treaty between Rome and Hasdrubal. 226 BC
Rome and Carthage agree that the Ebro River (in Spain) would divide the Roman sphere of influence in the north, from the Carthaginian sphere of influence in the south, but that Rome would continue its alliance with Saguntum which lay south of the Ebro River.
Hasdrubal, Hamilcar’s son-in-law, promises not to cross the Ebro River for offensive purposes.
Athens, freed from Macedonia, allies with the Roman Republic. 226 BC
The Cisalpine Gauls (Celts) rise up and march southward. ca. 225 BC
Battle of Telamon (in Etruria). 225 BC
The Gauls are defeated by the Romans. 40,000 Gauls are killed.
The Romans (Roman Republic) crush Celtic invaders and build defensive forts in
Northern Italy. 225-222 BC
Roman armies are in Illyria. 225 BC
Seleucus III Ceraunus. Ruler of the Seleucid Empire. 225-223 BC
Apollonius of Perga (fl.250-220 BC).
“Conics”. c. 225 BC
Introduces the terms “parabola”, “ellipse”, and “hyperbola”.
Romans stop incursions of the Boii, a Gallic tribe. 225-222 BC
Earthquake at Rhodes.
Destruction of the Colossus of Rhodes. 224 BC
Antiochus III, the Great, the 6th ruler of the Seleucid Empire. 223-187 BC
Rules the Babylonian Empire (from Syria and Phoenicia to Egypt).
Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire begins the reconquest of territories
that had been taken by Pergamum. c. 223 BC
Roman conquest of northern Italy including Mediolanum (modern Milan),
the capital of the Insubres, a Celtic tribe. 222 BC
Battle of Clastidium. 222 BC
(Part of the Conquest of Cisalpine Gaul).
Victory of the Romans over the Celts at the Battle of Clastidium.
The Roman general Marcus Claudius Marcellus kills Britomartus, the chief of the Gauls, in single combat.
Battle of Sellasia. 221 BC
Defeat of Sparta by a Macedonian phalanx of 10,000 men.
Cleomenes III, King of Sparta, flees to Egypt. 221 BC
Conquest of Sparta is made by Antigonus III Doson, of Macedonia. 221 BC
Philip V becomes King of Macedonia. 221 BC
Rules 221-179 BC
Succession of Ptolemy III Euergetes, ruler of Egypt, by his son
Ptolemy IV Philopater. 221 BC
Ptolemy III Philopater rules Egypt 221-205 BC.
Murder of Hasdrubal, son-in-law of Hamilcar Barca.
Hamilcar’s eldest son, Hannibal, becomes commander of the
Carthaginian armies. 221 BC
Ch’in Dynasty in China. 221-206 BC
China is unified for the first time in its history.
China gets its name from this dynasty.
Shih Huang-ti becomes China’s “First Emperor”.
Rules 221-206 BC.
Construction of the Flaminian Way from Rome to Rimini. c. 220 BC
Second Illyro-Roman War. 220-219 BC
(aka the Second Illyrian War).
War of the Allies (also known as the “Social War”). 220-217 BC
Macedonia fights against the Aetolian League, Sparta, and Elis.
Rome interferes with Carthaginian affairs south of the Ebro River. 219 BC
Saguntum which lay south of the Ebro River boundary in Carthaginian territory makes a defense treaty with the Roman Republic.
Saguntum appeals to Rome for help against Carthage.
Siege of Saguntum. 219-218 BC
Siege and capture of Saguntum by the Carthaginians under the command of Hannibal Barca, because Rome had sent no help.
Encouraged by his success in Saguntum, Hannibal Barca sees the opportunity to rid Spain entirely of the Romans.
Hannibal Barca crosses the Ebro River and enters into Roman territory.
Fourth Syrian War. 219-217 BC
Ptolemy IV of Egypt vs. Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire (Syria).
Rome demands the return of Saguntum and the extradition of Hannibal.
Carthage refuses the Roman demands. 218 BC
Roman declaration of war with Carthage.
Outbreak of the Second Punic War (218-201 BC). 218 BC
At the outbreak of the Second Punic War, the Romans thinking that the war was going to be waged in Spain, send Publius Cornelius Scipio and his Roman armies by sea to Massilia (modern Marseilles) to proceed on to
Spain and intercept Hannibal. 218 BC
On his way to Spain, to intercept Hannibal, Publius Cornelius Scipio is diverted by an insurrection of Gauls. 218 BC
Hannibal leaves Spain and crosses the Alps to invade Italy. 218 BC
Hannibal, the Carthaginian, begins his campaign against Rome
during the Second Punic War.
Hannibal launches a surprise attack from Spain into Italy via Mount Genevre in the Alps crossing first the Pyreenees and then the Alps. Hannibal frustrates the Roman war plan to attack Spain and from Sicily, Africa.
Hannibal has about 50,000 men, 9000 cavalry, and 37 war elephants. Costly battles plus the rigors of the crossing cause the loss of half of the troops, down to 26,000 men. Hannibal had left his brother Hasdrubal to protect Spain with an army.
Consul Publius Cornelius Scipio arrives in Spain three days late. 218 BC
Instead of pursuing Hannibal, Scipio sends his armies under the command of his younger brother Cornelius Scipio Calvus (later called Africanus) into Spain in order to cut Hannibal's supply line and reinforcements.
Second Punic War (218-201 BC) is fought in Spain. 218-211 BC
Battle of Ticinus. Autumn 218 BC
Returning from the Rhône to Italy, Publius Cornelius Scipio is defeated by the forces of Hannibal at the Ticinus River.
P.C. Scipio is severely wounded.
P.C. Scipio returns to Italy. 218 BC
Together with an army headed by the Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus,
coming from Sicily, Scipio goes to meet Hannibal.
Battle of the Trebbia River. Dec. 218 BC
Roman armies under Publius Cornelius Scipio and Tiberius Sempronius Longus attack and are defeated by Hannibal at the river Trebbia.
The sack of Thermum. 218 BC
Philip V of Macedon sacks Thermum during the Social War.
Battle of Lake Trasimene. 217 BC
Hannibal ambushes, surrounds, and destroys a large Roman army
under Consul Gaius Flaminius at Lake Trasimene.
Hannibal continues moving southward.
Roman naval victory off the Ebro River. 217 BC
The dismayed population of Rome appoints Quintus Fabius Maximus as dictator
in order to cope with Hannibal. 217 BC
Fabius Maximus, having seen the uselessness of fighting Hannibal in open warfare, avoids set battles and instead resorts to a cautious, delaying conduct of the war (“Fabian tactics”).
Battle of Raphia. 217 BC
Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire is defeated by Ptolemy IV Philopater
ruler of Egypt.
Arsaces II. King of Parthia. 217-191 BC
Battle of Cannae. August 3, 216 BC
(Part of the Second Punic War).
This is one of the worst Roman defeats in the history of Rome.
When the Roman policy of “Fabian warfare” is abandoned, the outflanking of the Roman army by the Carthaginian cavalry leads to the loss of over 50,000 Romans and 4,500 prisoners, out of an army of 86,000 men. Among the dead is the Consul Lucius Aemillius Paullus.
Capua, the Samnites, Lucanians, and Bruttians secede from Rome. 216 BC
Hannibal takes up winter quarters in Campania in southern Italy.
Hannibal is forced to abandon his aggressive conduct of the war
because of insufficient support from Carthage. 216 BC
Philip V, King of Macedonia makes an alliance with Hannibal of Carthage against
the Roman Republic. 216 BC
Roman armies in Spain are under Publius Cornelius Scipio and Gnaeus Cornelius
Scipio (his brother). 215 BC
Syracuse in Sicily joins Carthage against the Roman Republic. 215 BC
First Macedonian War. 215-205 BC
Rome against Macedonia.
Rome’s Greek allies prevent Philip V of Macedonia from helping Hannibal. Philip V attacks Rome in support of Carthage against Rome.
Battle of Nola. 215 BC
(Part of the Second Punic War).
Roman general Marcus Claudius Marcellus defeats Hannibal at Nola.
Hannibal receives his first defeat by the Romans.
Punic War in Sicily (214-210 BC). Begins. 214 BC
Roman general Marcus Claudius Marcellus begins the conquest of
Sicily from the Carthaginians. 214 BC
The Roman conquest of Sicily will be completed in 210 BC.
Seizure of Tarentum (modern Taranto) by Hannibal in 212 BC.
Secession of the Greek cities along the south Italian coast, and
Hannibal’s victory at Capua. 213-212 BC
The Fall of Syracuse. 212 BC
The sack and conquest of Syracuse, Sicily by the Roman army under the Roman general Marcus Claudius Marcellus. Archimedes (287-212 BC) is killed during the Roman siege of Syracuse.
