text: King Helü of Wu, king of the Chinese State of Wu


year_label: 497 BCE

section: Conflict & Security

text: Artybius ends the rebellion in Cyprus.

source_section: Events › By place › Greece


section: Exploration & Expansion

text: The Persians launch an expedition on the Hellespont and later Caria.


date: December 17

section: Culture & Society

text: December 17 – Consecration of the newly constructed Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum, and Saturnalia festival first celebrated.

source_section: Events › By place › Rome


year_label: 498 BCE

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Alexander I succeeds his father Amyntas I as king of Macedonia.


text: Retreating to the coast, the Greek forces are met by the Persians under Artaphernes and defeated in the Battle of Ephesus.


text: Athens and Eretria respond to the Ionian plea for help against Persia and send troops. An Athenian and Eretrian fleet transports Athenian troops to Ephesus. There they are joined by a force of Ionians and march upon Sardis, the capital of Artaphernes (the satrap of Lydia and brother to Darius I of Persia). Artaphernes, who has sent most of his troops to besiege Miletus, is taken by surprise. However, Artaphernes is able to retreat to the citadel and hold it. Although the Greeks are unable to take the citadel, they pillage the town and set fires that burn Sardis to the ground.


text: Kaunos and Caria, followed by Byzantium and towns in the Hellespont also revolt against the Persians. Cyprus also joins the rebellion, as Onesilus removes his pro-Persian brother, Gorgos, from the throne of Salamis.


text: After the assassination of Cleander, tyrant of Gela, power is transferred to his brother, Hippocrates, who subdues the Sicels and conquers the Chalcidian cities of Callipoli, Leontini, Naxos and Zancle (now known as Messina). He also captures the Syracusan city of Camarina, but is prevented from capturing Syracuse itself when Corinth and Corcyra interferes in the war.

source_section: Events › By place › Sicily


text: The Greek poet Pindar composes his earliest surviving epinikion (Pythian ode 10).

source_section: Events › By topic › Literature


section: Deaths

text: Amyntas I, king of Macedonia, died c. 498 BC (b. c. 540 BC)

source_section: Deaths


text: Cleander, tyrant of Gela, assassinated c. 498 BC


year_label: 499 BCE

text: Miltiades the Younger, the ruler of the Thracian Chersonese, which has been under Persian suzerainty since approximately 514 BC, joins the Ionian revolt. He seizes the islands of Lemnos and Imbros from the Persians.


text: After a failed attack on the rebellious island of Naxos in c. 501 BC (on behalf of the Persians), Aristagoras, tyrant of Miletus, to save himself from the wrath of Persia, plans a revolt with the Milesians and the other Ionians. With the encouragement of Histiaeus (his father-in-law and former tyrant of Miletus), Aristagoras induces the Ionian cities of Asia Minor to revolt against Persia, thus instigating the Ionian Revolt and beginning the Greco-Persian Wars between Greece and Persia. The pro-Persian tyrant of Mytilene is stoned to death.


text: Aristagoras seeks help with the revolt against the Persians from Cleomenes I, king of Sparta, but the Spartans are unwilling to respond.


year_label: 500 BCE

text: States in existence include the Kingdom of Pratipalapura (centred on modern Bhattiprolu, in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh).

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Early Pandyan Kingdom was ruled by the Pandyas during the second Sangam period.


text: The first republic in Vaishali, Bihar, India, is founded.


text: Darius I of Persia proclaims that Aramaic will be the official language of the western half of his empire.

source_section: Events › By place › Middle East


text: Yayoi period starts in Ancient Japan (approximate date).


text: Hanno the Navigator's naval exploration of the western coast of Africa could have reached as far south as Gabon.

source_section: Events › By place › Africa


text: Bantu-speaking people migrate into south-west Uganda from Central Africa. (approximate date)


text: Refugees from Teos resettle Abdera.

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: The Hutu tribe emerges around this time, in Middle and Southern Africa. (approximate date)


section: Religion & Belief

text: The Olmec established Monte Albán, the sacred city, and continued building pyramids. Founded toward the end of the Middle Formative period at around 500 BCE, by the Terminal Formative (ca.100 BCE–CE 200) Monte Albán soon became the capital of a large-scale expansionist polity that dominated much of the Oaxacan highlands and interacts with other Mesoamerican regional states, such as Teotihuacan to the north (Paddock 1983; Marcus 1983).

source_section: Events › By place › Mesoamerica


section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: The Nordic Bronze Age civilization ends and the Pre-Roman Iron Age begins in Scandinavia, according to the Oscar Montelius periodization system (approximate date).


section: Science & Discovery

text: Mesoamerican calendars are developed by the Olmec civilisation

source_section: Events › By topic › Inventions, discoveries, introductions


text: According to the records of Shankara Mutts, a proponent of the Advaita Vedanta Sri Adi Shankaracharya was born in this century


text: The oldest known Zapotec writing appears (approximate date).


section: Health & Medicine

text: The world population reaches 100,000,000—85,000,000 in the Eastern Hemisphere and 15,000,000 in the Western Hemisphere, primarily Mesoamerica and northern South America (Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela).

source_section: Events › By topic › Demographics


section: Crime & Justice

text: The She-wolf, with late 15th century or early 16th century additions (twins), is made. It is now kept at the Museo Capitolino in Rome (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Arts and culture


text: Vulca makes Apollo of Veii, from Portonaccio Temple, now kept at Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia, Rome.


section: Births

text: Anaxagoras, Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher (approximate date) (d. 428 BCE)

source_section: Births


year_label: 6 BCE

text: Tiberius retires to Rhodes, to the inconvenience of Emperor Augustus. He is recalled to Rome years later in AD 4, becoming Augustus' adopted son and heir following the deaths of Lucius and Gaius Caesar.

source_title: 0s BC

source_section: Events › 6 BC › Roman Empire


text: Lady Ban (or Ban Jieyu), Chinese concubine and poet (b. 48 BC)

source_section: Deaths › 6 BC


text: Soseono, Korean queen of Goguryeo (b. 67 BC)


text: Liu Xiang, Chinese scholar, editor of Shan Hai Jing and compiler of Lienü zhuan, father of Liu Xin (b. 77 BC)


text: Feng Yuan (or Zhaoyi), Chinese concubine of the Han Dynasty


year_label: 51 BCE

text: Consuls: Marcus Claudius Marcellus and Servius Sulpicius Rufus.

source_title: 51 BC

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Republic


text: The Xiongnu split into two hordes. The Eastern horde is subject to China.


text: Pompey demands that Julius Caesar lay down his command before he can stand for consul.


text: Cheng, Chinese emperor of the Han dynasty (d. 7 BC)


text: Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, Roman aristocrat (d. 21 AD)


text: Julia Minor, sister of Julius Caesar (b. 100 BC)


text: Ptolemy XII (Auletes), king (pharaoh) of the Ptolemaic Kingdom


text: Marcus Atius Balbus, Roman praetor and governor (b. 105 BC)


text: Posidonius, Greek philosopher, astronomer and geographer


text: Ariobarzanes II (Philopator), king of Cappadocia


text: by March 22 – Pharaoh Ptolemy XII Auletes dies and is succeeded by his eldest surviving daughter Cleopatra VII and her younger brother Ptolemy XIII as co-rulers of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. By August 29, official documents start listing Cleopatra as sole ruler.

source_section: Events › By place › Egypt


year_label: 501 BCE

text: Confucius is appointed governor of Chung-tu.


text: Cleisthenes reforms the democracy in Athens.

source_section: Events › By place › Mediterranean


text: Gadir (present-day Cádiz) is captured by Carthage. (approximate date)


text: In response to threats by the Sabines, Rome creates the office of dictator.


text: Duke Ai of Qin, ruler of the State of Qin from 537 to 501 BC


year_label: 502 BCE

text: Rome suppresses the Pometian revolt.


text: The island of Naxos rebels against the Persian Empire.


date: December 4

text: December 4—A solar eclipse darkens Egypt (computed, no clear historical record of observation).


text: Milo of Croton, ancient Greek wrestler


year_label: 503 BCE

text: The Latin towns of Pometia and Cora, with the assistance of the Aurunci, revolt against Rome.


text: Zhuansun Shi, a disciple of Confucius


text: Publius Valerius Publicola (or Poplicola, his agnomen meaning "friend of the people"), one of four Roman aristocrats who led the overthrow of the monarchy.


year_label: 504 BCE

text: A war between Rome and the Sabines ends, having begun in 505 BC.


year_label: 505 BCE

text: A war between Rome and the Sabines begins, concluding in 504 BC.


year_label: 506 BCE

text: Yan Yan, a disciple of Confucius


text: Kōshō, emperor of Japan (d. 393 BC)


text: Shen Yin Shu, general of the State of Chu


year_label: 507 BCE

text: Cleisthenes takes power in the city-state of Athens and institutes reforms that lead historians to consider him the father of democracy.

source_section: Events › By place › Greece


text: Athenians send an embassy to the Achaemenid satrap of Asia Minor - in the capital city of Sardis - for help in defending against Spartan threats, but refuse to accept Persian terms, which demanded the return of Hippias' tyranny.


text: Lu Ban, Chinese inventor and philosopher (d. 440 BC)


text: Sudharmaswami, Indian religious leader (b. 607 BC)


year_label: 508 BCE

text: Athenian democracy in the city of Athens is established under Cleisthenes following the tyranny of Hippias.

source_section: Greece


text: Clusium fights a war with Aricia.

source_section: Italy


text: A war is fought between Rome and Clusium.


text: The office of rex sacrorum is created in Rome to carry out the religious duties formerly held by the kings.


year_label: 509 BCE

text: The Roman monarchy is overthrown, and the Republican period begins (traditional date).


text: The first pair of Roman consuls are elected.


text: Carthage signs a treaty with Rome, delineating their respective spheres.


text: Forces of Veii and Tarquinii, led by the deposed king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, are defeated in the Battle of Silva Arsia by the Roman army. Consul Publius Valerius Publicola celebrates the first republican triumph on March 1.


date: September 13

text: September 13—The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Rome's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September.


text: The Tarquinian conspiracy is formed yet discovered, and the conspirators are executed.


text: Lucius Junius Brutus, Roman consul and founder of the Roman Republic (traditional date)

source_section: Deaths


text: Aruns, son of the last Roman king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus


text: Spurius Lucretius Tricipitinus, Roman consul suffectus


text: Titus Junius Brutus and Tiberius Junius Brutus, brothers (and sons of the consul Lucius Junius Brutus) together with their two uncles the Vitellii and three brothers Aquillii, all executed following the discovery of the Tarquinian conspiracy


year_label: 510 BCE

text: Ariston is succeeded as King of Sparta by Demaratus.


text: Hippias, tyrant of Athens, is expelled by his people with the assistance of Cleomenes, King of Sparta


text: Scylax of Caryanda becomes the first mariner to have passed the Indian Ocean.


text: The reign of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, last king of the traditional seven Kings of Rome, concludes. The Kingdom of Rome falls and is replaced by the Roman Republic. (or 509 BC)


text: Stelae begin to be banned in Athenian cemeteries (approximate date; ends c. 430 BC).


text: Cimon, Athenian statesman and strategos (d. 450 BC)


text: Aryandes, Persian satrap of Egypt (executed by the Persian king Darius I)


text: Annei, emperor of Japan (b. 577 BC)


year_label: 52 BCE

date: March

text: March – Siege and capture of Avaricum (Bourges).

source_title: 52 BC


date: April

text: April–May – Siege and repulse from Gergovia.


date: July

text: July – Battle of the Vingeanne: Julius Caesar rebuffs, with his German auxiliaries, a Gallic cavalry attack of Vercingetorix.


date: September

text: September – Battle of Alesia: Julius Caesar defeats the Gallic allies coming to aid Vercingetorix, led by his cousin Vercassivellanus. Vercingetorix surrenders on October 3, signalling the Roman conquest of Gaul. The final pacification of Gaul is completed the following year.


text: Summer – Siege of Alesia: Julius Caesar spreads out his legions around the Oppidum and builds a string of fortifications surrounding the stronghold of Alesia.


text: Winter – Julius Caesar crosses Mons Cevenna (central Gaul) and sends his army through the passes covered with snowdrifts to take the rebellious Arverni by surprise.


text: Consuls: Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus.


text: Milo is tried for the murder of Clodius. Despite Cicero's legal defence (Pro Milone) he is found guilty and exiled in Massilia (modern Marseille).


text: Gnaeus Pompeius marries Cornelia Metella.


text: Juba II, king of Numidia (d. AD 23)


text: Fenestella, Roman historian (approximate date)


date: January 18

text: January 18 – Publius Clodius Pulcher, murdered on the Appian Way by Titus Annius Milo (b. 93 BC)


text: Sedullos, Gaulish chieftain (b.87 BC)


text: Cyrus, Roman architect (builder for Cicero)


text: Surena, Parthian general (b. 84 BC)


year_label: 511 BCE

text: The Greek tragic poet Phrynicus wins his first theatrical contest in Athens.

source_section: Events


text: Emperor Annei of Japan, according to legend.


year_label: 512 BCE

text: Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War, begins serving King Helü of the State of Wu as his general and military strategist (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: The State of Xu is disestablished following attacks by the states of Wu and Chu.


text: Qing, ruler (duke) of the State of Jin


year_label: 513 BCE

text: Western India, which includes the Indus Valley, becomes the Persian satrapy Hindush.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Amyntas I of Macedon submits to Darius and offers women as concubines to a Persian embassy. His son, Alexander I, objects to this and tricks them by substituting the women with clean-shaven men (or 512 BC).

