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The 140s BC

55 sourced entries across 10 years, inside the 2nd century BC. Each year below opens its own page; the lines under it are that year’s highest-ranked entries.

149 BCE8 entries

  • The turmoil in Spain escalates again with the renewal of the Lusitanian War, under the leadership of Viriathus, and the Celtiberian War.
  • Andriscus, the last king of Macedon, ascends to the throne.
  • The Third Punic War begins. The Romans land an army in Africa to begin the Battle of Carthage.

148 BCE8 entries

  • Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus divides Numidia among the three sons of the recently deceased Masinissa.
  • Demetrius II Nicator, claimant to the Seleucid throne had challenged Alexander Balas, in view of the threat of such an invasion Ptolemy VI Philometor entered Coele-Syria, passing through the cities of Ashdod and Jaffa, to Ptolemais.
  • With the defeat of Andriscus in the Battle of Pydna by Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus, Macedon is reorganized as a Roman province by 146 BC.

147 BCE5 entries

  • Demetrius II of Syria returns to Syria (approximate date).
  • Jonathan Maccabaeus conquers Joppa.
  • In Lusitania, Hispania, the Celtic king Viriathus, rallies Lusitanian resistance to Rome.

146 BCE6 entries

  • Spring – Carthage falls to Roman forces under Scipio Aemilianus and the city is completely destroyed. End of the Third Punic War.
  • Achaean War: The Romans conquer the Achaean League and southern Greece becomes a Roman province.
  • Hipparchus determines the equinoctial point.

145 BCE6 entries

  • Ptolemy VII becomes king of Egypt briefly, then is assassinated by Ptolemy VIII the following year.
  • Hipparchus determines the length of the tropical year.
  • In the Battle of Antioch, Ptolemy VI Philometor defeats the Seleucid usurper Alexander Balas, but dies in the battle.

144 BCE2 entries

  • Quintus Marcius Rex starts construction of the Aqua Marcia aqueduct in Rome.

143 BCE4 entries

  • The Celtiberian War ends when Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus crushes the rebels.

142 BCE3 entries

  • Simon Maccabaeus succeeds his brother Jonathan as High Priest of Judea until 135 BC.
  • Diodotus Tryphon seizes the throne of the Seleucid Empire.

141 BCE7 entries

  • March 9 – Emperor Wu of Han ("Martial Emperor") starts to rule the Han dynasty.
  • The Seleucid garrison negotiates the surrender of Jerusalem. Simon Maccabaeus assumes control of the city. He becomes prince (ruler) of Judea until 135 BC.
  • Demetrius II of Syria made prisoner of Mithridates, king of the Parthians. Antiochus VII Sidetes becomes king of the Seleucid Empire in his absence.

140 BCE6 entries

  • Simon Maccabaeus crowned king of Judea.
  • Scipio Aemilianus leads a group of Roman ambassadors to Alexandria, where they meet with King Ptolemy VIII.