Construction of the Great Wall of China (1,400 miles long) begins during the Ch’in Dynasty. 212 BC
Built to keep out invaders (Xiongnu or Huns).
This is the first actual historically proven date pertaining to Chinese history.
“Hannibal ante portas!” The Carthaginians are before the city of Rome.
Hannibal reaches the gates of Rome but retreats. 211 BC
Recapture of Capua by the Romans. 211 BC
The siege and re-capture of Capua by the Romans is made possible by
the failure of Hannibal’s diversionary attack on the city of Rome.
Quintus Fulvius Flaccus forces the city of Capua to surrender.
Battle of Ilorca. 211 BC
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio is defeated by the Carthaginians.
He dies in battle.
Battle of the Upper Baetis. 211 BC
The defeat of the Romans and the deaths of Publius Cornelius Scipio and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio, his brother, in Spain, were brought about by Hasdrubal and the Numidian prince Masinissa.
The Romans send the 24 year old Publius Cornelius Scipio (later will be called
Africanus) to Spain. 211 BC
Publius Cornelius Scipio was his father.
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio was his uncle.
Alliance of Rome, the Aetolians, Spartans, Eleons, and Illyria. 211 BC
Sicily is abandoned by the Carthaginians. 210 BC
Antiochus III, ruler of the Seleucid Empire, is at the peak of his power. 209 BC
Battle of Carthago Nova. 209 BC
Conquest of Carthago Nova (New Carthage) in Spain, by Publius Cornelius Scipio the Younger, the son of Publius Cornelius Scipio.
Completion of the conquest of Spain from the Carthaginians by Publius Cornelius
Scipio the Younger (Africanus). 209-206 BC
Battle of Baecula. 208 BC
A costly battle for Hasdrubal, brother of Hannibal.
Hasdrubal, brother of Hannibal, leaves the Iberian peninsula (Spain) in order to help his brother whose resources are declining. 208 BC
Battle of the Metaurus River (Sena Gallica). 207 BC
(Part of the Second Punic War).
Hasdrubal struggles through into Italy with reinforcements, but before he can join forces with his brother Hannibal, he is defeated at the Battle of Metaurus by the Roman troops under the veteran Marcus Livius Salinator and Gaius Claudius Nero. Hasdrubal is killed in battle.
The Roman victory over the Carthaginians at the Metaurus River ranks as one of the decisive battles in history.
Hannibal retires to southern Italy. 207 BC
Battle of Mantinea. 207 BC
Philopoemen, the general of the Achaean League, defeats the Spartans.
Battle of Ilipa. 206 BC
The brilliant Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio the Younger (later called Africanus) is victorious over the Carthaginians under Mago, brother of Hannibal, and Masinissa at Ilipa (Spain).
Romans advance to Southern Spain.
Seizure of Gades. 206 BC
Publius Cornelius Scipio the Younger defeats the Carthaginians in Spain.
Completion of the expulsion of the Carthaginians from Spain by the younger Scipio (later will be called Scipio Africanus). 206 BC
Departure of the Carthaginian fleet under Mago for the Balearic Islands, and from there to Genoa to win over the Ligurians and the Gauls once more for the fight against Rome.
End of Carthaginian rule in Spain. 206 BC
Founding of the Han Dynasty in China. 206 BC
Will last from 206 BC until 221 AD.
Ptolemy V, Epiphanes, becomes King of Egypt. 205 BC
Ptolemy V rules 205-181 BC.
Egypt is assisted by the Roman Republic.
Inscription engraved on the “Rosetta Stone”. c.205 BC
Records the accession of Ptolemy V, Epiphanes to the throne of Egypt.
Scipio the Younger returns to Rome and is elected Consul. 205 BC
Peace of Phoenice. 205 BC
End of the First Macedonian War (215-205 BC).
Scipio the Younger carries the war against Carthage into north Africa.
Scipio the Younger crosses into Africa. 204 BC
He remains there until the end of the Second Punic War in 202 BC.
Masinessa, the Numidian, defects from Carthage. 204 BC
Judaea submits to Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire. 203 BC
Battle of Utica. 203 BC
Scipio the Younger (Africanus) defeats Carthaginian forces at Utica, less than 20
miles west of Carthage.
Fruitless peace negotiations lead to Hannibal’s recall from Italy back to Carthage. 203 BC
Death of Mago, brother of Hannibal in upper Italy. 203 BC
Hannibal is blockaded in Calabria with no forces for further operations of any magnitude. 203 BC
Hannibal manages to leave Calabria (Croton) located on the Gulf of Taranto and returns to Carthage, in north Africa. 202 BC
Battle of Zama. 202 BC
Hannibal is defeated by Publius Scipio Africanus the Younger at the Battle of Zama.
The Carthaginian army is destroyed by the Romans.
Hannibal flees to Hadrumentum and advises peace. 202 BC
End of fighting in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) with the defeat of Carthage at the Battle of Zama by Publius Cornelius Scipio (Africanus). Over 200,000 total war dead.
Peace treaty between Rome and Carthage. 202 BC
Abandonment of Spain by Carthage.
Surrender of Numidia to Masinessa.
Payment of Reparations.
Surrender of warships, except for 10 triremes.
Prohibition of warfare outside Africa.
Warfare in Africa only with Roman permission.
Publius Cornelius Scipio the Younger receives the honorary title of “Africanus”.
Scipio receives a triumphal celebration. 202 BC
Fifth Syrian War. 202-195 BC
End of the Second Punic War. 201 BC
Carthage surrenders all of its Mediterranean lands to Rome.
The territory of Syracuse in Sicily is incorporated into the Roman
Province of Sicilia.
Second Macedonian War. 200-197 BC
Greek states turn to Rome for help against Philip V, King of Macedonia.
Rome joins the Greek states in war against Macedonia.
The ravaging of Attica. 200 BC
Roman War with the Gauls in Upper Italy. 200-190 BC
Rome suppresses the uprising of the Boii and the Insubres, barbarian tribes that were supported by scattered Carthaginians.
Porta Augusta, Perugia. ca.200 BC
Fine example of Etruscan arched gateway.
Winged Victory of Samothrace (Nike of Samothrace). ca.200-190 BC
Greek sculpture.
Battle of Panion (in Palestine). 200 BC
Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire takes Palestine from Egypt.
Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire, in a great battle in Palestine, expels Egyptian troops under Scopas from Jerusalem.
Antiochus III defeats the Egyptian army at Mount Panium (Panion).
Final establishment of the Seleucid (Syrian) power in Palestine.
Cato the Elder.
“De Agricultura.” c.200 BC
Diocles.
“On Burning Mirrors.” c.200 BC
Includes a collection of sixteen propositions in geometry mostly proving results
dealing with conics.
“Greek Kings” continue on in India. 199-138 BC
The Achaeans and the Spartans join the Romans in the war against Macedonia. 198 BC
The Romans divide Spain into two Roman provinces. 197 BC
Hispania Citerior (east coast) and Hispania Ulterior (southern coast).
Battle of Cynoscephalae. 197 BC
Under the leadership of Titus Quinctius Flaminius of Rome, Roman
armies break through into Thessaly and defeat the armies of Philip V, King
of Macedon, at Cynoscephalae.
Marks the end of the Second Macedonian War (200-197 BC).
10,000 total war dead.
Peace treaty: Philip V of Macedonia surrenders hegemony in Greece,
payment of War Indemnity, and surrender of the Macedonian fleet except for six ships. Philip V is forced to surrender Greece to the Romans.
Titus Quinctius Flaminus (Rome) declares Greek city states (Macedonian Greece) independent of Macedonia. 196 BC
Hannibal of Carthage joins Antiochus III, of the Seleucid Empire.
Hannibal urges Antiochus to carry on war against the Romans. 196 BC
Founding of the great Library at Pergamum. 196 BC
End of the Fifth Syrian War (202-195 BC). 195 BC
Won by Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire.
Ptolemy V Epiphanes, ruler of Egypt from 205 BC, loses all lands in Asia Minor but keeps Cyprus.
Peace between the Seleucid Empire and Ptolemaic Egypt. 195 BC
Hannibal of Carthage flees to Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire because of a Roman demand for his extradition. 195 BC
Cato is in Spain. 195 BC
Romans leave Greece. 194 BC
Masinessa, King of Numidia, harasses the Carthaginians and
interferes with their commerce. 193 BC
Roman-Seleucid War. 192-189 BC
Fought between Rome and Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire (Syria).
Antiochus III of Syria invades Greece and with the Aetolians fights Rome.
Rome is backed by Macedonia and the Achaeans.
The Romans will acquire territory in Asia Minor, during the Seleucid War between Rome and the Seleucid Empire, under Antiochus III of Syria.