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: European Scythian campaign of Darius I


text: Darius the Great subdues the Getae and east Thrace in his war against the Scythians. To accomplish this, he builds a massive pontoon bridge across the Bosphorus Strait.


year_label: 514 BCE

text: King Helü of Wu ascends to the throne of the state of Wu and orders Wu Zixu to build a new capital at what is now Suzhou.


text: Hipparchus, son of Pisistratus and co-ruler of Athens, is assassinated by Harmodius and Aristogeiton at the Panathenaea.


text: Harmodius, one of the tyrannicides, killed during the attack on Hipparchus


year_label: 515 BCE

date: February 25

text: February 25 – The Second Temple in Jerusalem is completed.

source_section: Events › By topic › Art and architecture


text: Construction of Persepolis begins.


text: Parmenides, Greek religious philosopher (d. 450 BC)


text: Polycrates, son of Aeaces, the tyrant of Samos from c. 538 BC to 522 BC


text: Zhuan Zhu, an assassin in the Spring and Autumn period.


text: King Liao of Wu (Chinese: 吳王僚), king of the state of Wu in the Spring and Autumn period from 526 to 515 BC, assassinated by Zhuan Zhu in 515 BC


text: Euphronios creates the Death of Sarpedon, a red-figure decoration on a calyx krater. It is now in the collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Cerveteri.


text: Pheretima (Cyrenaean Queen), wife of the Greek Cyrenaean King Battus III and the last recorded queen of the Battiad dynasty in Cyrenaica


text: Arcesilaus III of Cyrene, the sixth Greek Cyrenaean King, was assassinated in 515 BC


year_label: 516 BCE

text: Cleomenes I of Sparta receives an embassy from Maeandrius of Samos asking for help to expel the tyrant Syloson, a puppet of the Persian Empire, which is at the time subjugating the city-states of the eastern Aegean Sea.


text: The Persian king Darius I occupies Punjab (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › India


text: King Ping of Chu, King of the state of Chu from 528 to 516 BC


year_label: 518 BCE

text: Construction begins on the Apadana (audience hall) of Darius and Xerxes, ceremonial complex, at Persepolis, Persia.

source_section: Events › By topic › Architecture


text: Darius I begins constructing Persepolis, a new capital for the Persian Empire (approximate date).


text: Pindar, Greek lyric poet (approximate date) (d. 438 BC)

source_section: Births


text: Xerxes I of Persia (or 519 BC)


year_label: 519 BCE

text: Zhou Jing Wang/Ji Gail becomes King of the Zhou Dynasty of China.


text: Herodotus tells that Cleomenes happened to be in the vicinity of Plataia, when the Plataians requested an alliance with Sparta, which he rejected, but instead he advised them to ally with Athens, because he wanted to stir a border conflict between Thebes and Athens, two of the most powerful poleis of central Greece.


text: Xerxes I of Persia, fourth king of Persia (or 518 BC) (d. 465 BC)


text: Cincinnatus, Roman aristocrat and statesman (d. 430 BC)


year_label: 520 BCE

text: Duanmu Ci, student of Confucius


text: King Dao becomes king of the Zhou Dynasty of China but dies before the end of the year.


text: King Dao of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China


text: King Jing of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China from 544 to 520 BC


year_label: 53 BCE

text: Consuls: Marcus Valerius Messalla and Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus.

source_title: 53 BC


date: May 6

text: May 6 – Battle of Carrhae: Romans defeated, and Crassus killed, by Parthians led by General Surena.


text: The Parthian Empire achieved a decisive victory against Rome at the Battle of Carrhae, where General Surena defeated and killed Roman triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus. According to some historical interpretations, the Mahestan (Parthian noble council) supported preparations for the defense of the empire and advised the king during the military mobilization.

source_section: Events › By place › Parthian Empire


text: Vercingetorix, an Arverni chieftain, leads a revolt against Caesar in Central Gaul.


text: Julius Caesar suppresses a revolt led by Ambiorix near Sabis (Northern Gaul).


text: Artavasdes II becomes king of Armenia.

source_section: Events › By place › Armenia


text: Winter – Caesar enrolls non-citizen soldiers in Gallia Transalpina, genesis of Legio V Alaudae. He increases his army to ten legions.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Republic


text: At Cenabum (modern Orléans) Roman merchants are massacred by the Carnutes.


section: Disasters & Accidents

text: Crassus sacks the Temple of Hierapolis and the Temple in Jerusalem on his way to engage the Parthians.


text: Aristobulus III, high priest of Jerusalem (d. 36 BC)


text: Yang Xiong, Chinese politician and philosopher (d. AD 18)


text: May 6 (executed after the Battle of Carrhae)


text: Abgar II, Arab king of Edessa (modern Turkey)


text: Gaius Scribonius Curio, Roman statesman and orator


text: Marcus Licinius Crassus, Roman politician and general


text: Publius Licinius Crassus, son of Marcus Licinius Crassus


year_label: 521 BCE

text: Gao Chai, disciple of Confucius.


text: Fu Buqi, disciple of Confucius.


year_label: 522 BCE

date: December

text: December Darius I succeeds Bardiya as ruler of Persia. He is the son of a government official.

source_section: Events › By place › Persian Empire


text: Bardiya succeeds Cambyses II as ruler of Persia.


text: Babylon rebels against Persian rule.


text: Ran Qiu, leading disciple of Confucius


text: Shang Qu, disciple of Confucius


text: Zai Yu, leading disciple of Confucius


text: Ran Yong, leading disciple of Confucius


text: July – Cambyses II, ruler of ancient Persia


date: September 29

text: 29 September – Bardiya, ruler of ancient Persia


text: Zichan, statesman of the State of Zheng


year_label: 524 BCE

text: Battle of Cumae - An army of Umbrians, Daunians, Etruscans, and others is defeated by the Greeks of Cumae, present-day Italy.

source_section: Events › By place › Southern Italy


text: Themistocles, archon of Athens (approximate date) (d. 459 BC)


year_label: 525 BCE

text: The Twenty-sixth Dynasty ends, and the Twenty-seventh Dynasty begins.

source_section: Events › By place › Egypt


text: Battle of Pelusium - Cambyses II of Persia conquers Egypt by painting cats and other animals sacred to the Egyptians on his soldiers' shields. The Egyptians run in fear of "harming" these animals. It is said that after the battle, Cambyses hurled cats in the faces of the Egyptians in scorn that they would sacrifice their country for the safety of their animals.


text: After conquering Egypt, the Persian king Cambyses II sent ambassadors to Macrobia, bringing luxury gifts for the Macrobian king to entice his submission. The Macrobian king replied instead with a challenge for his Persian counterpart in the form of an unstrung bow: if the Persians could manage to string it, they would have the right to invade his country; but until then, they should thank the gods that the Macrobians never decided to invade their empire.


text: Cambyses takes Psamtik III prisoner and treats him kindly until he tries to raise a revolt, at which point Psamtik is executed.


text: Aeschylus, author of Greek tragedies


text: Psammetichus III, Egyptian pharaoh


text: Anaximenes of Miletus, Greek scientist and philosopher (b. 585 BC)


year_label: 526 BCE

text: Wu Zixu, Chinese politician and general


text: Duke Zhao of Jin, ruler of the State of Jin 531 to 526 BC


year_label: 527 BCE

text: 527 BC—Jain Tirthankara Mahavira attains Moksha, according to the Swetambara Tradition.

source_title: 520s BC


text: 527 BC—Peisistratos a tyrant of Athens dies: his son Hippias inherits his power.


text: 527 BC—Peisistratos, Athenian tyrant


year_label: 528 BCE

text: 528 BC—Gautama Buddha attains Enlightenment, and begins his ministry.


text: 528 BC—Anaximenes of Miletus, Greek philosopher (b. 585 BC)


year_label: 529 BCE

text: 529 BC—The Chinese state of Zhoulai is conquered by Wu.


year_label: 530 BCE

text: Cyrus II is killed in battle against unknown tribes and succeeded by Cambyses II.


text: The Temple of Apollo at Delphi is built (approximate date).


text: The Siphnian Treasury in Delphi is begun (approximate date).


text: Royal Arch Masons use this year for dating their documents Anno Inventionis, after the beginning of the Second Temple by Zerubbabel.

source_section: Events › By topic › Chronology


text: Kroisos Kouros, from a cemetery at Anavysos near Athens, is made. It is now at the National Archaeological Museum, Athens (approximate date).


text: Battle between the Gods and the Giants, fragments of the north frieze of the Siphnian Treasury, from the Sanctuary of Apollo, Delphi, is begun (approximate date). It is now at the Delphi Archaeological Museum.


text: Peplos Kore, from the Acropolis in Athens, is made. It is now at Acropolis Museum, Athens (approximate date).


text: Ennigaldi-Nanna's Museum at Ur is established, the earliest known public museum with the oldest known museum labels (approximate date).


text: Aristides, Athenian statesman (d. 468 BC)


text: Pheidippides, Greek runner (approximate date) (d. c. 490 BC)


text: Onomacritus, Greek compiler of oracles (approximate date) (d. 480 BC)


text: December — Cyrus the Great, ruler of Persia (b. 576 or 600 BC)


text: Battus III of Cyrene, Greek king of Cyrenaica


text: Spargapises, Massagetae general


year_label: 54 BCE

text: July – Second of Caesar's Invasions of Britain: Julius Caesar receives nominal submission from the tribal chief Cassivellaunus and installs Mandubracius as a friendly king.

source_title: 54 BC


text: Fifth year of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars:


text: Winter – Ambiorix revolts in Gaul.


text: Crassus arrives in Syria as proconsul and invades the Parthian Empire, initiating the Roman–Persian Wars, which were to last nearly seven centuries.


text: Consuls: Appius Claudius Pulcher and Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus.


text: Pompey builds the first permanent theatre in Rome.


text: Octavia the Younger and Gaius Claudius Marcellus marry.


text: Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus, Roman consul (d. AD 25)


text: Tibullus, Roman poet and writer (d. 19 BC)


text: Seneca the Elder, Roman rhetorician and writer


date: July 31

text: July 31 – Aurelia Cotta, mother of Julius Caesar (b. 120 BC)


text: Quintus Laberius Durus, Roman tribune of Julius Caesar


text: Lucius Gellius Publicola, Roman politician (approximate date)


text: Quintus Titurius Sabinus, Roman legate of Julius Caesar


text: Huo Chengjun, empress of the Han Dynasty


text: Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta, Roman legate of Julius Caesar


text: Lucius Valerius Flaccus, Roman tribune and praetor


text: Gaius Valerius Catullus, Roman poet and writer (b. 84 BC)


text: Julia, daughter of Julius Caesar (dies in childbirth)


text: Ariovistus, leader of the Suebi (approximated date)


text: Mithridates III, king of Parthia (executed by Orodes II)


year_label: 531 BCE

text: Laozi, Chinese founder of Taoism (approximate date)


year_label: 532 BCE

text: Pythagoras arrives in the Greek colony of Croton (modern-day Crotone) in Magna Graecia and founds the philosophical school of Pythagoreanism (approximate date).


