The 2nd century BC
790 sourced entries across 100 documented years, grouped into 10 decades. A century here runs 1900–1999 rather than 1901–2000, so its decades sit inside it exactly; on the BC side the same rule puts 1–99 BC in the 1st century BC and 100 BC in the 2nd.
Decades
- The 190s BC — 10 years, 101 entries
- The 180s BC — 10 years, 77 entries
- The 170s BC — 10 years, 66 entries
- The 160s BC — 10 years, 93 entries
- The 150s BC — 10 years, 60 entries
- The 140s BC — 10 years, 57 entries
- The 130s BC — 10 years, 82 entries
- The 120s BC — 10 years, 89 entries
- The 110s BC — 10 years, 74 entries
- The 100s BC — 10 years, 91 entries
By subject
- Conflict & Security in the 2nd century BC — 272 entries
- Geopolitics & Diplomacy in the 2nd century BC — 69 entries
- Crime & Justice in the 2nd century BC — 34 entries
- Religion & Belief in the 2nd century BC — 33 entries
- Culture & Society in the 2nd century BC — 33 entries
- Exploration & Expansion in the 2nd century BC — 22 entries
- Technology & Infrastructure in the 2nd century BC — 11 entries
- Science & Discovery in the 2nd century BC — 10 entries
A few of the years
- 199 BCEThe Roman general Gnaeus Baebius Tamphilus attacks the Insubres in Gaul, but loses over 6,700 soldiers in the process.
- 187 BCETiberius Sempronius Gracchus is elected tribune of the plebs, in which capacity he is recorded as having saved Scipio Africanus from prosecution by interposing his veto. Tiberius is no friend nor political ally of Scipio's, but feels that the general's services to Rome merit his release from the threat of trial like any common criminal. Supposedly, in gratitude for this action, Scipio betrothes his youngest daughter, Cornelia, to him.
- 175 BCEDuring this period of uncertainty in Syria, the Egyptian ruler, Ptolemy VI, lays claim to Coele Syria, Palestine, and Phoenicia, which the Seleucid king Antiochus III has previously conquered. Both the Syrian and Egyptian parties appeal to Rome for help, but the Roman Senate refuses to take sides.
- 163 BCEThe Ptolemaic king Ptolemy VI Philometor is restored to his throne through the intervention of the citizens of Alexandria. However, the Romans intervene and partition the kingdom, giving Ptolemy VIII Euergetes Cyrenaica and Ptolemy VI Cyprus and Egypt. The two brothers accept the Roman partition.
- 151 BCEAgnimitra succeeds his father Pushyamitra Shunga as emperor of the Shunga dynasty.
- 139 BCEWei Zifu enters Emperor Wu's palace as a concubine and becomes pregnant. Enraged, Liu Piao, the mother of the childless Empress Chen Jiao (wife of Emperor Wu), kidnaps Zifu's brother Wei Qing, who is rescued by Gongsun Ao. Wu responds by advancing the careers of members of the Wei family.
- 127 BCEJanuary: Emperor Wu of Han begins a policy of pressuring the client kings of the Han dynasty into dividing their kingdoms. Previously, only the eldest son would inherit a kingdom. However, in an edict, Wu permits the kings of Liang and Chengyang to divide the land of their states and distribute the land to their younger brothers. Wu grants these brothers titles and promises to do the same if other kings grant land to younger brothers and younger sons. This precedent pressures other kings to do likewise, and Wu places the younger brothers and younger sons under the jurisdiction of the imperial prefectures.
- 115 BCEMarcus Aemilius Scaurus defeats the Carni Celtic tribes of Northern Italy, leading to their submission to Roman rule.