War between Rome and Sparta. 192 BC
End of the Spartan Empire (Sparta was founded c.900 BC).
Beginnings of revolts in Spain against Roman rule. 191-189 BC
Battle of Thermopylae. 191 BC
The Romans under Manius Acilius Glabrio and Marcus Porcius Cato crush Antiochus III, Seleucid King (Syria), at Thermopylae and drive him from mainland Greece.
Arsaces III Phriapatius. King of Parthia. 191-176 BC
Battle of Magnesia. 190 BC
A Roman force of 40,000 legionaries under Lucius Cornelius Scipio (later called Scipio Asiaticus) and his brother Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, totally defeat an 80,000 man army under the Seleucid King Antiochus III at Magnesia, on the Sipylus in Asia Minor.
Antiochus III is compelled to cede all of Asia Minor except for Cilicia.
Beginning of Roman world domination.
Greek rulers in Bactria take the opportunity to break away from control of the Seleucid Empire. c.190 BC
Romans attack and subjugate the Celts. 190 BC
Armenia revolts against the rule of the Seleucid Empire and establishes
its independence. 189 BC
The Aetolian League is crushed by the Romans (Roman Republic). 189 BC
Peace of Apamea. 189 BC
End of the Roman-Seleucid War (192-189 BC).
Rome makes Antiochus III pay war indemnity to the Romans, give Asia Minor to Rhodes and Pergamum, and surrender all of their warships except for ten of them.
Rome helps Pergamum against the Galatians. 189 BC
After the Peace of Apamea (189 BC), Hannibal of Carthage flees to King Prusias of Bithynia. The Romans demand the extradition of Hannibal of Carthage. 188 BC
Philopoemen abrogates the laws of Lycurgus in Sparta. 188 BC
Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire is killed. 187 BC
He is succeeded by his son Seleucus IV Philopater.
Seleucid power in Syria begins to revive under Seleucus IV Philopater. 187 BC
Rules 187-175 BC.
Conquest of the Punjab in India by Demetrius of Bactria. c. 185 BC
Cato, the leader of the anti-Scipionic party in Rome engages in fighting
corruption within the nobility. 184 BC
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, the great opponent of Hannibal of Carthage,
is accused of high treason.
Lucius Cornelius Scipio (Asiaticus) who defeated Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire is accused of embezzlement.
Scipio Africanus the Elder (236-183 BC) goes into voluntary exile. 184 BC
Overthrow of the Mauryan Dynasty in India. 184 BC
Scipio Africanus the Elder (236-183 BC) dies in self-imposed exile. 183 BC
Pisa and Parma in northern Italy come under Roman rule. 183 BC
Suicide of Hannibal. 183 BC
After his career in Asia Minor, Hannibal commits suicide while he is in exile
in Bithynia, upon betrayal to the Romans, in order to avoid extradition
by Rome.
Philopoeman is taken prisoner and put to death by the Messenians. 183 BC
Decline of the Achaean League.
Succession of Ptolemy V in Egypt by Ptolemy VI Philometor. 181 BC
Ptolemy VI rules Egypt 181-145 BC.
Founding of the Roman colony of Aquileia as a trade metropolis for northern Europe.181 BC
The Great Altar of Zeus at Pergamum (in modern day Berlin). 180 BC
Built for Eumenes II of Pergamum.
One of the great altars of the BC period.
Taoism and Confucianism become established in China. 180 BC
Pons Aemilius. 179 BC
The first stone bridge is built in Rome.
Death of Philip V, King of Macedonia. 179 BC
Perseus, son of Philip V, succeeds to the rule of Macedonia.
Perseus rules 179-167 BC.
Perseus is hostile to Rome. Continues war with Rome until 167 BC.
Istria is subdued by the Romans. 177 BC
Phraates. King of Parthia. 176-171 BC
Conquers the Mardians on the Caspian Sea.
Deposition of the Jewish high priest Onias (Palestine). 175 BC
Earliest known paved streets appear in Rome. c.175 BC
Murder of Seleucus IV of the Seleucid Empire by poison. 175 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes rules the Seleucid Empire. 175-164 BC
He is universally hated and despised.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire executes Onias III, the Jewish
high priest in Judea. 172 BC
The Romans effect the dissolution of the Boeotian confederacy. 172 BC
Mithridates I, comes to the throne of the Kingdom of Parthia. 171 BC
Rules 171-132 BC.
Eumenes II of Pergamum (hailed as champion of Greek Independence) persuades
Rome to take action against Macedonia. 171 BC
Third Macedonian War. 171-168 BC
Macedonians under Perseus again attack Rome.
Rome against Macedonia.
Perseus, son of Philip V, of Macedonia.
Attempts to restore hegemony over Greece.
Roman army is defeated by Perseus of Macedonia at Larissa. 171 BC
Outbreak of war between Egypt (Ptolemy VI) and Syria (Antiochus IV).
Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire (Syria) invades
Egypt and gains a victory at Pelusium. 171 BC
Subjugation of Egypt as far as Alexandria by Antiochus IV Epiphanes
of the Seleucid Empire. 170 BC
Tyranny of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in Palestine. 170 BC
Small Greek principalities are established in the Punjab in India. 170 BC
Sixth Syrian War. 170-168 BC
Temple of Zeus, Olympius, Athens, is resumed by the Roman architect Cassutius.
This is the first major temple in the Corinthian style of architecture. ca. 170 BC
Battle of Pydna. June 22, 168 BC
Roman forces under Lucius Aemilius Paulus crush Macedonian army under Perseus, the ruler of Macedonia, at Pydna.
20,000 Macedonians killed and 11,000 taken prisoner.
End of the Third Macedonian War.
Romans defeat, dethrone, and imprison the Macedonian ruler, Perseus. The Romans subordinate Macedonia and Illyria. 168 BC
Romans ravage Epirus.
Macedonia is divided into four republics.
Macedonians are sold as slaves in Rome.
Ptolemy VII (Eugertes) becomes joint ruler of Egypt with his brother Ptolemy VI. 168 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire captures and pillages
the city of Jerusalem. 168 BC
Severe persecution of the Jews by Antiochus IV, King of Syria.
Desecration of the Temple of Jerusalem by Antiochus IV Epiphanes,
the Seleucid King of Syria. 168 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes builds a statue of Jupiter Olympius (Zeus) in
the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem. 168 BC
The Revolt of the Hasmoneans (Hebrew Maccabees). 168-165 BC
Maccabaean revolt. Successful revolt of the Jews led by Maccabees.
Led by the Jewish priest Mattathias and his sons, Judas, Jonathan, and Simon Maccabeus, against the Seleucid rule under Antiochus IV,
king of Syria, who had tried to Hellenize Jewish Palestine.
Rome stops Antiochus IV of Syria, capturing Alexandria, Egypt. 168 BC
Third Illyro-Roman War (aka Third Illyrian War). 168 BC
Lucius Anicius Gallus defeats Gentius, the Illyrian king.
Destruction of the Ardiaei Kingdom.
Death of Perseus, the ruler of Macedonia. 167 BC
End of the Antigonid Dynasty in Macedonia (276-167 BC).
Judas Maccabaeus.
Rededicates the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem after expelling the Syrians (Seleucids)
from Jerusalem. 165 BC
Antiochus IV of the Seleucid Empire, dies on his way to Babylon. 164 BC
Loss of Babylonia, Persia, and all countries between the
Euphrates and the Indus.
Ptolemy VI flees Egypt. Division of the kingdom of Egypt between
Ptolemy VI and the future Ptolemy VIII (Physcon). 164-63 BC
Antiochus V Eupater (rules 163-161 BC) and Demetrius I Soter (rules 163-150 BC)
rule the Seleucid Empire. 163 BC
Seizure of Media by Mithridates I of Parthia. 161 BC
Demetrius I Soter is sole ruler of the Seleucid Empire. 161-150 BC
The city of Rome has many public libraries. 161 BC
Death of Judas Maccabeus while fighting against the Seleucids. c. 160 BC
Jonathan Maccabeus, the younger brother of Judas Maccabeus, is leader of the Jews in Judaea (until 143 BC).
The Xiongnu (Huns) fight against the Han Dynasty in China. 160-140 BC
Judaea briefly becomes an independent principality. 157 BC
Embassy of Diogenes of Babylon the Stoic (c.230-c.150 BC), Carneades (Platonist),
and Critolaus (Aristotelian) to Rome. 155 BC
Ptolemy VIII of Egypt bequeaths his share of the kingdom to Rome. 155 BC
Celtiberian War (Spanish War). 154-151 BC
Revolt in Spain against Roman rule.