text: Ping, ruler (duke) of the State of Jin (from 557 to 532 BC)


year_label: 534 BCE

text: The Etruscan founded the city of Felsina, that later will become the modern city of Bologna.


text: Lucius Tarquinius Superbus becomes the seventh king of Rome, after murdering his predecessor Servius Tullius.


text: Competitions for tragedy are instituted at the City Dionysia festival in Athens.


text: Servius Tullius, sixth king of Rome


year_label: 535 BCE

text: The Sungai Batu Civilization in Malaysia begins.


text: Phocaean Greek colonists clash with Carthaginian and Etruscan ships in the Battle of Alalia (near Corsica).


text: Heraclitus, Greek philosopher (approximate date) (d. c. 475 BC)


year_label: 536 BCE

text: Phrynaeus is appointed archon of Athens.


text: Min Sun, disciple of Confucius


year_label: 537 BCE

text: The Jews lay the foundations for the Second Temple.

source_section: Events › By place › Judea


text: Duke Jing of Qin, ruler of the Chinese state of Qin from 576 to 537 BC

source_section: Deaths


year_label: 538 BCE

text: The Babylonian captivity of the Jews in Babylon ends when Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, allows them to return to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the High Priest; possible start of construction of the Second Temple.

source_section: Events › By place › Near East


text: Death of Cassandane, wife of Cyrus the Great


year_label: 539 BCE

date: September 25

text: September 25–28? – Battle of Opis: Troops of the Persian Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great decisively defeat those of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.


date: October 29

text: October 29 – Fall of Babylon: Achaemenid troops under Gobryas enter Babylon unopposed. Cyrus enters the city, incorporating the Neo-Babylonian Empire into the Achaemenid Empire and turning the latter into the largest in the history of the world up until that point.


text: Belshazzar, co-regent of Babylon


text: Nabonidus, last king of Babylon


year_label: 540 BCE

text: Persians conquer Lycian city of Xanthos (approximate date).

source_section: Events


text: Comet Hale–Bopp appears in the evening sky, making its closest approach to Earth. Its next appearance occurs in 1997.


text: Amasis Painter makes Dionysos with maenads, black-figure decoration on an amphora.


text: Exekias makes The Suicide of Ajax, black-figure decoration on an amphora.


text: Greek city of Elea of southern Italy is founded (approximate date).


text: Amyntas I becomes king of Macedonia (approximate date).


text: Leonidas I, leader of the 300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae (approximate date; d. 480 BC)


text: Epicharmus of Kos, Greek dramatist (approximate date; d. c. 450 BC)


text: Vardhamana Mahavira, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara of the Jains 450 BC


text: Heraclitus, Greek philosopher, born in Ephesus (approximate year)


year_label: 55 BCE

text: Consuls Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus pass the Lex Trebonia.

source_title: 55 BC


date: May

text: May – Julius Caesar defeats a Germanic army and massacres the women and children near the Meuse and Rhine Rivers (now known as the city of Kessel in the Netherlands).


date: August 22

text: August 22 or August 26 – Julius Caesar commands his first invasions of Britain, likely a reconnaissance-in-force expedition, in response to the Britons giving military aid to his Gallic enemies. Caesar retreats back to Gaul when the majority of his force is prevented from landing by storms.

source_section: Events › By place › Britain


text: Fourth year of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars:


text: Spring – Julius Caesar starts the season campaigning in Illyricum (in the Balkan region) against the Pirustae, who have been raiding Roman territory.


text: Summer – Julius Caesar defeats the Usipetes and the Tencteri, two Germanic tribes who have been driven across the Rhine River by the Suebi. He spreads Roman law and order, and makes the whole country as far as the Channel accessible to trade.


text: Mithridates IV, claimant to the throne of Parthia, supported by Aulus Gabinius, Roman governor of Syria, is defeated by Surena, general under Orodes, in the Battle of Seleucia.

source_section: Events › By place › Parthia


text: Consuls: Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus.


date: June

text: June – Julius Caesar crosses the Rhine River near modern-day Koblenz. He constructs a wooden bridge between Andernach and Neuwied (Germany).


text: Pompey's Theater, the first permanent (non-wooden) theatre in Rome is built. Built of stone on the Field of Mars, it included a temple to Venus Victorious, a public courtyard, and a meeting hall or curia in the far end near the "Sacred Area".


text: Tibullus, Roman Latin poet (approximate date)


text: Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos, Roman consul


text: Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos Iunior, Roman consul


text: Tigranes the Great, Armenian Emperor (b. c. 140 BC)


text: Lucretius, Roman philosopher (b. c. 99 BC)


text: Archelaus, high priest of Comana (Cappadocia)


text: Berenice IV Epiphaneia, queen of Egypt (b. 77 BC)


year_label: 543 BCE

text: Guided by Chinese statesman Zi Chan, the State of Zheng institutes a formal code of law.


text: North Indian Prince Vijaya invades Ceylon and establishes a Sinhalese dynasty after he was banished from his father's kingdom


text: Pisistratus, tyrant of Athens, purifies the island of Delos. (approximate)


text: Gautama Buddha Mahaparinibbana (traditional in Thailand and elsewhere - basis of Thai solar calendar)


year_label: 544 BCE

text: Zhou jing wang becomes King of the Zhou Dynasty of China.


text: People of Teos migrate to Abdera, Thrace to escape the yoke of Persia.


text: Sun Tzu, Chinese statesman and general (approximate date) (d. c. 496 BC)


year_label: 545 BCE

text: Approximate date – Leotychides, king of Sparta (d. c.469 BC)


text: Zhou ling wang, King of the Zhou Dynasty of China.


text: King Kang of Chu, King of the State of Chu


year_label: 546 BCE

text: Peisistratus takes power in Athens.


text: Jin and Chu agreed to the truce of Mibing, ending their constant military engagement.


text: Cyrus establishes a garrison in Sardis and incorporates the Greek cities of Ionia in Asia Minor into the Achaemenid Empire.


text: A coup takes place in the state of Qi.


text: Cyrus makes Pasargadae the capital of Persia.


text: Eupalinos of Megara, a Greek architect, builds aqueducts that supply water to Athens.


text: Thales, Greek philosopher (approximate date)


year_label: 547 BCE

text: Croesus seizes the Persian city of Pteria and enslaves its inhabitants. Meanwhile, Cyrus invites the Ionians to join him in battle.


text: The Battles of Thymbra and Pteria are fought between Croesus of Lydia and Cyrus the Great.


text: Cyrus besieges and captures Sardis.


text: Anaximander (some sources also give 545 BC or 546 BC)


year_label: 548 BCE

text: The Temple of Apollo at Delphi, Greece is damaged in a fire. The Alcmaeonids rebuild the structure.


text: Diognetus of Croton wins the stadion race at the Olympic Games.


text: Duke Zhuang II, ruler of the Chinese state of Qi


text: Thales of Miletus (born c. 626 BC), pre-Socratic Greek philosopher and the first natural philosopher who belonged to the Milesian school along with Anaximander and Anaximenes


text: Megakles II (born 595 BC), Athenian statesman, son of Alkmaion II, grandson of Megakles I, and husband to Agariste of Sicyon


year_label: 549 BCE

text: King Cyrus II (the Great) captures the Median capital of Ecbatana, conquering the nation of Media.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: Darius I, king of Persia (approximate date)


text: Emperor Suizei dies after a 32-year reign and is succeeded by his son Annei as emperor of Japan.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Suizei, emperor of Japan (b. 632 BC)


year_label: 550 BCE

text: Mago I begins his rule of Carthage and founds the Magonid dynasty.


text: The Kingdom of Colchis is established.


text: Abdera is destroyed by the Thracians.


text: Cyrus II the Great overthrows Astyages of the Medes, establishing the Achaemenid Empire.


text: Greek colonization ends (approximate date).


text: Siddhartha Gautama founds Buddhism in Northern India after achieving enlightenment after six years of practicing penance and meditation.


text: The Temple of Hera I is built in what is now Paestum, Italy (approximate date).


text: The Temple of Artemis is completed in Ephesus.


text: Hecataeus of Miletus, early Greek historian


text: Aristodemus of Cumae, tyrant of Cumae


text: Atossa, Achaemenid queen (approximate date)


text: Miltiades, renowned Olympic chariot-racer


text: Arcesilaus II of Cyrene, the fourth Greek Cyrenaean King and a member of the Battiad dynasty; he was strangled by Learchus.


year_label: 56 BCE

text: Third year of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars:

source_title: 56 BC


text: Battle of Morbihan: Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, one of Caesar's subordinates, defeats the Veneti of Brittany. The Gauls lose most of their warships to the Romans in a sea battle at modern-day Quiberon Bay. The strongholds on the coast are stormed, and the population is slaughtered or sold into slavery.


text: Autumn – Julius Caesar leads an attack on the Morini and the Menapii tribes of the Belgae on the North Sea. They withdraw into their forests, creating difficulties for Caesar's supply lines. The onset of bad weather forces him to pull back into Gallia Belgica.


text: Roman Consuls are Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus and Lucius Marcius Philippus.


text: Clodia accuses her former lover Marcus Caelius Rufus of trying to poison her. The trial ends with the defendant acquitted thanks to the Pro Caelio speech of Cicero. There is no more reference to the formerly well-known Clodia.


text: This year, or possibly the following year, the king of the Trinovantes called Imanuentius, is overthrown and killed by his rival Cassivellaunus. His son Mandubracius flees to Gaul and appeals to Julius Caesar for help.


text: The three Roman politician-generals of the First Triumvirate — Caesar, Pompey and Crassus — meet at the Luca Conference at the town of Luca (modern Lucca, in Tuscany), near Pisa, where they renewed their fraying political alliance, and further cemented the three men's increasing consolidation of power in the Roman Republic.


text: Imanuentius, the king of the Trinovantes (a kingdom in Pre-Roman Britain)


text: Philip II Philoromaeus, king of the Seleucid Empire (approximate date)


text: Lucius Licinius Lucullus, Roman politician (b. 118 BC)


year_label: 551 BCE

date: September 28

text: September 28 – Confucius, Chinese philosopher (d. 479 BC)


text: Zoroaster, Persian religious prophet (approximate date)


year_label: 552 BCE

text: The Battle of Hyrba is fought between the Medians and the Persians led by Cyrus the Great.


year_label: 553 BCE

text: Cyrus II of Persia revolts against Astyages of the Medes.


text: Itoku, emperor of Japan (d. 477 BC)


year_label: 554 BCE

text: Duke Ling of Qi, ruler of the State of Qi


year_label: 555 BCE

text: Stesichorus, Greek lyric poet (some sources give other death years, including 556 or 550 BC)


year_label: 556 BCE

text: Nabonidus succeeds Labashi-Marduk as king of Babylon.


text: Labashi-Marduk succeeds Neriglissar as king of Babylon.


text: Pisistratus is expelled to Euboea from Athens, and makes his fortune from Thrace's mines.


text: Simonides of Ceos, approximate date


text: Labashi-Marduk, king of Babylon


year_label: 557 BCE

text: Labashi-Marduk is king of Babylon during this year, succeeding Neriglissar, who reigned three years, and is followed by Nabonidus, who reigns 17 years.


date: May 19

text: May 19: The Persians besiege Larissa (Calah) but fail to capture it. However, when a solar eclipse occurs, the inhabitants leave their city and it is taken.


section: Climate & Environment

text: Santorini, Greece suffers from a volcanic eruption.


text: Siddharta Gautama, also known as the Buddha (year of birth not precisely known)


year_label: 558 BCE

text: The Chinese state of Jin defeats its rival state of Qin in battle.


text: Duke Dao of Jin, ruler of the State of Jin


text: Solon, Athenian statesman and poet


year_label: 559 BCE

text: Cyrus the Great succeeds his father Cambyses I of Anshan.


text: In the year of his accession (560–559 BC), the Babylonian king Neriglissar commands the declaration of an intercalendary month, so that his first year of kingship begins on Nisan 1 of 559 BC.


text: Amitis Shahbanu, Achaemenid queen


text: Cambyses I, father of Cyrus the Great and king of Anshan


year_label: 560 BCE

text: Peisistratus seizes the Acropolis in Athens, becoming the city's tyrant for the first time.