Masinessa of Numidia defeats the Carthaginians. 152 BC
Constant conflict with Masinessa of Numidia, who is encouraged
by Rome, drives Carthage into a war that is not approved by Rome
(according to the Treaty of 202 BC). 150 BC
Rome declares war on Carthage. 150 BC
Dissensions between the Spartans and the Achaeans. 150 BC
Demetrius I Soter, ruler of the Seleucial Empire, is killed in battle. 150 BC
Alexander Balas. Ruler of the Seleucid Empire. 150-146 BC
Hero of Alexandria.
"Pneumatics" (“Pneumatica”).
Provides a study of atmospheric air, syphons, pumps, the effects of heat
on liquids, and engine design. ca. 150 BC
Panaetius of Rhodes (c.185-109 BC). Stoic philosopher.
Introduces Stoicism from Greece to Rome. c. 150 BC
Third Punic War. 149-146 BC
The Romans invade north Africa. 149 BC
After the landing of two Roman armies, the Carthaginians at first capitulate, but then they refuse to leave the city.
They renew the struggle.
Fourth Macedonian War. 149-148 BC
Rome (the Roman Republic) defeats Macedonia in the Macedonian War. 148 BC
Macedonia is reduced to a Roman province (147). 147 BC
Macedonia is the first Roman Province in the East.
Rome cuts Carthage off from all supplies by land or sea. 146 BC
Famine in Carthage.
Achaean League attacks Sparta. 146 BC
Rome sends Roman troops under Lucius Mummius into Greece. 146 BC
Conquest of Corinth. 146 BC
Corinth is taken over by Roman troops under the commander Lucius Mummius (Achaicus).
The Romans take an enormous haul of Greek art back to Italy.
Roman Conquest of Greece. 146 BC
11,000 total war dead.
Greece is now under Roman rule. Greece becomes the Roman province of Achaea. End of the Achaean League.
Greece will belong to Rome from 146 BC until the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD when it will pass to the newly formed Byzantine Empire (Constantinople).
Seizure and destruction of Carthage. 146 BC
Rome sends Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus (185-129 BC) who accomplishes the seizure and destruction of Carthage despite a plea by P. Cornelius Scipio.
Carthage capitulates.
Out of an estimated population of 700,000, 450,000 are killed, and 50,000
Carthaginians are left alive.
Survivors are sold into slavery.
Carthage is burnt, the ground is salted, the ruins are ploughed to express
final total destruction, and a curse is invoked upon anyone who might
attempt to rebuild it. Carthage ceases to exist.
Carthage will later be rebuilt by Julius Caesar.
End of the Third Punic War (149-146 BC). 146 BC
Carthage is made a Roman province. It is called “Africa”.
The Roman Republic now has seven provinces: 146 BC
Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, the two Spains, Gallia Transalpina,
Africa, and Macedonia.
Hipparchus of Nicea. fl. 146-126 BC
Greek philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician.
Measures the size and distance of the Moon from the Earth.
Measures the size and the distance of the Sun from the Earth.
Develops the beginnings of Trigonometry.
Demetrius II Nicator rules Seleucia (Seleucid Empire). 146 BC
First reign (146-139 BC).
Second reign 129-126 BC.
Death of Ptolemy VI Philometor of Egypt. 145 BC
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes becomes the sole ruler of Egypt.
He is a cruel and odious tyrant. Ptolemy VIII Euergetes rules 145-116 BC.
Lusitanian War.
War with Viriathus, the leader of the Lusitani (Lusitania in Iberia), who
maintains a prolonged war with Rome. 143-133 BC
Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus (185-129 BC) is sent against Viriathus the
leader of the Lusitani (part of Lusitanian War). 143 BC
Jonathan Maccabaeus (the successor of Judas) is killed by the Seleucids.
Jonathan is succeeded by Simon Maccabaeus (to 134 BC), the elder brother of Judas Maccabaeus and Jonathan Maccabaeus as leader of the Jews. 143 BC
Simon Maccabeus negotiates independence for Judaea (southern Palestine). 143 BC
Independence lasts from 143-63 BC.
Jews win independence in Judaea under Simon Maccabeus (Maccabees).
Embassy of Scipio Africanus to Alexandria. 143 BC
Numantine War. 143-133 BC
Rome vs. Numantia.
Mithridates I of Parthia captures Babylon. c. 141 BC
Development of various religious groups in Israel including the
Pharisees, the Saduccees, and the Essenes. c. 140-137 BC
Viriathus, leader of the Lusitani, is treacherously murdered.
Lusitania will become a Roman province (133 BC). 140 BC
Epirus is taken by the Romans (the Roman Republic). 140 BC
The Venus de Milo. Greek sculpture. c. 140 BC
Demetrius II Nicator, ruler of the Seleucid Empire.
Defeats Mithridates I of Parthia. 140 BC
Mithridates I of Parthia.
Captures Demetrius II Nicator of Seleucia. 139 BC
Scythian invasion of Bactria. c. 139 BC
Phraates II. Ruler of Parthea. 138-127 BC
Antiochus VII Sidetes is ruler of the Seleucid Empire. 138-129 BC
First Slave War (also called the First Servile War). 136-132 BC
The Syrian Eunus brings the slaves of Sicily together.
200,000 Sicilian slaves revolt against the Roman Republic.
Eunus is taken prisoner after the capture of Enna and Tauromenium.
The revolt will be suppressed.
Assassination of Simon Maccabeus. 135 BC
He is succeeded by his son John Hyrcanus as leader of the Jews in Judaea (Palestine). Rules 135-104 BC.
Antiochus VIII, ruler of the Seleucid Empire (Syria).
Reconquers the city of Jerusalem. 134 BC
In the East, Attalos III of Pergamon in Asia Minor bequeaths the Kingdom of Pergamum to Rome (the Roman Republic). 133 BC
Attalos III is the last ruler of the kingdom of Pergamum.
Asia Minor will become the eighth Roman Province in 129 BC.
Seizure of Numantia by the Romans under Publius Cornelius Scipio
Aemilianus. He receives the additional title of Numantinus. 133 BC
End of the Numantine War (143-133 BC).
Lusitania becomes a Roman province. 133 BC
Rome subdues all of Spain, except for the northwest. 133 BC
Conflict between the Han Dynasty in China and the Xiongnu (Huns) is renewed. 133-119 BC
Reform movement of the Gracchi. 133-121 BC
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus and 300 people are killed in a massacre of
revolutionaries for social reforms.
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus is beaten to death with a fragment of a
broken bench by two senators (133 BC).
Rome crushes the Sicilian slave revolt. 132 BC
End of the First Servile War (136-132 BC).
John Hyrcanus I aided by the Parthians, asserts the independence of
the Jews in Palestine. 130 BC
Temple of Artemis Leucophryene, Magnesia on the Meander. c. 130 BC
Masterwork of the architect Hermogenes.
The Old Testament Book of Esther is written. c. 130 BC
Rome (the Roman Republic) controls nearly all of the Mediterranean territories that are civilized. c. 129 BC
Beginning of war between the Seleucid Empire and Parthia. 129 BC
Antiochus VII of the Seleucid Empire invades the Parthian Empire. 129 BC
Battle of Ecbatana. 129 BC
Antiochus VII Sidetes of the Seleucid Empire is defeated and killed in battle fighting against the Parthians under Phraates II.
Demetrius II Nicator recovers the throne of the Seleucid Empire.
Flaccus reduces the Transalpine Ligurians. 128 BC
Hipparchus of Nicea.
Discovers the precession of the equinoxes and calculates the
length of the year to within 6.5 minutes of the correct value. 127 BC
Hipparchus of Nicea.
Produces a star catalog of 1080 stars. 125 BC
Mithridates II of Parthia. Rules 124-88 BC.
Restores peace in the East after a long succession of terrible wars. 124-87 BC
He will meet with a powerful rival in Tigranes I, King of Armenia.
Tigranes I. King of Armenia. 123-95 BC
Election of Gaius Sempronius Gracchus, brother of Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, to the position of Tribune.
G.S. Gracchus plans wide social reforms. 123 BC
Aix becomes the first Roman colony in Gaul. 122 BC
Gaius Gracchus expands the program of his brother Tiberius Gracchus.
Gaius Gracchus and 3,000 of his followers are killed during a riot in
the streets of Rome. 121 BC
Roman armies in Gaul subdue two major Gallic tribes, the Allobroges
and the Arvernii. 121 BC
Gallia Narbonensis (Southern Gaul) becomes a Roman province. 121 BC
Balearae Insulae falls under Roman control. 121 BC
Antiochus VIII Grypus. Ruler of the Seleucid Empire. 121-96 BC
Development of overland silk trade between Rome and China. c.120 BC
The Chinese drive the nomadic Hsiung-nu (Huns) into the Gobi Desert. 119 BC
Reign of Ptolemy VIII (Soter II) in Egypt. 117-81 BC
He is the successor to Ptolemy VII.