text: Calf bearer (Moscophoros), from the Acropolis, Athens is made. It is now displayed at the Acropolis Museum, Athens (approximate date).


text: Berlin Kore, begun in 570 BC, is finished. It is now displayed in Germany.


text: Phocylides, Greek gnomic poet from Miletus


text: Xenophanes, Greek poet and philosopher born in Colophon (approximate year)


text: Leon of Sparta, king of Sparta


text: King Gong of Chu, Chinese king of Chu


text: Solon Greek poet and statesman (approximate year)


text: Battus II of Cyrene, Greek king of Cyrene and Cyrenaica


year_label: 57 BCE

text: King Vikramaditya establishes the Vikram era.

source_title: 57 BC


text: Mithridates IV becomes king of Parthia.


text: Bak Hyeokgeose becomes the first ruler of the kingdom of Silla (traditional date).


text: May – Battle of the Axona: Caesar defeats the forces of the Belgae under King Galba of the Suessiones.


text: July – Battle of the Sabis: Caesar defeats the Nervii, Roman forces are almost annihilated in an ambush.


text: September – The siege and capture of Aduatuca (modern-day Tongeren) by Caesar.


text: Caesar defeats a Belgic army near Bibrax (modern-day Laon) in the territory of the Remi. He moves northwards against the Belgic tribes, the Nervii and the Aduatuci.


text: Second year of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars:


text: Spring – Julius Caesar raises a further two legions (Legio XIII and Legio XIV), bringing his army in Gaul to eight legions (at which strength it remains until 54 BC).


text: Consuls: Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther and Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos.


text: Caesar sends Servius Sulpicius Galba with Legio XII into the territory of the Nantuates, Seduni and the Veragri. He occupies Octodurus (modern-day Martigny) in Switzerland.


text: Boduognatus, leader of the Nervii


year_label: 561 BCE

text: Croesus becomes king of Lydia (or 560 BC).


text: All eight solar system planets, including the now redefined dwarf planet Pluto, fall into planetary alignment.


text: Alyattes, king of Lydia (or 560 BC)


year_label: 562 BCE

text: Amel-Marduk succeeds Nebuchadnezzar II as king of Babylon.


text: Nebuchadnezzar II, emperor of the Neo-Babylonian Empire


year_label: 563 BCE

text: 563 BC—Death of Queen Maya, mother of Siddhartha Gautama

source_title: 560s BC

source_section: Significant people


year_label: 564 BCE

text: Siddhartha Gautama (The Lord Buddha), Religious Leader of Buddhism

source_section: Births


text: Arrhichion, Greek champion in pankration (martial arts) in the ancient Olympic Games


year_label: 566 BCE

text: Vardhamana attained True Knowledge and became Mahavira.

source_section: Events › By place › India


text: The first known Panathenaic Games of Ancient Greece are conducted in Athens.

source_section: Events › By place › Athens


text: Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Although it is unknown for certain what his birth year was, 566 BCE is the most commonly given date.


year_label: 567 BCE

text: Deposed pharaoh Apries invades Egypt with Babylonian help but is defeated by Amasis II.


date: May 25

text: May 25—Servius Tullius, king of Rome, celebrates a triumph for his victory over the Etruscans.


text: Apries, ruler of ancient Egypt.


year_label: 568 BCE

text: Amtalqa succeeds his brother Aspelta as king of Kush.


text: Pittacus of Mytilene, one of the Seven Sages of Greece


year_label: 570 BCE

text: The Satrapy of Armenia is established as a province of the Achaemenid Empire. This is the first polity to bear the name Armenia.


text: Amasis II drives Apries from the throne of Egypt.


text: Berlin Kore, from a cemetery at Keratea, near Athens, is begun. It is now at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Germany.


text: Francois Vase, black figure decoration on a volute crater, is made by Kleitias and Ergotimos (approximate date). It is now in a museum in Italy.


text: Pythagoras, Samian Greek philosopher and mathematician (approximate year)


year_label: 58 BCE

text: Cyprus becomes a Roman province.

source_title: 58 BC

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Republic


text: June – Caesar defeats the migrating Helvetii in the Battle of the Arar (Saône).


text: July – Caesar decisively defeats the Helvetii in the Battle of Bibracte.


text: September – Caesar decisively defeats the Suebi led by King Ariovistus in the Battle of Vosges.


text: First year of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars:


text: Julius Caesar becomes a provincial governor (proconsul) and leads a Roman army (6 Roman legions; Legio VII, Legio VIII, Legio IX, Legio X, and newly levied Legio XI and Legio XII) into Gaul. He deploys auxiliaries as part of this army, including Balearic slingers, Numidian and Cretan archers, and Celtic/Gallic cavalry (such as the allied Aedui).


text: Berenice IV becomes queen of Egypt after temporarily dethroning her father, King Ptolemy XII Auletes.


text: Caesar builds a 19-mile earthwork, complete with fortifications and watchtowers, between Lake Geneva and the Jura Mountains.


text: Winter – Caesar leaves his legions in winter quarters among the Sequani (located in modern-day Burgundy) far to the north of the formal boundary of Gallia Transalpina. He returns to Gallia Cisalpina, carrying out judicial and administrative activities.


text: Consuls: Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus and Aulus Gabinius.


section: Economy & Finance

text: Publius Clodius Pulcher, Roman tribune, institutes a monthly corn dole for poor Romans, and exiles Cicero from the city.


text: Base year of the Vikrama Era, founded by Vikrama, king of Ujjain in India.


text: Attica, first wife of the Roman general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa


text: Jumong (King Dongmyeong), king of Goguryeo (d. AD 19)


text: Go Museo Dangun, 6th ruler of Buyeo (Korea)


text: Ptolemy of Cyprus, last Hellenistic king of Cyprus


year_label: 571 BCE

text: Zhou Ling Wang replaces King Jian of Zhou as king of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty.


date: November 25

text: November 25 — Servius Tullius, king of Rome, celebrates his victory over the Etruscans with a Roman triumph.


text: Ezekiel, prophet in the Old Testament after whom the Book of Ezekiel is named.


year_label: 572 BCE

text: 572 BC is the earliest document in the Al-Yahudu Tablets, around 15 years after the destruction of the Solomon's Temple, during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II.


text: Jian, Chinese king of the Zhou Dynasty


year_label: 573 BCE

text: The Siege of Tyre (586–573 BC) ended. It was on-going for 13 years, it also had a significant connection with the Book of Ezekiel.


text: Prophet Ezekiel has a vision of the Second Temple approximately 60 years before it was built.


text: The Nemean Games are founded at Nemea, Greece. (traditional date)


text: Duke Li of Jin, ruler of the State of Jin


year_label: 575 BCE

text: Battle of Yanling in Henan Province, China takes place between Jin and Chu forces. The State of Jin is victorious.


text: Temples and public buildings start appearing in Rome. The main temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus is built.


text: Ishtar Gate and throne room wall from Babylon, Iraq is made. The modified version for installation is now on display in Germany.


year_label: 576 BCE

text: Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire (or 600 BC)


year_label: 577 BCE

text: Duke Huan of Qin, Chinese ruler


year_label: 579 BCE

text: Servius Tullius succeeds Lucius Tarquinius Priscus as king of Rome upon the latter's assassination. (traditional date)


text: Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, fifth king of Rome


year_label: 59 BCE

text: Consuls: Gaius Julius Caesar and Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus (known in jest as "the consulship of Julius and Caesar" due to Bibulus' Social withdrawal from public view to "consult the heavens" in an effort to invalidate Caesar's intended legislation).

source_title: 59 BC


text: The First Triumvirate: Caesar, Pompey and Crassus form an unofficial alliance (or 60 BC).


text: The colonia of Florentia, modern Florence, founded.


text: Caesar marries Calpurnia, in Rome.


text: Caesar makes the gazette Acta Diurna (Daily News) public. The Acta contains details of official decrees and appointments; births, deaths, and marriages. Even sport results—the outcome of the gladiatorial contests and chariot races at the capital.


text: Artavasdes I, king of Media Atropatene (approximate date)


text: Ptolemy XIV, king (pharaoh) of Egypt (or 60 BC)


text: Livia, Roman empress as the second wife of Augustus


text: Livy, Roman historian and writer (approximate date)


text: Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer, Roman consul


text: Quintus Servilius Caepio, Roman tribune


text: He of Changyi, emperor of the Han Dynasty


text: Gaius Octavius, father of Caesar Augustus


year_label: 585 BCE

text: 585 BC—Nitocris I, Egyptian priestess

source_title: 580s BC


year_label: 586 BCE

text: 586 BC—Duke Dao of Jin, ruler of the State of Jin (d. 558 BC)


text: 586 BC—King Ding of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China


year_label: 590 BCE

text: 590 BC—Eurycratides, Agiad king of Sparta

source_title: 590s BC


year_label: 60 BCE

text: Creation of the First Triumvirate, an informal political alliance between Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great and Marcus Licinius Crassus (or 59 BC).

source_title: 60 BC


text: Gaius Julius Caesar suppresses an uprising and conquers all of Lusitania for Rome.


text: The Han dynasty government establishes the Protectorate of the Western Regions, the highest military position of a military commander on the Western frontier (Tarim Basin).

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: The Seleucid Empire comes to an end with the last two emperors being murdered on orders from Rome.

source_section: Events › By place › Syria


text: Ptolemy XIV, king (pharaoh) of Egypt (or 59 BC)


text: Curia, wife of Quintus Lucretius Vespillo (approximate date)


text: Tryphon, Greek grammarian (approximate date)


text: Su Wu, Chinese diplomat and statesman (b. 140 BC)


text: Aretas III Philhellen, king of Nabatea (approximate date)


year_label: 591 BCE

text: 591 BC—King Zhuang of Chu, king of Chu


year_label: 595 BCE

text: 595 BC—Necho II, ruler of Egypt


year_label: 598 BCE

text: 598 BC—Ma'add ibn Adnan, ancestor of several Arab tribes


text: 598 BC—Jehoiakim, king of Judah


year_label: 599 BCE

text: 599 BC—Birth of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism (died 527 BC)


text: 599 BC—Duke Hui of Qi, ruler of the Chinese state of Qi


year_label: 600 BCE

text: The country of Armenia is created. (approximate date)

source_section: Events › By place › Middle East


text: Victorious over the Carthaginians in a naval battle, the Greeks of Phocaea establish the city of Marseille in today's France.

source_section: Events › By place › Western Europe


text: Smyrna is sacked and destroyed by Alyattes I. (approximate date)


text: The Etruscans seize possession of Rome, making it into a prosperous trade center. (approximate date)


text: Lord Mahavir, the last and 24th Tirthankar, of the ancient Indian religion, Jainism was born.


text: Pompeii is founded. (approximate date)


text: Capua is founded by Etruscans. (approximate date)


text: Athens is suffering severe economic problems (approximate date).


text: The Temple of Artemis, Korkyra in Corfu begins to be built (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Art and architecture


text: The first dwelling at Emain Macha (now Navan Fort) is built (approximate date).


text: The calendrical system begins appearing in areas with strong Olmec influence, continuing to appear until 500 BC (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › North America


text: The Doric and Ionic orders are well developed (approximate date).


text: Kouros (representation of a male youth) begins to be made, being finished in 580 BC (approximate date).


text: Archaic period of sculpture begins in Greece (approximate date).


text: Pitcher (container) (olpe), from Corinth, is made. It is now at The British Museum, London. (approximate date)


text: Naples is founded by the Greeks. (approximate date)


text: Zoroaster's religion becomes popular in Persia. (approximate date)


text: King Gong of Chu, king of the Chinese state of Chu


text: Cyrus the Great, king of Persia (or 576 BC)


text: Cyrus I, king of Anshan, according to some sources

source_section: Deaths


text: Battus I of Cyrene, founder and first king of the Greek colony of Cyrenaica


text: Duke Cheng of Jin, ruler of the Chinese state of Jin


year_label: 7 BCE

date: May 7

text: May 7 – Emperor Ai becomes the emperor of Han China.

source_section: Events › 7 BC › Han China


text: The city of Rome is divided into 14 administrative regions.

source_section: Events › 7 BC › Roman Empire


text: Appearance of a very bright triple conjunction of the royal star Jupiter and Saturn in the sign of Pisces (land in the west) in May until December of that year since 854years, with a retrogradation and stationing on November 12. Robert A. Powell (1996) proposes that this is the birth date of Jesus.

source_section: Events › 7 BC › Astronomy


text: Augustus' second census of the Roman Empire reports a total of 4,233,000 citizens. However, the specific criteria of the census are still not clear.


date: April 17

text: April 17 – Cheng, Chinese emperor of the Han dynasty (b. 51 BC)

source_section: Deaths › 7 BC


text: Zhao Hede, Chinese consort of the Han dynasty


text: Aristobulus IV, Jewish prince of Judea (b. 31 BC)


text: Geumwa of Dongbuyeo, Korean king


year_label: 61 BCE

text: Marcus Pupius Piso Frugi as consul attempts to gain ratification of Pompey's Eastern Settlement.

source_title: 61 BC


text: Pompey returns to Rome with a triumph in honor of his for victories in the eastern provinces.


text: Julius Caesar becomes governor in Hispania and creates Legio X Gemina (3,500 men). He puts down the Callaici and Lusitani rebellions.


text: Quintus Marcius Rex, Roman consul and general


year_label: 601 BCE

text: The Jewish–Babylonian war begins between the Kingdom of Judah and Babylonia. It ends in 586 BC.

source_section: Events


text: Approximate date of the foundation of Perinthus by settlers from Samos.


text: Laozi, ancient Chinese philosopher and writer (traditional date)


text: Darius the Mede, sometimes identified as Gobryas or Cyaxeres II (Biblical date)


year_label: 602 BCE

text: Philip I of Macedon, early king of Macedon


year_label: 603 BCE

text: In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar II proclaimed the intercalary month Ululu II, which begins on September 6.

source_section: Events › Science and technology


text: In the Babylonian calendar, the Babylonian New Year of Nisannu 1 falls on January 14–15. March; the full moon in Nisannu on the 27–28 March and the 1st Tašritu on the 6–7 October.


year_label: 604 BCE

text: Duke Gong of Qin, ruler of the Chinese state of Qin


year_label: 605 BCE

text: Battle of Carchemish: Crown Prince Nebuchadnezzar defeats the allied armies of Egypt and former Assyria, securing the Babylonian conquest of Assyria (approximate date).


text: Nebuchadnezzar II succeeds his father Nabopolassar as king of Babylonia.


text: Battle of Hamath: Nebuchadnezzar II defeats the remainder of the Egyptian army after the Battle of Carchemish.


text: Nabopolassar, founder of the Neo-Babylonian Empire


year_label: 606 BCE

text: King Ding of Zhou succeeds King Kuang of Zhou the ruler of the Zhou dynasty.


year_label: 607 BCE

text: Approximate date – Sudharmaswami, fifth ganadhara of Mahavira (died 506 BC)

source_section: Births


text: Pisistratus, tyrant of Athens.


text: Duke Ling of Jin, ruler of the Chinese state of Jin


text: King Kuang of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China


year_label: 608 BCE

text: 608 BC—Birth of Peisistratus, ruler of Athens

source_title: 600s BC (decade)

source_section: Significant people


year_label: 609 BCE

text: Battle of Megiddo—King Josiah is killed fighting against Necho II, who was on his way to aid the Assyrian state.


text: The Medes and the Babylonians defeat the Assyrians under Ashur-uballit II and capture Harran. Ashur-uballit II, the last king of Assyria, disappears from history.


text: The Persian Gulf recedes by a large portion, extending the Tigris and Euphrates rivers by 187 mi (300 km).


text: King Jehoahaz succeeds his father Josiah as king of Judah, though he is killed by Necho II, who instead installs Jehoahaz's brother Jehoiakim.


text: Duke Kang of Qin, ruler of the state of Qin


text: Duke Yi of Qi, ruler of the state of Qi


text: Ashur-uballit II (probably), last king of Assyria


year_label: 610 BCE

text: Necho II succeeds Psamtik I as king of Egypt.


text: Naucratis, a city in Egypt, is founded, eventually becoming one of the more prominent cities of that nation.


text: Anaximander, Greek philosopher and scientist (approximate date) (d. c. 546 BC)


year_label: 62 BCE

date: January 5

text: January 5 – The forces of the conspirator Catiline are defeated by the loyal Roman armies of Antonius Hybrida led by Marcus Petreius in the Battle of Pistoria.

source_title: 62 BC


text: Cicero delivers his Pro Archia Poeta in defense of Aulus Licinius Archias' claim to Roman citizenship.


text: King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene builds his mountain-top tomb-sanctuary at Mount Nemrut.

source_section: Events › By place › Commagene


text: Metellus Nepos, also tribune, leaves Rome.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Republic


text: Julius Caesar divorces Pompeia, following the sacrilege of Publius Clodius Pulcher.


text: Caesar and Bibulus are praetors.


text: Cato the Younger, as tribune, presents a lex frumentaria (enacting a grain dole).


text: Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, king (pharaoh) of Egypt (d. 47 BC)


text: Lucius Sergius Catilina, Roman politician (b. 108 BC)


text: Zhang Anshi, Chinese official of the Han Dynasty


text: Quintus Roscius Gallus, Roman actor (b. c. 126 BC)


year_label: 612 BCE

text: Ashur-uballit II attempts to keep the Assyrian state alive by establishing himself as king at Harran.


text: Battle of Nineveh: An allied army of Babylonians, Medes, Scythians, and Susianians besieges and conquers Nineveh, capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Sinsharishkun, King of Assyria, is killed in the sacking.


text: King Kuang of Zhou becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.


text: Babylon, capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, becomes the largest city in the world, taking the lead from Nineveh.


year_label: 613 BCE

text: King Zhuang of Chu becomes king of Chu in China.


text: She (Qi), temporary ruler of the state of Qi


text: King Qing of Zhou, king of the Chinese Zhou dynasty


year_label: 614 BCE

text: The Medes and Babylonians sack Assur.


year_label: 615 BCE

text: The Neo-Babylonian Empire begins attacking Assyrian cities.


text: Rusa III, king of Urartu (or 590 BC)


year_label: 616 BCE

text: Lucius Tarquinius Priscus becomes the legendary fifth king of Rome.


text: Ancus Marcius, legendary fourth king of Rome (or 617 BC)


year_label: 618 BCE

text: King Qing of Zhou succeeds his father King Xiang of Zhou as ruler of the Chinese Zhou dynasty.


text: Duke Gong of Cao, ruler of the state of Cao


year_label: 619 BCE

text: Sadyattes dies and is succeeded as king of Lydia by his son Alyattes.


text: King Xiang of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China


year_label: 620 BCE

text: Aesop, Greek fable writer (approximate date)


text: Alcaeus of Mytilene, Greek lyric poet from Lesbos Island


text: Sappho, Greek lyric poet from Lesbos Island (approximate date)


text: Chilon of Sparta, one of the Seven Sages of Greece (approximate date)


year_label: 63 BCE

text: Pharnaces II becomes King of Pontus.

source_title: 63 BC

source_section: Events › By place › Pontus


text: Pompey conquers the people of Phonecia, Coele-Syria, and Judea for the Roman Republic.


text: Massacre of over 12,000 Jews on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem by Roman troops, in support of John Hyrcanus II against Aristobulus II.


text: Roman annexation of the Seleucid Empire and of Judea as a client kingdom. King Judah Aristobulus II removed from power, while his brother John Hyrcanus II is reappointed king (ethnarch) under Roman suzerainty and high priest, until 40 BC.


text: Second Catilinarian Conspiracy against the Roman Republic is foiled by Cicero.


text: Establishment of the Decapolis and Year 1 of the Pompeian era.


text: Cato the Younger is elected tribune of the people for 62 BC, taking office in early December 63 BC.


text: Marcus Tullius Cicero is senior consul. He is the first novus homo (new man) to be elected to the consulship in 31 years.


text: Julius Caesar is elected Pontifex Maximus and praetor for 62 BC.


text: Servilius Rullus, a Roman tribune, proposes an agrarian reform law.


text: Lucullus holds a triumph, then retires from war and politics to live a life of refined luxury.


text: Gaius Antonius Hybrida is junior consul.


date: September 23

text: September 23 – Augustus, first Roman Emperor (d. AD 14)


text: Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Roman statesman and general (d. 12 BC)


text: Didymus Chalcenterus, Greek scholar and grammarian (approximate date) (d. c. AD 10)


text: Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius, pontifex maximus and general (b. c. 130 BC or 127 BC)


text: Those involved in the organisation of the Catilinarian conspiracy in Rome, including Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura


text: Mithridates VI, King of Pontus (b. 135 BC)


year_label: 621 BCE

text: Draco's laws, the first written laws for Athens (approximate year)


text: Duke Xiang of Jin, ruler of Jin (state)


text: Duke Mu of Qin, ruler of Qin (state)


year_label: 622 BCE

text: The finding of one of the five books of Moses in Jerusalem by king Josiah.


text: Ezekiel, Hebrew prophet (d. c. 570 BC)


year_label: 624 BCE

text: Thales, Greek scientist and philosopher (approximate date) (d. c. 546 BC)


year_label: 625 BCE

text: Cyaxares becomes king of the Medes (approximate date)


text: Orientalizing period of vases ends in Ancient Greece (approximate date).


text: A wine pitcher (oenochoe) from Rhodes is finished, having been begun in 650 BC.


text: Yuan Taotu, diplomat of the Chinese state of Chen


year_label: 626 BCE

date: November 23

text: 23 November -- Nabopolassar revolts against his Assyrian overlords, establishing the Neo-Babylonian Empire.


text: Jeremiah begins his ministry in the Kingdom of Judah.


text: King Cheng of Chu, king of the state of Chu


year_label: 627 BCE

text: Battle of Xiao, between the states of Jin and Qin in China.


text: Sinsharishkun succeeds his brother Ashur-etil-ilani as king of Assyria (approximate date).


text: Traditional date for the foundation of Epidamnus by Corinth, today Durrës in Albania.


text: Ashur-etil-ilani, Assyrian king


text: Cypselus, Greek tyrant of Corinth


year_label: 628 BCE

text: Traditional date of the foundation of Selinus by Megara Hyblaea.


text: Zoroaster, Persian religious prophet


text: Duke Wen of Jin, ruler of the state of Jin


year_label: 630 BCE

text: 630 BC—Birth of Sappho (approximate date)

source_title: 630s BC


year_label: 64 BCE

text: Pompey destroys the kingdom of Pontus; king Mithridates VI commits suicide after escaping to the Crimea.

source_title: 64 BC


text: Pompey annexes Syria and captures Jerusalem, annexing Judea.


text: King Antiochus XIII Asiaticus is deposed and killed by the Syrian chieftain Sampsiceramus I – this is considered by some the end of the Seleucid dynasty.

source_section: Events › By place › Syria


text: 64 BC Syria earthquake, mentioned in catalogues of historical earthquakes. It affected the region of Syria and may have caused structural damage in the city of Jerusalem.


text: Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, Roman general and consul (d. AD 8)


text: Nicolaus of Damascus, Jewish historian and philosopher (approximate date)


text: Strabo, Greek philosopher and historian in Amaseia


text: Antiochus XIII Asiaticus, king of the Seleucid Empire


year_label: 631 BCE

text: Sadyattes becomes king of Lydia.


text: Cyrene, a Greek colony in present-day Libya, North Africa, is founded by emigrants from the island of Thera (approximate date).


text: Ashurbanipal, Assyrian king (approximate date)


year_label: 632 BCE

text: Cylon, Athenian nobleman, seizes the Acropolis in a failed attempt to become king.


text: Suizei, emperor of Japan (d. 549 BC)


text: Jehoahaz, king of Judah (approximate date)


text: Cylon, Athenian nobleman and usurper


text: Cheng Dechen, Chinese prime minister of Chu


year_label: 633 BCE


text: Duke Xiao of Qi, ruler of the state of Qi


text: Phraortes, second king of the Medes


year_label: 634 BCE

text: Nebuchadnezzar II, king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (approximate date)


text: Jehoiakim, king of Judah (approximate date)


year_label: 635 BCE

text: 635 BC—Birth of Thales, Greek philosopher (d. 543 BC) (approximate date)


text: 635 BC—Death of Sadyattes, Lydia


year_label: 636 BCE

text: Duke Wen of Jin becomes ruler of the State of Jin in Zhou dynasty China.