The Cimbri, an ancient Germanic tribe, leave Jutland which has been devastated
by storms, and reach the Roman province of Noricum (Carinthia). 115 BC
Cimbrian War. 113-101 BC
Roman War against the Cimbri and the Teutons, coming from Jutland with the Ambrones.
Battle of Noreia (in Carinthia). 113 BC
Roman armies are defeated by the combined forces of the Cimbri,
Teutons, and Ambrones.
The Pharisees and Sadducees become prominent in Judaea. c. 112 BC
Their rivalry weakens the kingdom that was built up by the Hasmonean ruler John Hyrcanus (ruled 135-104 BC).
Jugurtha usurps the throne of Numidia. 112 BC
The Jugurthine (Numidian or African) War (112-105 BC).
War begins between Rome and the usurper Jugurtha, the king of
Numidia, in northern Africa. 112 BC
A Roman army under the Consul Lucius Calpurnius Bestia is sent to Numidia to defeat Jugurtha. Jugurtha makes peace. 111 BC
John Hyrcanus. Joins the Sadducees. 110 BC
The Cimbri, a Celtic tribe, ravage Gaul. 108 BC
Battle of Muthul River. 108 BC
(Roman Conquest of Numidia).
Quintus Metellus (Numidicus) takes over the Roman expeditionary force in Numidia.
Quintus Metellus routes the Numidians.
Jugurtha escapes.
Roman general Gaius Marius is elected Consul for the first time. 107 BC
He is sent to Africa to defeat Jugurtha. 106 BC
Alexander Jannaeus (Hasmonean) in Palestine. 106 BC
Gaius Marius, assisted by fellow Roman general Lucius Cornelius Sulla,
defeats and captures Jugurtha of Numidia. 105 BC
The usurper Jugurtha surrenders to Sulla.
Jugurtha, the Numidian king, is betrayed by his father-in-law Bocchus.
Jugurtha is brought to Rome a prisoner and subsequently strangled.
End of the Jugurthine War (112-105 BC). 105 BC
Part of Numidia becomes a Roman Province.
The rest of the kingdom is divided among other north African states.
Westward expansion of the Cimbri, a Celtic tribe. 105 BC
The Cimbri ravage Roman Gaul.
The Cimbri and the Teutones become allies and decide to invade the Roman Republic (Italy). 105 BC
Battle of Arausio. 105 BC
The Germanic tribes of the Cimbri and the Teutones win a decisive victory over the Roman army at Arausio on the Rhone River.
20,000 Roman soldiers are killed.
The Cimbri and the Teutones advance into northwestern Italy. 105 BC
Panic in Rome (the second “Celtic Storm") caused by approaching Germanic barbarian tribes. 105 BC
Death of John Hyrcanus (Hasmonean). 104 BC
Alexander Jannaeus. King of Judaea. 103-76 BC
Outbreak of the Second Slave War (103-99 BC). 103 BC
Also known as the Second Servile War.
Battle of Aquae Sextiae. 102 BC
Germanic tribes Cimbri and Teutones are defeated by Roman armies
under Gaius Marius at Aquae Sextiae.
Gaius Marius drives back the Germanic barbarian tribes.
Cilicia comes under Roman Rule (Roman Republic). 101 BC
Battle of Vercellae. 101 BC
Germanic barbarian tribes of the Cimbri and Teutones are defeated at Vercellae by Roman armies under Gaius Marius.
Gaius Marius.
Becomes Consul for the sixth time. 100 BC
He murders his political opponents.
Asclepiades.
Makes differentiation between acute diseases and chronic diseases. c.100 BC
Construction of the Great Stupa (Buddhist). Sanchi, India. c.100 BC
Roman forces win the Second Servile War (103-99 BC) in Sicily. 99 BC
Alexander Jannaeus (Hasmonean) besieges and takes Gaza. 98 BC
Cyrenaica (Cyrene) is bequeathed to Rome (the Roman Republic) by Apion of Cyrene. 96 BC
Murder of Antiochus VIII Grypus of the Seleucid Empire. 96 BC
Antiochus IX, half-brother of Antiochus VIII, is killed in battle. 96 BC
Civil and other wars weaken the Seleucid Empire. 95-64 BC
Tigranes II. King of Armenia. 95-55 BC
Mithridates II of Parthia makes a treaty with Rome. 92 BC
Roman Social War or Marsian War. 90-89 BC
Revolt of the Pharisees in Judea. 90 BC
End of the Social War (90-89 BC). 89 BC
This war cost the lives of almost 300,000 men.
Rome is forced to open Roman citizenship to the Italian states.
All Italians become citizens of Rome.
Uprising against the Romans at Ephesus and in all the provinces of Asia.
80,000 Romans are killed in Asia Minor. 88 BC
Uprisings against Roman rule at Athens. 88 BC
First Mithridatic War. 88-84 BC
Attack by Mithridates VI Eupater, King of Pontus, against Roman territory in the East. Appeals to the Greeks to rise up against Rome.
Mithridates VI Eupater, King of Pontus.
Overruns the Roman Province of Asia (Asia Minor). 88 BC
Outbreak of the First Roman Civil War. 88 BC
Marius vs. Sulla (88 until 82 BC).
Sulla having been charged with the conduct of the war by the Senate,
was deprived of his command by the people who gave it to Gaius Marius.
Sulla conquers Rome and re-establishes the rule of the Senate. 88 BC
Lucius Cornelius Sulla leaves to fight Mithridates.
Gaius Marius is driven out by Sulla.
Gaius Marius and his supporters return to Rome. 87 BC
Marius seizes control of the government.
Athens is besieged and taken by the Romans under Sulla. 86 BC
End of the revolt of Athens against Roman rule.
Battle of Chaeronea. 86 BC
Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 BC) defeats the troops of Mithridates VI Eupater,
of Pontus, at the Battle of Chaeronea.
Battle of Orchomenus. 85 BC
Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 BC) defeats the armies of Mithridates VI Eupater at Orchomenus.
Peace of Dardanus. 84 BC
End of First Mithridatic War between Rome and Mithridates VI, of Pontus.
Second Mithridatic War. 83-81 BC
Fought between Rome and Pontus.
The Romans successfully invade Pontus.
Quintus Sertorius (123-72 BC), the opponent of Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 BC),
goes into Spain and is made general of the Lusitani. 83-72 BC
Tigranes II, King of Armenia, is invited by the Syrians to assume the
crown of Syria. Rules 83-69 BC. 83 BC
Battle of the Colline Gate. 82 BC
Sulla returns to Rome, destroys the Marians and all of their allies.
Sulla makes himself dictator of Rome (until 79 BC).
Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 BC) sends Pompey the Great to Sicily against the
supporters of Gaius Marius. 82 BC
Conquest of the provinces of Sicily and north Africa by Pompey the Great.
He receives a triumph and the honorary title Magnus (“the Great”). 82 BC
Sulla is made dictator in Rome for life (rules 82-79 BC). 82 BC
Publication of proscription lists.
90 Senators and 2,600 equestrians are killed.
Pompey the Great moves on to the Roman province of Africa against the
supporters of Gaius Marius. 81 BC
Reign of Ptolemy XII of Egypt. 80-51 BC
Arsaces XV (Orodes I). Ruler of the Parthian Empire. 80-75 BC
Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 BC).
Voluntarily gives up his dictatorship and retires. 79 BC
The death of Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 BC). 78 BC
Revolt of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, an opponent of the reforms that were made by
Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 BC). 78-77 BC
Roman generals Quintus Lutatius Catullus and Gnaeus Pompeius (Pompey) smash
the revolt of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, the opponent of Sulla and his reforms. 78-77 BC
Pompey the Great is sent to Spain in order to deal with Quintus Sertorius, the leader
of the last supporters of Gaius Marius. 77 BC
Pompey fights in Spain against the remaining Marians that are under Quintus Sertorius. Subjugation and reorganization of Spain. 77-71 BC
Cyrene (Cyrenaica) in north Africa becomes a Roman Province. 74 BC
Outbreak of the Third Mithridatic War (74-64 BC). 74 BC
War is provoked by the seizure of Cappadocia and Syria by Mithridates VI Eupater of Pontus.
Mithridates VI Eupater of Pontus renews the war against Rome.
Battle of Cyzicus. 73 BC
Roman general Lucius Licinius Lucullus, with a Roman army, defeats Mithridates VI Eupater of Pontus.
General Lucullus takes Pontus for Rome.
Mithridates VI Eupater of Pontus flees to the court of Tigranes II, King of Armenia, his son in law.