year_label: 637 BCE

text: Sadyattes becomes king of Lydia.


text: Duke Xiang of Song, ruler of the state of Song


text: Duke Hui of Jin, predecessor to Duke Huai of Jin


text: Duke Huai of Jin, ruler of the state of Jin


year_label: 640 BCE

text: The interregnum in Rome ends. Ancus Marcius becomes the fourth king of Rome

source_section: Events › Europe


text: King Ashurbanipal of Assyria achieves a great victory over Elam. He captures its last king, Khumma-Khaldash III, and lays waste to the country.

source_section: Events › Middle East


text: Theagenes becomes tyrant at Megara.


text: Kolaios of Samos reaches the Strait of Gibraltar.


text: Josiah, reigns as the sixteenth King of Judah (r. 640 - 609 BCE)


text: Stesichorus, Greek lyric poet (approximate date)


text: Pittacus of Mytilene, one of the Seven Sages of Greece (approximate date)


text: Teispes, son of Achaemenes and ancestor of Cyrus the Great


text: Argaeus I, king of Macedonia (approximate date)


text: King Teispes dies after a 35-year reign in which he has ruled the Elamite city of Anshan after being freed from Median supremacy.


year_label: 65 BCE

text: Pompey the Great subjugates the kingdom of Iberia and makes Colchis a Roman province.

source_title: 65 BC


text: In response to the illegal exercise of citizen rights by foreigners, the Roman Senate passes the Lex Papia, which expels all foreigners from Rome


text: Tigranes of Armenia is defeated and captured by Pompey, thus ending all hostilities on the northeastern frontier of Rome.


text: 9th year of the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han

source_section: Events › By place › Western Han Empire


date: December 8

text: December 8 – Horace, Roman poet (d. 8 BC)


text: Gaius Asinius Pollio, Roman orator, poet and historian (d. AD 4)


text: Xiphares, son of Mithridates VI (b. c. 85 BC)


year_label: 641 BCE

text: Tullus Hostilius dies, beginning the interregnum.


text: Tullus Hostilius, third king of Rome


year_label: 642 BCE

text: Wukui, ruler of the state of Qi


text: Manasseh of Judah, king of Judah (or 643 BC)


year_label: 643 BCE

text: Duke Huan of Qi, ruler of the state of Qi


text: Manasseh, king of Judah (or 642 BC)


year_label: 644 BCE

text: Ardys succeeds his father Gyges as the second Mermnad king of Lydia. During his reign he finds payment of tribute to Assyria preferable to rule by the Cimmerians, who will be routed a few decades later.

source_section: Events › Asia Minor


text: Cimmerian forces from Anatolia conquer Sardis and reach the peak of their power. King Gyges of Lydia has spent most of his 28-year reign fighting his southern and western neighbors in an effort to gain suzerainty over all of Western Asia Minor. He has helped the rebellion of Psamtik I, but he receives no support from his erstwhile Assyrian ally Ashurbanipal. Gyges falls in a battle against the Cimmerians under king Tugdamme (approximate date).


text: Bao Shuya, prominent official under Duke Huan of Qi

source_section: Deaths


text: Gyges, king of Lydia (approximate date)


year_label: 645 BCE

text: The Spring and Autumn Annals, a Chinese book of records, mentions that on December 24 of this year there were five meteors in the sky. It was the first Chinese observation of meteors.


text: Guan Zhong, prime minister of Qi


text: Archilochos, Greek iambic poet


year_label: 647 BCE

text: Elam refuses to extradite an Aramaean prince, giving the king Ashurbanipal of Assyria an excuse to invade the country. He sacks the city of Susa.


text: Ashurbanipal and his Queen in the Garden, from the palace at Nineveh (modern Kuyunjik, Iraq), is made. It is now at the British Museum, London.


year_label: 648 BCE

text: Messenians in the Peloponnese revolt against Sparta under the leadership of king Aristomenes, beginning a struggle that will continue until 631 BC.

source_section: Events › Greece


text: Babylon falls to Assyrian forces after a 3-year siege (see 651 BC); starved out by his half brother Ashurbanipal, king Shamash-shum-ukin commits suicide in his burning palace, as the Assyrians slaughter his city's garrison and much of its population.


date: April 6

text: April 6 - The earliest solar eclipse to be chronicled by the Greeks is observed.


text: Josiah, king of Judah (d. 609 BC)


text: Shamash-shum-ukin, Assyrian king of Babylonia.


year_label: 649 BCE

text: Indabigash succeeds Tammaritu as a king of the Elamite Empire.


text: A revolt led by Shamash-shum-ukin is crushed by the Assyrians.


text: Traditional date of the foundation of Himera by Zancle.


year_label: 650 BCE

text: The city of Ancient Carthage acquires independence from Tyre.


text: Second Messenian War ended in 650.


text: Thales discovered the first theorems related to circles.


text: A climate change occurs in Europe, affecting all the Bronze Age cultures with colder and wetter climate, and tribes from Scandinavia migrate south into the European continent.


text: Wine pitcher (oenochoe) from Rhodes is begun, finished in 625 BC. It is now at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.


text: Mentuemhat, Theban Egyptian official


year_label: 66 BCE

text: The alliance between Mithridates VI of Pontus and Tigranes II of Armenia is broken.

source_title: 66 BC


text: Battle of the Lycus: Pompey the Great decisively defeats Mithridates VI, effectively ending the Third Mithridatic War.


text: Tigranes II is forced to surrender, by a payment of 6,000 talents, and is reinstated by Pompey as a "friend of the Roman people" to hold Armenia as a buffer zone.


text: The lex Manilia, supported by Cicero gives Pompey command over all of Asia.


text: Consuls: Manius Aemilius Lepidus and Lucius Volcatius Tullus.


text: Catiline accused of conspiring against the Roman Republic with Autronius and the younger Sulla (also in 63 BC during the consulship of Cicero).


text: Aristobulus II becomes king and high priest of Judea, until 63 BC.

source_section: Events › By place › Judea


text: Cicero becomes praetor in Rome.


text: Gaius Antonius elected Roman praetor.


text: Octavia (the Younger), grandniece of Julius Caesar (d. 11 BC)


text: Licinius Macer, Roman annalist


year_label: 651 BCE

text: King Ashurbanipal defeats the Babylonian army of his half brother Shamash-shum-ukin and surrounds the fortified city of Babylon. Beginning a 3-year siege during which the Assyrians will defeat Shamash-shum-ukin's allies.


text: Zhou Xiang Wang becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

source_section: Events › Asia


text: King Teispes of Anshan (Persia) sends help to Shamash-shum-ukin but his heirs will later be obliged to accept Assyrian overlordship.


text: Xian, ruler of the State of Jin


text: Xiqi, ruler of the State of Jin


text: Li Ji, concubine and wife of Xian


text: The Li Ji Unrest ends, resulting in the deaths of Li Ji, Xian, Xiqi and Zhuozi. After the revolt Duke Hui of Jin becomes ruler of the State of Jin.


text: Zhuozi, ruler of the State of Jin


year_label: 652 BCE

text: Elam withdraws from her alliance with king Shamash-shum-ukin of Babylon, who launches a premature attack on his half brother Ashurbanipal at year's end without waiting for reinforcements that have been promised by the Egyptian king Psamtik I.


text: Guan Zhong, Chinese chancellor, urges Duke Huan of Qi to attack the small neighboring State of Xing which is under attack from Quan Rong nomads. Later, he advises the duke not to ally with a vassal ruler's son who wishes to depose his father.


text: Hui of Zhou, ruler of the Zhou dynasty


year_label: 653 BCE

text: Elamite forces attack southern Babylon. A large Assyrian army sent by king Ashurbanipal defeat the Elamites, in the Battle of Ulai, and kill their king, Teumman. He is succeeded by his nephew Ummanigash.

source_section: Events › By place › Middle East


text: Temti-Humban-Inshushinak I, king of Elam


text: Tantamani, king (pharaoh) of Egypt


year_label: 654 BCE

text: Traditional date of the foundation of Abdera in Thrace by colonists from Clazomenae.

source_section: Events


text: Traditional date of foundation of Akanthos by Andros.


text: Traditional date of foundation of Lampsacus by Phocaea.


year_label: 655 BCE

text: The Assyrian army invade Elam and overtake its twin capital cities Madaktu and Susa and install a king that is pro-Assyrian on the throne.

source_section: Events › By place › Mesopotamia


text: Stagira on the Chalkidiki peninsula is founded by Ionian settlers from Andros.

source_section: Events › By place › Greece


year_label: 656 BCE

text: Psamtik I extends his control over all Egypt. The Twenty-fifth Dynasty, and subsequent Nubian period, end in Ancient Egypt.

source_section: Events › By place › Egypt


text: King Shamash-shum-ukin of Babylon forms a secret alliance with Arabs, Aramaeans, Elamites, Persians, and Egyptians against his half brother Ashurbanipal.

source_section: Events › By place › Assyria


text: Thebes submits to the Egyptian ruler Psamtik I of Sais, who has allied himself with Gyges of Lydia and employs Libyan soldiers in a rebellion against Assyrian rule with help from Carian and Ionian mercenaries. Psamtik permits the city's mayor Mentuemhat to retain his position, who is not only the most powerful Theban but also the fourth prophet of Amon.


year_label: 657 BCE

text: Cypselus becomes the first tyrant of Corinth.


text: The Li Ji Unrest, a series of events that ends in 651 BC, initiates when Li Ji, the concubine of Duke Xian of Jin, attempts to have her son Xiqi placed on the throne of Jin.

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: King Gyges of Lydia establishes a state monopoly in metal coinage, making it illegal for individuals to issue the bean-shaped lumps of electrum used as a medium of exchange in place of commodities (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › Asia Minor


year_label: 658 BCE

text: End of the rule of Énna Derg in Ireland (according to Foras Feasa ar Éirinn by Geoffrey Keating).


text: End of the rule of Duke Zhuang in Yan.


text: End of the rule of Miltiades in Athens.


year_label: 659 BCE

text: The enemy city of Alba Longa is destroyed by the Romans.


year_label: 660 BCE

date: February 11

text: February 11 - The accession date of the first Emperor of Japan, Emperor Jimmu, converted from the Japanese imperial year as calculated by the dates in the Nihon Shoki.


text: Extreme solar particle event comparable with the event detected at AD 774/775


text: Duke Cheng of Qin, ruler of the state of Qin


year_label: 67 BCE

text: After his victory at Zela, Mithridates starts consolidating his power in Pontus; restoring his rule over his old kingdom.

source_title: 67 BC

source_section: Events › By place › Pontus


text: Lex Acilia Calpurnia: permanent exclusion from office in cases of electoral corruption.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Republic


text: The lex Gabinia gives Pompey command of the Mediterranean and its coasts for 50 miles inland for three years. He defeats the pirates in three months and pacifies Cilicia.


date: December

text: December – The army of the Han dynasty Chinese commander Zheng Ji is victorious over the Xiongnu in the Battle of Jushi.


text: Mithridates VI invades Pontus and defeats a Roman army at the Battle of Zela.


text: During Pompey's war against the pirates, he raises a fleet of 500 warships and fights with great success.


text: Pompey takes over the command of Lucius Licinius Lucullus in the war against Mithridates VI of Pontus, and reaps the fruit of the latter's victories.


text: Julius Caesar reconciles with Pompey and Crassus


text: Lucullus returnes to Pontus, but his troops refuse to campaign for him any longer and he withdrew to Galatia.


text: Consuls: Manius Acilius Glabrio and Gaius Calpurnius Piso.


text: Pompey offers the ex-pirates and their families clemency, he settles them in agricultural colonies in eastern Mediterranean lands.


text: Pompey divides the Mediterranean into 13 zones – six in the West and seven in the East – to each of which he assigns a fleet under an admiral.


text: Julius Caesar marries Pompeia, a granddaughter of Sulla


text: Sextus Pompey, Roman general and governor (d. 35 BC)

source_section: Births


text: Arsinoe IV of Egypt, daughter of Ptolemy XII (and probably Cleopatra V) (d. 41 BC)


text: Salome Alexandra, queen of Judea (b. 139 BC)


text: Hyrcanus II becomes king of Judea, for first time (until 66 BC), upon the death of his mother, Salome Alexandra.


text: Lucius Cornelius Sisenna, Roman general and historian (b. c. 120 BC)


year_label: 661 BCE

text: Queen Macha of Ireland begins to rule alone, after the death of her husband Cimbaeth, according to the Annals of the Four Masters.


year_label: 663 BCE

text: The Assyrian Empire under Ashurbanipal drives the Kushites from Egypt and conquers the country.


text: Siege of Tyre by the Assyrians under Ashurbanipal.


year_label: 664 BCE

text: First naval battle in Greek recorded history, between Corinth and Corcyra.


text: Kushites invade Assyrian-controlled Egypt.


text: Psamtik I succeeds Necho I as ruler of Lower Egypt.


text: Tantamani succeeds his uncle Taharqa as king of Kush.


text: The Assyrians under Ashurbanipal capture and sack Thebes, Egypt.


text: Solar superstorm in 664 BCE recorded in tree rings.


text: Amon, king of Judah (approximate date)


text: Duke Xuan of Qin, ruler of the state of Qin


year_label: 665 BCE

text: Elamite king Urtak launches a surprise attack against Babylonia but is successfully driven back


text: Phraortes, king of the Median Empire (approximate date)


text: Xiqi, Chinese ruler of the State of Jin (died 651 BC)


year_label: 666 BCE

text: King Ashurbanipal undertook a campaign to Egypt.


text: One theory is that this is the year Psammitichus I ascended the throne.


year_label: 667 BCE

text: King Ashurbanipal of Assyria resumes his late father's attack on Egypt (see 671 BC), recapturing Memphis and beginning an offensive into Upper Egypt.


text: Byzantium (modern Istanbul) is founded by Megaran colonists under Byzas.


year_label: 668 BCE

text: King Ashurbanipal puts down an Egyptian rebellion. He drives out Egypt's Ethiopian king Taharqa, and restores Necho I as governor of Sais in the Nile Delta.

source_section: Events › By Place › Middle East


text: Nineveh, capital of Assyria becomes the largest city of the world, taking the lead from Thebes in Egypt (estimation).


text: Shamash-shum-ukin, second son of the late Assyrian king Esarhaddon, becomes king of Babylon.


year_label: 669 BCE

text: Taharqa, king of Kush, invades and reconquers Egypt from the Assyrian Empire.


text: Esarhaddon dies in Harran while on his way to recover Egypt from the Kushites.


year_label: 670 BCE

text: Miletus is sieged by Lydia, Priene is annexed by Lydia, and Samos annexes the former Melian territory


text: Miletus begins establishing colonies in the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea.


text: King Gyges of Lydia's name is minted on the first Greek coins.


text: Mettius Fufetius, Latin king of Alba Longa


year_label: 68 BCE

text: Consuls: Lucius Caecilius Metellus and Quintus Marcius Rex.

source_title: 68 BC


date: October 6

text: October 6 – Lucius Lucullus defeats Tigranes II of Armenia in the Battle of Artaxata.


text: Abgar II becomes ruler of Osroene.

source_section: Events › By place › Osroene


text: Gaius Antonius Hybrida elected praetor.


text: Tribune of the plebs Gaius Antius Restio passes the Lex Antia sumptuaria law forbidding Roman magistrates from attending banquets.


text: Ostia, the harbour city of Ancient Rome, is sacked by pirates. The port is set on fire and the consular war fleet is destroyed.


text: Arsinoe IV of Egypt, daughter of Ptolemy XII (and probably Cleopatra V) (d. 41 BC)


text: Lucius Caecillius Metellus, Roman consul

source_section: Deaths


text: Cornelia, wife of Julius Caesar (b. 94 BC)


text: Huo Guang, official of the western Han Dynasty


text: Antiochus of Ascalon, Greek philosopher (b. c. 130 BC)


year_label: 671 BCE

text: King Esarhaddon of Assyria defeats the Kushite-Egyptian army of Pharaoh Taharqa and captures Memphis, along with a number of the royal family. He sets up a new Assyrian administration in Lower Egypt and withdraws.


year_label: 672 BCE

text: (estimated date) Tullus Hostilius becomes the legendary third king of Rome.

source_section: Events › By place › Rome


date: February

text: Ešarra-ḫammat, Queen of the Neo-Assyrian Empire

source_section: Deaths › February


text: Du'ao, king of the Chinese state of Chu.


year_label: 673 BCE

text: Tullus Hostilius becomes the third king of Rome.


text: Urartian king Rusa II builds the fortress of Rusahinili Eidurukai (modern Ayanis).


text: Numa Pompilius, second of the Kings of Rome, successor to Romulus


text: Wen Jiang, princess of the State of Qi and duchess of the State of Lu

source_section: Deaths › Autumn


year_label: 674 BCE

text: Esarhaddon puts down a revolt in Ascalon supported by Taharqa, king of Kush and Egypt. In response, the Assyrians invade Egypt, but Taharqa is able to hold them off.


year_label: 675 BCE

text: The Elamite king Urtaku comes to power; during his reign, relations between Elam and Babylonia worsen.

source_section: Events › By place › Middle East


text: Teispes becomes a king of Anshan.


text: King Esarhaddon begins to rebuild Babylon (approximate date).


text: Ancus Marcius, 4th king of Rome


text: King Deioces dies after a 53-year reign that has established the kingdom of the Medes and its capital at Ecbatana (later Hamedan) in what will be northwest Persia. He is succeeded by his son Phraortes, who forms an anti-Assyrian alliance with the Cimmerians to subjugate the Persians and other Asian peoples.


year_label: 676 BCE

text: Zhou Hui Wang becomes King of the Zhou Dynasty of China.


text: In 679 BCE, Sennacherib's successor, King Esarhaddon, campaigned in Khor, destroyed Sidon, and forced Tyre into tribute from 677 BCE to this year.


text: Callisthenes of Laconia wins the stadion race at the 26th Olympic Games.


year_label: 677 BCE

text: Esarhaddon leads the Assyrian army against rebellious Arab tribes and advances as far as the Brook of Egypt.

source_section: Events


text: From this year to 676 BC, Sennacherib's successor, King Esarhaddon, forced Tyre into tribute after campaigning in Khor and destroying Sidon in 679 BC.


text: King Xi of Zhou, king of the Zhou Dynasty of China.


year_label: 678 BCE

text: Chu had conquered most of the Nanyang Basin


text: King Xi of Zhou used his royal clout to give legitimacy to Wu of Quwo as the rightful duke of Jin


text: According to Herodotus, Ecbatana was chosen as the Medes' capital by Deioces, the first ruler of the Medes.


text: Deioces united the Median tribes of Media and made the first Iranian Empire.


text: King Wen of Chu conquers the state of Deng.


text: The state of Jin became the first to maintain a standing army


text: Nekauba becomes pharaoh of the twenty-sixth dynasty of Egypt


text: Jin–Quwo wars end (739–678 BCE), dynastic struggles between two branches of Jin's ruling house


text: Phraortes becomes king of the Medes (according to the chronology proposed by Igor Diakonoff)


text: Chu soldiers invade Zheng (according to the Zuo Zhuan)


date: November

text: Two solar eclipses occur on the 1st and the 30th over the Penzhina Bay and the South Pacific Ocean respectively.

source_section: Events › November


text: Kaštaritu is mentioned as "King of the Medes" in an inscription


text: approximate date of death of Perdiccas I, king of Macedon


text: Duke Wu of Qin, ruler of the state of Qin, had 66 people sacrificed and buried with him


year_label: 679 BCE

text: Siomón Brecc, according to the chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn.

source_title: 670s BC

source_section: Deaths › 679 BC


text: Teušpâ, king of the Cimmerians


year_label: 680 BCE

text: 680 BC—Birth of Archilochus, Greek lyric poet (approximate date)

source_title: 680s BC


year_label: 69 BCE

text: Parthians and Romans re-establish Euphrates as a frontier.

source_title: 69 BC


text: Rhodes becomes a bulwark against pirates, the Rhodians are unable to suppress piracy in the Aegean Sea. Delos gets the status of a free port.

source_section: Events › By place › Greece


text: October 6 – Roman Republic troops under Lucius Lucullus defeat the army of Tigranes II of Armenia in the Battle of Tigranocerta, and capture Tigranocerta, capital of Armenia.


text: Kydonia, an ancient city on the island of Crete falls to Roman military forces.


text: Ptolemy XII deposes Cleopatra V, and becomes sole ruler.

source_section: Events › By place › Egypt


text: Consuls: Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus and Quintus Hortensius.


text: Gaius Julius Caesar is a quaestor in Spain.


text: Antiochus XIII Asiaticus is installed as king of Syria.


text: Wang Zhengjun, empress of the Western Han dynasty (d. AD 13)


text: Hyeokgeose, Korean king and founder of Silla (d. AD 4)


text: Cleopatra VII Philopator, queen of Egypt (d. 30 BC)


text: Julia, wife of Gaius Marius (b. c. 130 BC)


text: Cleopatra II Selene, queen of Egypt


year_label: 681 BCE

text: 681 BC—Sennacherib, king of Assyria


year_label: 682 BCE

text: 682 BC—King Zhuang of Zhou, King of the Zhou dynasty of China.


year_label: 685 BCE

text: 685 BC—Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria (d. c. 627 BC)


year_label: 686 BCE

text: 686 BC—Duke Xiang of Qi, ruler of the state of Qi


text: 686 BC—Hezekiah, king of Judah, either this year or the previous or about a decade earlier.


year_label: 687 BCE

text: 687 BC—Hezekiah, king of Judah, either this year or next or about a decade earlier.


year_label: 689 BCE

text: 689 BC—Mushezib-Marduk, king of Babylon


year_label: 690 BCE

text: 690 BC—Marquis of Ji(紀) does not surrender to Qi, and passes the throne to his younger brother, Ji Ji(紀季).

source_title: 690s BC

source_section: Events and trends


text: 690 BC—Duke Xiang of Qi, Duke Xuan of Chen, Zheng-zi Ying met at Chui(垂).


text: 690 BC—Taharqa, a king of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty, ascends the throne of Egypt (approximate date)


text: c. 690 BC—Death of Manava, author of the Indian geometric text of Sulba Sutras.


text: 690 BC—Death of Xuan Jiang, Chinese Duchess.


text: 690 BC—Death of King Wu of Chu


year_label: 70 BCE

text: The office of censor is reinstated.

source_title: 70 BC


text: Phraates III becomes the king of Parthia.

source_section: Events › By place › Parthia


text: Lucullus captures Sinop, then invades Armenia.


date: August

text: August – In Rome, Cicero prosecutes former governor Verres; Verres exiles himself to Marseille before the trial is over.


date: October 15

text: October 15 – Virgil, Roman poet (d. 19 BC)


text: Cleopatra VII, queen of Egypt (d. 30 BC)


text: Gaius Maecenas, Roman politician (d. 8 BC)


text: Crinagoras, Greek epigrammatist (d. 18 BC)


text: Mithridates I, king of Commagene


text: Sanatruces (or Sanatruk), king of Parthia


year_label: 691 BCE

text: 691 BC—King Sennacherib of Assyria defeats king Humban-nimena of Elam in the Battle of Halule.


year_label: 692 BCE

text: 692 BC—Tirhakah, the last Ethiopian pharaoh, ascends the throne of Egypt (approximate date).


text: 692 BC—Karib'il Watar of Saba' is recorded as having given "gifts" (tribute) to King Sennacherib of Assyria.


text: 692 BC—Pantacles wins the stadion race for a second time and the diaulos at the 22nd Olympic Games.


year_label: 693 BCE

text: 693 BC—Babylon is destroyed by the Assyrian king Sennacherib, but the city will be rebuilt in even greater splendor and luxury. He fights his way back north and captures various cities along the River Euphrates (or 691 BC or 689 BC).


text: 693 BC—Death of Nergal-ushezib, king of Babylonia


year_label: 694 BCE

text: 694 BC—Troops of Qi killed Zheng-zi Wei(7th ruler of Zheng) and Gao Qumi(高渠弥). Ji Zhong(祭仲) invited Zheng-zi Ying(8th ruler of Zheng) from Chen and helped him assume the throne.