Third Servile War aka Third Slave War (73-71 BC). 73 BC Spartacus, a gladiator from Thessaly, leads a revolt of 70,000 slaves in Southern Italy.
Several Roman armies under the generals Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus
Pompey the Great take two years to put down the slave revolt under Spartacus. 73-71 BC
The Helvetii, a barbarian Germanic tribe, cross the Upper Rhine River under their
leader Ariovistus and advance into Gaul. 72 BC
Gnaeus Pompey crushes the revolt in Spain. 71 BC
Battle of Lucania. 71 BC
Gnaeus Pompey and Marcus Licinius Crassus crush the revolt of the slaves and gladiators under Spartacus.
Pompey crucifies 6,000 slaves along the Appian Way.
End of the Third Servile War (73-71 BC).
Roman generals Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompeius (Pompey) use their
troops to make themselves consuls. 70 BC
Consulate of Pompey and Marcus Licinius Crassus. 70 BC
Sullan (Sulla) laws are abolished.
Invasion of Armenia by Roman general Lucius Licinius Lucullus. 69 BC
Battle of Tigrancerta. 69 BC
Roman army under general Lucius Licinius Lucullus besieges Tigrancerta, the fortified capital of Armenia where Mithridates VI of Pontus has taken refuge with Tigranes, King of Armenia.
10,000 Roman besiegers defeat 100,000 Pontic and Armenian troops.
Dynastic war in Palestine. 69 BC
Hyrcanus II is deposed. Rise of the house of Antipater.
Romans capture bases of Mediterranean pirates on Crete. 68-67 BC
Lucius Licinius Lucullus is recalled by the Roman Senate from the war against
Mithridates VI Eupater, of Pontus. 68 BC
Pompey completes the elimination of the Mediterranean pirates. 67 BC
Pompey ends the campaign against the pirates in the Mediterranean Sea.
Creta (Crete) becomes a Roman Province. 67 BC
Cyrenae is incorporated into the Province of “Creta et Cyrenae”.
Pompey is given the command against Mithridates VI, of Pontus. 67 BC
Pompey defeats Mithridates VI, of Pontus, at the Euphrates River. 67 BC
Gnaeus Pompey.
With a Roman army, invades Syria and conquers Palestine. 67 BC
Subjugation of Pontus by Pompey the Great. 67 BC
Hyrcanus II rules Judaea. 67 BC
Totally defeated by Pompey the Great, Mithridates VI Eupater, of Pontus, will finally
kill himself (63 BC). 65 BC
Pompey the Great annexes Syria to the Roman Republic. 64 BC
End of the Seleucid Empire (321-64 BC). 64 BC
The Seleucid Empire was founded in 321 BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of the generals of Alexander the Great.
Reorganization of the East under Gnaeus Pompey.
Termination of the Seleucid Empire by Pompey the Great.
Pontus, Syria, and Cilicia are reduced to Roman Provinces.
Death of Aristobulus II, King of Judaea.
Pompey the Great annexes Judaea to Rome. 64 BC
End of the Third Mithridatic War (74-64 BC) that was fought between Mithridates VI King of Pontus and the Roman Republic. 64 BC
“The Conspiracy of Catiline.” 64-62 BC
Pompey the Great captures the city of Jerusalem. 63 BC
Pompey incorporates Palestine into the Roman Republic. 63 BC
Conquest of Jerusalem by Pompey. Imposition of tribute duties.
Judaea is dependent upon the Romans.
Reduces Hyrcanus II to religious but not political rule.
Cicero, the great Roman orator, exposes Catiline’s plot to seize consulship by force. 63 BC
Cataline along with 3,000 of his supporters are defeated and killed at Pistoria. 62 BC
Pons Fabricius. 62 BC
The Romans build a masonry bridge over the River Tiber.
The founding of Florence, Italy. 62 BC
Pompey the Great returns to Italy. 62 BC
He disbands his army upon landing.
Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44 BC), nephew of Marius, and governor
of Spain, wins his first victories in Spain. 61 BC
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) leaves Spain and returns to Rome. 60 BC
Formation of the First Triumvirate (60-53 BC). 60 BC
Formed by Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus.
Rule will last from 60 BC until 53 BC.
Lucretius.
“De Rerum Natura.” 60 BC
Epicurean doctrine of man and the universe. Epicureanism.
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) is elected Consul. 59 BC
Birth of Titus Livius (Livy) (59 BC-17 AD). Roman historian. 59 BC
Wrote a monumental history of Rome. 142 volumes.
Gallic Wars. 58-51 BC
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC), commander of the Roman armies in Gaul, begins the
conquest of Gaul. He will command eight campaigns in Gaul.
Battle of Bibracte. 58 BC
(Part of the Gallic Wars).
Julius Caesar crushes the Celtic Helvetii at the Battle of Bibracte (Autun).
The Helvetic surrender to Julius Caesar.
Battle of Vesontio (also known as the Battle of Mühlhausen). 58 BC
(Part of the Gallic Wars).
Julius Caesar’s six Roman legions defeat a Gallic force of seven tribes, commanded by the Germanic chief Ariovistus.
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC).
Appointed proconsul (governor) of Gaul and Illyricum. 58 BC
The island of Cyprus comes under Roman rule. 58 BC
The Xiongnu (Huns) revert back to nomadism. 58-51 BC
Battle of Sambre River. 57 BC
(Part of the Gallic Wars).
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) conquers a coalition of Belgic tribes (Belgae), especially the Nervii.
Battle of Morbihan Gulf. 56 BC
(Part of the Gallic Wars).
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) moves into Brittany to put down a rebellion of the Venetii.
Campaigns against the tribes of Brittany and is victorious over the Aquitanians.
Battle of Coblenz. 55 BC
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) defeats two Germanic tribes of the Tencteri and the Usipetes.
Caesar makes first crossing of the Rhine River.
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC). First invasion of Britain. August 26, 55 BC
Caesar invades Britain with eighty transports and two Roman legions.
Lands at Albion, between Deal and Walmer. Caesar defeats the Britons.
High tides destroy many Roman ships. Caesar returns back to Gaul.
Pompey the Great and Marcus Licinius Crassus become Roman consuls.
Marcus Licinius Crassus rules Syria. 55 BC
Pompey the Great rules Spain.
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC). Second invasion of Britain. 54 BC
Leads five Roman legions and some cavalry in 500 ships. Lands northeast of Dover.
Battle of Verulamium. 54 BC
(Part of Caesar’s Invasion of Britain).
Crushes the army of Britain that is under Cassivellaunus, the Briton chief.
Cassivellaunus, a British tribal leader, agrees to pay tribute to Rome. 54 BC
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC).
Roman invasion and conquest of Britain by Julius Caesar. 54 BC
Britain will not be truly subdued until the time of Emperor Claudius.
Once again Caesar leaves Britain and returns to Gaul.
Marcus Licinius Crassus pillages the Temple of Jerusalem. 54 BC
Battle of Tongres. 54 BC (Part of Gallic Wars).
Uprising in Gaul of the Eburones under Ambiorix and of the Nervii and Treviri.
Ambiorix is driven off by a relief force led by Julius Caesar.
Revolt of the Gauls under Vercingetorix, conquest of the Cenabaum, Avaricum and
Lutetia Parisiorum. 53-52 BC
Battle of Carrhae (Harran) in Northern Syria. 53 BC
(Part of the Wars of the First Triumvirate).
Marcus Licinius Crassus leads an unprovoked attack on Parthia.
His 6,000 man army is ambushed near Carrhae and devastated by Parthian archers.
5,500 Romans are killed and 500 are taken as slaves.
Crassus is tricked into his death by execution by the Parthians.
His army is routed into Mesopotamia.
First Parthian War with Rome. 53 BC
Caused by the invasion of Crassus.
End of the First Triumvirate (60-53 BC). 53 BC
Battle of Avaricum. 52 BC
(Part of Gallic Wars).
Julius Caesar, at the head of the Roman legions, storms into Avaricum (Bourges).
Battle of Gergovia. 52 BC
(Part of the Gallic Wars).
Caesar gives up the siege of Gergovia (Clermont).
Battle of Agendicum (Sens). 52 BC
(Part of Gallic Wars).
Titus Labienus with four Roman legions defeats the Gauls under Camulogenus.
Battle of Alesia. 52 BC
(Part of the Gallic Wars).
Siege and surrender of the Gallic fortress of Alesia in Gaul (France).
Gauls led by the Gallic chief Vercingetorix are crushed by the armies of Julius Caesar. Vercingetorix is taken to Rome in chains and beheaded.
The Parthians overrun Syria and threaten Antioch. 52-51 BC
Anarchy in Rome. 52 BC
Pompey sides with the Roman Senate and is elected sole Consul in Rome without colleagues (“sine collega”) in an attempt to restore order.
The Roman Senate rejects Caesar’s proposition that the armies be discharged simultaneously, but demands the dissolution of Caesar’s army and his resignation from his position.
Cleopatra VII and her brother Ptolemy VIII become joint rulers of Ptolemaic Egypt. 51 BC
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC).
Completion of the subjugation of Gallia or Gaul (modern France). 51 BC
Julius Caesar. 51 BC
“De Bello Gallico.”
Completes his account of the Gallic War.
The Roman Senate issues an “ultimate decision”. Jan. 7, 49 BC
Pompey is charged with defending the Roman Republic against Caesar.
The Senate orders Julius Caesar to give up his command in Gaul.
Julius Caesar leads his armies from Gaul against Pompey. 49 BC
Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon River into Italy. Jan. 10-11, 49 BC
(Part of the Wars of the First Triumvirate).
Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon River with 7,000 men into Italy to fight Pompey (“alea jacta est”), a gesture of defiance, starting the civil war. Pompey himself and part of the Roman Senate flee to Greece.
Second Civil War in Rome. 49-45 BC
Julius Caesar vs. Pompey and the senatorial party (the Roman Senate).
Battle of Ilerda. 49 BC
(Part of the Wars of the First Triumvirate).
Julius Caesar marches into Spain, Pompey’s province, with an army of 40,000 men.
Caesar conquers Spain (victory at Ilerda along the Segre River).
Julius Caesar forces Pompey’s troops to surrender.
Caesar crosses to Epirus.
Battle of Utica. 49 BC
(Part of the Wars of the First Triumvirate).
G. Scribonius Curio lands at Utica in North Africa, with two Roman legions. Defeats the Pompeian forces in what is now called Tunisia.
Battle of Bagradas River. 49 BC
(Part of the Wars of the First Triumvirate).
The adherents of Pompey in North Africa defeat the forces of G. Scribonius Curio.
Battle of Illyria. 49 BC
Supporters of Pompey defeat the supporters of Julius Caesar.
Battle of Dyrrachium (Durrës, in modern Albania). 48 BC Julius Caesar vs Gnaeus Pompey.
Battle of Pharsalus (also Pharsalia). August 9, 48 BC
(Part of the Wars of the First Triumvirate).
Julius Caesar’s 22,000 man army defeats Pompey’s 45,000 man army in
the decisive Battle of Pharsalus in Thessaly (Greece).
20,000 of Pompey’s troops surrender. Pompey flees for his life into Egypt.
Julius Caesar pursues Pompey into Egypt.
Pompey will be murdered in Egypt.
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) meets Cleopatra VII in Egypt. 48 BC
Battle of Alexandria. 48-47 BC
(Part of the Wars of the First Triumvirate).
Julius Caesar is encircled at Alexandria, Egypt.
Burning of the Library of Alexandria.
Caesar is victorious at the Nile.
Cleopatra VII, daughter of Ptolemy XI of Egypt, with the aid of Julius Caesar, is made Queen of Egypt (rules 47-30 BC).
Cleopatra reigns jointly with Ptolemy XIII, her brother. 47 BC
Cleopatra of Egypt becomes mistress of Julius Caesar. 47 BC
Julius Caesar leaves Egypt for Syria. 47 BC
Battle of Zela. August 2, 47 BC
Julius Caesar defeats Pharnaces II, of Pontus, at Zela in Asia Minor.
Sends the message “Veni, vidi, vici” to the Roman Senate.
Julius Caesar sails to Tarentum and Italy and then goes back to Africa again. 47 BC
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC).
“De Bello Civili.” c. 47 BC
Antipater is appointed Roman procurator of Judaea by Julius Caesar.
His son Herod is made Roman governor of Galilee. 47 BC
Battle of Ruspina. Jan. 46 BC
(Part of the Wars of the First Triumvirate).
Julius Caesar defeats Sextus, one of Pompey’s sons in north Africa.
Africa is made a Roman province.
Julius Caesar returns back to Rome with Cleopatra of Egypt. 46 BC
Julius Caesar conquers Rome and Italy. 46 BC
Battle of Thapsus. April 46 BC
(Part of the Wars of the First Triumvirate).
Caesar’s victory at Thapsus over Metellus Pius Scipio, his former lieutenant Titus Labienus, Juba I of Numidia, and Sextus Pompey.
All four are supporters of the late Pompey.
Suicide of Marcus Porcius Cato the Younger at Utica upon learning of Caesar’s
victories at Thapsus. 46 BC
Romans celebrate the triumphs of Julius Caesar in Rome. 46 BC
Julius Caesar lives with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, in Rome. 46-44 BC
Julius Caesar is made sole Consul of Rome for a period of ten years but he refuses
to accept the crown. 46 BC
Julius Caesar.
Rules Rome, which now includes Gaul, Italy, part of Illyria, Macedonia, Greece, Asia
Minor, Egypt, and part of North Africa. 46-44 BC
Rome adopts the Julian Calendar of 365.25 days.
Introduction of leap year. 46 BC
War against Caesar continues in Spain. 45 BC
Battle of Munda. March 45 BC
(Part of the Wars of the First Triumvirate).
Victory of Julius Caesar over the two sons of Pompey at the Battle of Munda in Spain.
Gnaeus Pompey, son of the late Pompey, is killed.
Sextus Pompey, another of Pompey’s sons, escapes to northern Spain.
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) emerges victorious after his military campaigns (49-45 BC)
in the provinces against Pompey’s army. 45 BC
Julius Caesar returns to Rome. 45 BC
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) is made perpetual dictator of Rome for life (“dictator perpetuus”). 45 BC
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) adopts his grand nephew Gaius Octavius (Octavian). 45 BC
Marcus Antonius (Marc Antony) offers Julius Caesar the royal diadem. Feb. 15, 44 BC
Caesar refuses to accept it.
Julius Caesar plans an expedition against the Parthians. 44 BC
Cleopatra VII of Egypt kills her brother Ptolemy XIII by poison. 44 BC
Her son Ptolemy XIV rules Egypt with his mother Cleopatra as co-ruler.
Death of Julius Caesar. March 15, 44 BC
Julius Caesar is stabbed to death, after a senatorial conspiracy, in the Roman Senate by a group led by Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus. It is the “Ides of March.”
The Romans turn on the murderers of Julius Caesar. 44 BC
His assassins flee from Rome.
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC), in his will, had made his grand nephew Gaius Octavius (Octavian) his heir and his successor. 44 BC
Battle of Mutina (modern Modena). April 43 BC
(Part of the Wars of the Second Triumvirate).
Formation of the Second Triumvirate by Gaius Octavius. Nov. 11, 43 BC The Second Triumvirate of Marcus Antonius, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and Gaius Octavian, Caesar’s grand nephew, rules Rome.
Second Triumvirate lasts from 43-31 BC.
Gaius Octavius rules the Provinces of Sicilia and Africa. 43 BC
Mark Antony rules Cisalpine Gaul.
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus rules Gallia Narbonensis and Spain.
Reign of terror in Rome through proscriptions. 43 BC
130 Senators and 2,000 equestrians are killed.
Cicero, Rome’s greatest orator, is prosecuted and killed by order of Marc Antony.
Birth of P. Ovidius Naso (Ovid) (43 BC-17 AD). 43 BC
Roman Senate founds the city of Lugdunum. 43 BC
This is present day Lyon, France.
A monument to Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) is erected in the Roman Forum, where he had been murdered in 44 BC. 42 BC
Battle of Philippi. Oct.-Nov. 42 BC
(Part of the Wars of the Second Triumvirate).
Gaius Octavius and Marc Antony defeat G. Cassius Longinus and 20 days later, they defeat Marcus Junius Brutus at Philippi in Macedonia.
Both Cassius and Brutus commit suicide.
Marcus Antonius (Marc Antony) settles in Egypt. 41 BC
Battle of Perusia. 41-40 BC
(Part of the Wars of the Second Triumvirate).
While Marc Antony is in Egypt, Octavian loyalists under Vipsanius Agrippa trap a rebel force in Perusia (modern Perugia).
The rebels capitulate.
Agreement of Brundisium (Brindisi). Nov. 40 BC
Signed by Gaius Octavius and Marcus Antonius.
Partition of the Roman Empire.
Marc Antony receives Greece (the East). Gaius Octavian receives the West (Gaul).
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus receives Africa.
Italy is neutralized.
Marc Anthony marries Octavian’s sister Octavia. 40 BC
Parthians invade Syria, take Antioch and Sidon, and plunder Jerusalem. 40 BC
advance as far as the Mediterranean Sea.
The Parthians establish Antigonus. 40 BC
He is the last Hasmonean King of Judaea.