text: 694 BC—Duke Hei Jian(黒肩) of Zhou killed King Zhuang of Zhou and plotted to help Prince Ke(克) assume the throne. Xin Bo(辛伯) reported it to King Zhuang, and killed Duke Hei Jian. Prince Ke defected to Yan.


text: 694 BC—Duke Xiang of Qi and Duke Huan of Lu meet at Luo(濼). Duke Huan of Lu and his wife, Wen Jiang goes to Qi.


text: 694 BC—Duke Huan of Lu dies in Qi, and Prince Peng Sheng(彭生) is killed.


text: 694 BC—Death of Ashur-nadin-shumi, Assyrian king of Babylon


text: 694 BC—Death of Duke Huan of Lu, ruler of the state of Lu


text: 694 BC—Death of Luli, king of Tyre


year_label: 696 BCE

text: 696 BC—Zhou Zhuang Wang becomes king of the Zhou Dynasty of China.


text: 696 BC—Cimmerian forces begin a conquest of Phrygia (modern Turkey), having failed in their efforts to defeat the Assyrians and moved into Anatolia.


text: 696 BC—Possible migration of the Armenians (approximate date).


text: 696 BC—Pantacles of Athens wins the stadion race at the 21st Olympic Games.


year_label: 697 BCE

text: 697 BC—Manasseh becomes co-ruler with King Hezekiah of Judah.


text: 697 BC—Birth of Duke Wen of Jin in China.


text: 697 BC—Death of King Huan of Zhou in China.


year_label: 698 BCE

text: 698 BC—Death of Chuzi I, ruler of the state of Qin


text: 698 BC—Death of Duke Xi of Qi, ruler of the state of Qi


year_label: 699 BCE

text: 699 BC—Sennacherib carries out his fifth military campaign in Babylonia, a series of raids against the villages around the foot of Mount Judi, located to the northeast of Nineveh.


text: 699 BC—Hallashu-Inshushinak (Khallushu) succeeds Shuttir-Nakhkhunte as king of the Elamite Empire.


text: 699 BC—Manasseh succeeds Hezekiah as king of Judah. The first king who did not have an experience with the Kingdom of Israel, Manasseh ruled with his mother, Hephzibah, as regent.


year_label: 700 BCE

text: 700 BC—Mentuemhat, Egyptian government official.

source_title: 700s BC (decade)


year_label: 8 BCE

text: After 20 years, Emperor Augustus initiates his second census of the Roman Empire.

source_title: 0s BC

source_section: Events › 8 BC › Germania


text: King Maroboduus becomes ruler of the Marcomanni and fights against the Roman Empire's expansion in Bohemia.

source_section: Events › 8 BC › Roman Empire


text: Arminius, son of a Cheruscan chieftain, is taken as a hostage to Rome, where he receives a military education.


text: Strato II, the last Indo-Greek king, rules the eastern Punjab alongside his co-regent son Strato III (r. c.25BC – AD10)

source_section: Events › 8 BC › India


text: Sextilis, the eighth month of the early Julian calendar, is renamed Augustus (August) by a decree of the Roman Senate in honor of Augustus.


text: Wang, Chinese empress of the Han dynasty (d. AD 23)

source_section: Births › 8 BC


date: November 27

text: November 27 – Horace, Roman lyric poet and writer (b. 65 BC)

source_section: Deaths › 8 BC


text: Gaius Maecenas, Roman politician and advisor (b. 70 BC)


text: Xu, Chinese empress of the Han dynasty


text: Polemon I, Roman client king of the Bosporan Kingdom


year_label: 71 BCE

text: Nessebar in modern-day Bulgaria comes under Roman rule.

source_title: 71 BC

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Republic


text: Third Servile War ends; Slave rebellion under leadership of Spartacus is crushed by a Roman army under Marcus Licinius Crassus. Slaves taken prisoner are crucified naked along the Via Appia.


text: Wang Zhengjun, Chinese empress of the Han dynasty (d. AD 13)

source_section: Births


text: Spartacus, Thracian gladiator and rebel leader (presumably killed in battle) (b. 109 BC)

source_section: Deaths


text: Marcus Antonius is defeated by the Cretans, who have made an alliance with the pirates. He is compelled to concede a humiliating peace. Antonius dies in office the same year and is awarded, posthumously, with the cognomen Creticus.


text: Xu Pingjun, Chinese empress of the Han dynasty


text: Castus, Gallic gladiator and rebel leader


text: Marcus Antonius Creticus, Roman politician (father of Mark Antony)


text: Gannicus, Celtic gladiator and rebel leader


year_label: 701 BCE

text: 701 BC—Duke Zhuang of Zheng, China.


year_label: 702 BCE

text: 702 BC—Merodach Baladan, Babylonian ruler


text: 702 BC—Shabaka, Kushite pharaoh of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt


year_label: 705 BCE

text: 705 BC—Achaemenes, eponymous apical ancestor of the Achaemenid dynasty of rulers from Persis.


text: 705 BC—Sargon II, king of Assyria.


text: 705 BC—Marquis Xiaozi of Jin, ruler of the state of Jin.


year_label: 710 BCE

text: c. 710 BC—The Medes are united.

source_title: 710s BC


year_label: 72 BCE

text: The Suebi and other tribes under King Ariovistus invade Gaul.

source_title: 72 BC

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: Third Servile War: Spartacus moves with his followers northward to the Po Valley. Roman forces under Lucius Gellius Publicola defeat a group of slaves (30,000 men) led by Crixus near Mount Gargano. He kills two-thirds of the rebels, including Crixus himself.


text: Battle of Cabira: Lucius Lucullus defeats King Mithridates VI and overruns Pontus. Mithridates flees to Armenia, ruled by his son-in-law Tigranes, who refuses to turn his father-in-law in to Lucius Lucullus.


text: Summer – Spartacus and his followers defeat the Roman forces under Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus and Gellius, forcing the Roman legions to retreat in disarray. Both consuls are recalled to Rome in disgrace and relieved of their duties.


text: Spartacus moves north again, to cross the Alps into Gaul and then to Thracia. Outside Mutina on the plain of the River Po he defeats the Roman forces under Gaius Cassius Longinus, governor of Gallia Cisalpina.


text: Winter – Spartacus decides to camp near Thurii. Marcus Licinius Crassus with ten Roman legions tries to trap the rebels in the toe of Italy. He builds a trench and a low earth rampart (with a fortified palisade).


text: Perperna is defeated by Pompey the Great at the Battle of Osca, ending the Sertorian War in Spain.


text: Autumn – Spartacus and his followers withdraw to the Bruttium peninsula. At one juncture he contemplates attacking Rome – but moves south. The Senate sends Marcus Licinius Crassus against Spartacus.


text: Marcus Perperna Vento, lieutenant of Quintus Sertorius during the Sertorian War


text: Crixus, Gaulish gladiator and military leader


text: Quintus Sertorius, leader of the Sertorian rebels during the Sertorian War


year_label: 712 BCE

text: 712 BC—Numa Pompilius creates the office of Pontifex Maximus.


text: 712 BC—Polus of Epidaurus wins the stadion race at the 17th Olympic Games.


year_label: 713 BCE

text: 713 BC—Numa Pompilius, King of Rome, reforms the Roman calendar, introducing January and February and adding 5 days to the calendar.


text: 713 BC—Olmecs establish Monte Albán, the sacred city, and continue building pyramids.


text: 713 BC—Birth of semi-legendary Zalmoxis in Dacia.

source_section: Births and death


year_label: 715 BCE

text: 715 BC—Interregnum ends. Start of the reign of the second King of Rome — Numa Pompilius.


text: c. 715 BC—Conquest of Messenia by Sparta ends.


text: 715 BC—Osorkon IV dies, ending the Twenty-second Dynasty of Egypt.


year_label: 716 BCE

text: 716 BC—Pythagoras of Laconia wins the stadion race at the 16th Olympic Games.


text: c. 716 BC—Ahaz, king of Judah, dies.


year_label: 717 BCE

text: 717 BC—Assyrian king Sargon conquers the Neo-Hittite state of Carchemish.


text: 717 BC—Roman legend marks this as the date that Romulus ended his rule. Interregnum starts.


text: c. 717 BC—The Sicilian colony of Chersonesos is established.


text: 717 BC—Sargon II founds a new capital for Assyria at Dur-Sharrukin.


year_label: 718 BCE

text: 718 BC—Gyges becomes the ruler of Lydia.


year_label: 719 BCE

text: 719 BC—Zhou Huan Wang of the Zhou dynasty becomes ruler of China.


text: 719 BC—Revolt led by Yahu-Bihdi in Hamath is suppressed. Much of the population deported to Samaria and Hamath destroyed.


year_label: 720 BCE

text: 720 BC—Shabaka kills Bakenranef (Bocchoris), ending the Twenty-fourth Dynasty of Egypt

source_title: 720s BC

source_section: Significant people


text: 720 BC—Birth of Guan Zhong, political adviser of Qi in eastern ancient China.


text: 720 BC—Death of King Ping of the Zhou dynasty of China.


year_label: 73 BCE

text: Third Servile War: Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator, escapes with around 70 slave-gladiators from a gladiator school at Capua. They defeat a small Roman force and equip themselves with captured military equipment as well with gladiatorial weapons. Spartacus and his band of gladiators plunder the region surrounding Capua and retire to a defensible position on Mount Vesuvius.

source_title: 73 BC


text: Battle of Mount Vesuvius: Spartacus defeats a Roman militia force (3,000 men) under Gaius Claudius Glaber. The rebel slaves spend the winter of 73–72 BC training, arming and equipping their new recruits, as well as expanding their raiding territory, which includes the towns of Nola, Nuceria, Thurii and Metapontum.


text: Herod the Great, client king of Judea (d. 4 BC)


text: Marcus Porcius Cato, assassin of Julius Caesar (d. 42 BC)


text: Gaius Aurelius Cotta, Roman statesman and orator


text: Heli, king of Britain (approximate date)


text: Devabhuti, king of the Shunga Empire


text: Quintus Sertorius, leader of the Sertorian rebels during the Sertorian War


year_label: 722 BCE

text: 722 BC: Spring and Autumn period of China's history begins as King Ping of Zhou of the Zhou dynasty reigns in name only.

source_title: 8th century BC

source_section: Events › 720s BC


text: 722 BC: Israel is conquered by Assyrian king Sargon II.


year_label: 724 BCE

text: 724 BC: The Assyrians start a four-year siege of Tyre.


text: 724 BC: The diaulos footrace introduced at the Olympics.


year_label: 727 BCE

text: 727 BC: Babylonia makes itself independent of Assyria.


year_label: 728 BCE

text: 728 BC: Piye invades Egypt, conquering Memphis, and receives the submission of the rulers of the Nile Delta. He founds the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt.


year_label: 730 BCE

text: 730 BC: Piye succeeds his father Kashta as king of the Nubian kingdom of Napata.

source_section: Events › 730s BC


text: 730 BC: Mattan II succeeds Hiram II as king of Tyre.


text: 730 BC: Osorkon IV succeeds Sheshonq IV as king of the Twenty-second dynasty of Egypt.


year_label: 74 BCE

text: Publius Servilius Vatia returns to Rome, where he has triumphed against the pirates in Anatolia, and is given the agnomen Isauricus.

source_title: 74 BC


text: Nicomedes IV, last king of Bithynia bequeaths his kingdom to the Roman Senate upon his death (75/4 BC)


text: Cyrene becomes a Roman province.


text: Third Mithridatic War: Battle of Cyzicus: Roman forces under Lucius Lucullus defeat the forces of Mithridates VI of Pontus.


text: Marcus Antonius (father of Mark Antony), a praetor, receives wide-ranging powers and considerable resources to fight the pirates in the Mediterranean Sea.


text: Nicomedes IV (Philopator), king of Bithynia


text: Lucius Aelius Stilo Praeconinus, Roman philologist


text: Lucius Octavius, Roman politician and consul


text: Zhao of Han, Chinese emperor (b. 94 BC)


year_label: 75 BCE

text: Third Mithridatic War: Marcus Aurelius Cotta is defeated by Mithridates in the Battle of Chalcedon.

source_title: 75 BC