Roman conquest of Spain. 38 BC
Phraates IV. Ruler of the Parthian Empire. 38-32 BC
Return of Marc Antony to Egypt. 38 BC
The “Laocoon.” Marble sculpture. 38 BC
Marcus Antonius executes Antigonus the Hasmonean King of Judaea. End of the Hasmonean Dynasty. 37 BC
Herod the Great, the second son of Antipater, rises to power by the friendship of Marc Antony.
He is appointed King of the Jews (Judaea) by the Roman Senate. 37 BC
Herod (rules 37-4 BC) takes possession of Jerusalem and Judaea. 37 BC
With the tacit approval of the Roman Republic, Herod the Great eliminates
All of the rest of the Hasmoneans. 37 BC
Rome begins its rule of Palestine. 37 BC
Roman rule will end in 476 AD.
Roman ruler Marcus Aemillius Lepidus attempts to recover Sicily from Sextus Pompey,
son of Gnaeus Pompey. 36 BC
Gaius Octavius seizes lands in north Africa that are controlled by his fellow Roman ruler Marcus Aemillius Lepidus. 36 BC
Marcus Antonius, still married to Octavia, bigamously marries
Cleopatra VII in Egypt. They will have 3 sons. 36 BC
Battle of Phraaspa. 36 BC
(Part of the Wars of the Second Triumvirate).
Marcus Antonius invades Parthia.
The Parthians (Phraates IV) defeat Marcus Antonius.
He is compelled to retreat with great losses.
Marcus Antonius returns to Alexandria and settles with Cleopatra VII of Egypt.
Marc Antony neglects his government responsibilities. 36 BC
Battle of Mylae (Mylex). August 11, 36 BC
Fought between the Second Triumvirate under the command of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and the Pompeians under Sextus Pompey led by Papias in the city of Mylae (modern Milazzo, Sicily).
The Pompeians are defeated by M.V. Agrippa.
Sextus Pompey escapes.
Battle of Naulochus. Sept. 3, 36 BC
Fought between the fleets of Sextus Pompey and M.V. Agrippa (admiral of
Octavian) off Naulochus, Sicily. Pompeians are defeated.
Sextus Pompey, son of Gnaeus Pompey (106-48 BC), is captured and executed by the troops of Marc Antony at Miletus in Asia Minor. 35 BC
Quintus Horatius Flaccus (Horace). (85-8 BC).
Roman poet, flourished. ca.35 BC
Marcus Antonius gives Cleopatra’s children Roman Provinces. 34 BC
Marc Anthony subdues Armenia. 34 BC
Dalmatia becomes a Roman Province. 34 BC
Marc Antony, formally divorces Octavia, the sister of Octavian. 32 BC
The Roman Senate strips Marcus Antonius of his authority, leading to civil war. 32 BC
Gaius Octavius declares war on Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII. 32 BC
Civil war between Gaius Octavianus and Marc Antony. 32-30 BC
Ptolemaic War. 32-30 BC
Gaius Octavius eliminates Lepidus. 32 BC
End of the Second Triumvirate (43-31 BC). 31 BC
Battle of Actium. Sept. 2, 31 BC
Julius Caesar’s grand nephew, Gaius Octavian, defeats the combined fleets of Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII at the naval Battle of Actium.
Arrival of Gaius Octavian at Alexandria, Egypt. 31 BC
Seizure of Alexandria by Gaius Octavius. August 2, 30 BC
Suicides of Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII, of Egypt. 30 BC
Following the suicides of Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII, Gaius Octavianus
makes Egypt a Roman province (Aegyptus). 30 BC
Cleopatra VII was the daughter of Ptolemy XI.
End of the rule of the Ptolemies in Egypt.
Beginning of Roman rule in Egypt.
End of the Ptolemaic War (32-30 BC). 30 BC
Gaius Octavianus is made the sole ruler of what is still the Roman Republic. 30 BC
Gaius Octavian bestows increase of territory to Herod (Judaea). 30 BC
The Pantheon, Rome. Begun. c.30 BC
Will be completed in 124 AD.
Titus Livius (Livy). Roman historian.
Begins to write his monumental History of Rome. 29 BC
Gaius Octavius back in Rome closes the Temple of Janus, signifying peace. 29 BC
Herod “the Great” kills his wife, Mariamne. 29 BC
All of Greece becomes a province assigned to the Roman Senate. 27 BC
The Roman conquest of Greece had been completed in 146 BC.
Octavian is given supreme power by the Roman Senate. Jan. 16, 27 BC
The Roman Senate bestows the title of Emperor Augustus (the Venerated, the Illustrious) Caesar on Octavian.
Octavian will rule from 27 BC until 14 AD.
End of the Roman Republic that had been founded in 509 BC.
Marks the beginning of the Roman Empire.
The Roman Empire will last from 27 BC until 476 AD.
Octavian Augustus.
Begins a two year expedition in Spain. 27-25 BC
His objective is to subdue rebellious tribes there (the Cantabri and the Astures).
Vergil (Publius Vergilius Maro) (70-19 BC).
“The Aeneid.” c.27 BC
Marcus Vitruvius. Roman architect and military engineer.
“De Architectura.” c.27 BC
On architecture and machinery.
Herod begins extensive building operations in Judaea. 25 BC
Rebuilds Samaria.
Galatia (central Asia Minor), is inherited from King Amyntas.
Becomes a Roman Province. 25 BC
C. Aelius Gallus, Roman prefect of Egypt.
Conducts an unsuccessful expedition to Arabia. 25 BC
Octavianus Augustus resigns the consulship. 23 BC
Adopts the unofficial title of Princeps-chief of the Republic.
Petronius, the successor of C. Aelius Gallus in Egypt, wages successful
war against the Ethiopians. 22-21 BC
Campaign of Augustus against the Parthians. 20 BC
Tigranes is reinstated in the kingdom of Armenia. 20 BC
Rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem by Herod, King of Judaea. 20-19 BC
Phraates IV of Parthia.
Restores the standards that had been taken from Crassus. 20 BC
Completion of the subjugation of the tribes of Spain by Rome. 19 BC
Claudius Drusus Germanicus (39-9 BC) is in the East. ca.19-17 BC
Phraates IV of Parthia sends his sons as hostages to Rome. 18 BC
Germanic tribes defeat Roman army under Marcus Lollius. c.16 BC
As a result, Emperor Augustus and his general Tiberius Claudius Nero, carry out punitive campaigns in Gaul and Germany respectively.
Moesia is made a Roman province. 16 BC
Gaius Octavianus Augustus (63 BC-14 AD) is in Gaul.
Reorganization of the provinces: Aquitania, Lugdunensis, Belgica. 16-13 BC
Advance of Tiberius and Claudius Drusus, the Emperor Octavian’s stepsons, to the upper Danube. The Provinces of Raetia and Noricum are established.
The Roman Empire now extends to the Upper Danube River. 15 BC
Pax Romana.
Roman Empire begins 200 years of peace which will end in 192 AD. 14 BC
Revolt in Pannonia (what will later be northern Yugoslavia). 13 BC
Subjugation of the Pannonians by Tiberius Claudius Nero Caesar (Augustus’s stepson)
and Agrippa. 13-9 BC
The Germanic Wars of Claudius Drusus (four campaigns in Germania).
Subjugation of the Batavians, Frisians, and Chauci. 12-9 BC
After struggles with the Quadi and Marcomanni, Claudius Drusus leads Roman troops to the Elbe River.
Organization of the left bank of the Rhine River into Germania superior and Germania inferior. 12-9 BC
Battle of the Lippe River. 11 BC
Claudius Drusus defeats a huge force of several Germanic tribes.
Countries subject to Roman dominion. 10 BC
In Europe: Italy, Spain, Britain, Gaul, Rhaetia, Vindelicia (now Augsburg), Noricum, Pannonia, Illyria, Greece, Macedonia, Thrace, Maesia, Dacia.
In Asia: Asia Minor, Syria, Phonecia, Palestine, the northern and eastern coasts of the Black Sea, Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Assyria.
In Africa: Egypt, and the whole of the northern coast of Africa.
Its distant territories are Scandia, Sarmatia, India, Aethiopia, and Galatia.
The city of Rome itself is the center of the Roman Empire.
Claudius Drusus Germanicus is killed in a fall from his horse. 9 BC
First command of Tiberius (42 BC-37 AD) in Germania.
Tiberius advances to the Elbe River. 8-6 BC
Death of Virgil and Horace. 8 BC
Death of Herod of Judaea.
The Kingdom of Judea is partitioned among his three sons. 4 BC
Herod Archaelaus is ethnarch of Samaria and Judaea.
Herod Antipas is tetrarch of Galilee.
Philip is tetrarch of Ituraea.
Annexation of Judea by Rome. 4 BC