200s BC (3 events)
196 BC
ID: 2669
Freedom of Greece proclaimed - Flamininus declares Greek cities free at Isthmian Games, Romans as 'liberators'
ID: 2669
195 BC
ID: 5324
Rome reorganizes Spanish mining - establishes state monopoly, mines produce 25,000 drachmas daily according to Polybius
ID: 5324
191 BC
ID: 5968
Temple of Magna Mater dedicated - permanent home for black stone on Palatine, meteorite set in face of silver statue of enthroned Cybele
ID: 5968
190s BC (4 events)
190 BC
ID: 2670
Battle of Magnesia - Scipio defeats Seleucid Antiochus III, Rome becomes arbiter of Eastern Mediterranean
ID: 2670
190 BC
ID: 5969
Galli priests shock Rome - eunuch priests of Cybele beg in streets, self-flagellation, castration rituals horrify Romans but cannot expel - goddess saved Rome
ID: 5969
186 BC
ID: 5422
Bacchanalia suppressed - Senate bans Bacchic mysteries after reports of orgies and conspiracy, 7000 executed
ID: 5422
185 BC
ID: 3682
Fall of Mauryan Empire - last king Brihadratha assassinated by general Pushyamitra Shunga
ID: 3682
180s BC (5 events)
175 BC
ID: 2962
Antiochus IV Epiphanes becomes Seleucid king - begins aggressive Hellenization of Judea, calls himself 'God Manifest'
ID: 2962
175 BC
ID: 2963
Jason buys High Priesthood - pays Antiochus for position, builds gymnasium in Jerusalem, youth exercise naked
ID: 2963
175 BC
ID: 5394
Rome bans wine export across Alps - attempts to prevent barbarian invasions by keeping Celts from wine, widely ignored by merchants
ID: 5394
171 BC
ID: 2964
Menelaus outbids Jason for High Priesthood - steals Temple vessels to pay bribe, not even from priestly family
ID: 2964
171 BC
ID: 4660
Mithridates I expands Parthian Empire - conquers Media, Mesopotamia, creates rival to Rome
ID: 4660
170s BC (14 events)
169 BC
ID: 2965
Antiochus plunders Temple - returning from Egypt, kills thousands of Jews, takes Temple treasures including golden altar
ID: 2965
168 BC
ID: 2671
Battle of Pydna - Roman legions defeat Macedonian phalanx, end of Macedonian kingdom, Greece under Roman control
ID: 2671
168 BC
ID: 2966
Jason attacks Jerusalem - hearing false rumor of Antiochus's death, Jason tries to retake priesthood, civil war erupts
ID: 2966
167 BC
ID: 2967
Antiochus massacres Jerusalem - 40,000 killed in three days, 40,000 sold as slaves, attacks on Sabbath when Jews won't fight
ID: 2967
167 BC
ID: 2969
Hannah and seven sons martyred - mother watches seven sons tortured to death for refusing to eat pork, then dies herself
ID: 2969
167 BC
ID: 2970
Maccabean Revolt begins - Mattathias kills Jew sacrificing to pagan god and king's officer at Modi'in, flees to hills
ID: 2970
167 BC
ID: 2968
December 167 BC
Abomination of Desolation - Antiochus sacrifices pig on Temple altar, dedicates Temple to Zeus Olympios, bans circumcision and Sabbath
ID: 2968
166 BC
ID: 2971
Maccabees decide to fight on Sabbath - after 1,000 killed refusing to defend on Sabbath, Mattathias permits defensive warfare
ID: 2971
166 BC
ID: 2972
Death of Mattathias - appoints son Judah Maccabee ('The Hammer') as military leader, Simon as counselor
ID: 2972
166 BC
ID: 2973
Battle of Beth Horon - Judah defeats and kills Apollonius, takes his sword, uses guerrilla tactics against larger force
ID: 2973
165 BC
ID: 2974
Battle of Emmaus - Judah's 3,000 defeat 40,000 through brilliant night tactics, enemy flees leaving rich camp
ID: 2974
164 BC
ID: 2975
Battle of Beth Zur - Judah defeats Lysias's army with war elephants, path to Jerusalem opens
ID: 2975
164 BC
ID: 2977
Death of Antiochus IV - dies of disease in Persia, reportedly mad, seen as divine punishment for Temple desecration
ID: 2977
164 BC
ID: 2976
December 25, 164 BC
Temple rededicated - exactly three years after desecration, one day's oil burns eight days (tradition), Hanukkah established
ID: 2976
160s BC (4 events)
160 BC
ID: 2978
Death of Judah Maccabee at Elasa - fights against overwhelming odds rather than flee, dies heroically, brothers escape
ID: 2978
160 BC
ID: 2979
Jonathan becomes leader - retreats to wilderness, rebuilds forces through guerrilla warfare and diplomacy
ID: 2979
160 BC
ID: 5421
Cato writes De Agri Cultura - detailed vineyard management, wine production techniques, slave rations include cheap wine
ID: 5421
152 BC
ID: 2980
Jonathan becomes High Priest - appointed by Seleucid pretender Alexander Balas, Hasmoneans gain religious authority
ID: 2980
150s BC (11 events)
150 BC
ID: 5325
Rio Tinto under Roman control - massive expansion using hydraulic mining, 10,000+ workers, slag heaps reach 30 meters high
ID: 5325
150 BC
ID: 5375
Manching oppidum reaches peak - 380 hectare Celtic city, 5,000-10,000 inhabitants, major trade center with specialized crafts
ID: 5375
150 BC
ID: 5387
Celts invent soap - Pliny credits Gauls with soap making from tallow and ash, exported to Rome for hair dyeing
ID: 5387
150 BC
ID: 5391
Annual assembly at Carnutes - druids gather at sacred center of Gaul to settle disputes, elect chief druid
ID: 5391
150 BC
ID: 5395
Narbo founded as wine port - Roman colony established to control wine trade with interior Gaul, becomes major commercial hub
ID: 5395
149 BC
ID: 2672
Third Punic War begins - Cato's 'Carthage must be destroyed' finally heeded, war of annihilation begins
ID: 2672
146 BC
ID: 2673
Destruction of Carthage and Corinth - both cities razed same year, Carthage sown with salt (legend), Roman dominance complete
ID: 2673
143 BC
ID: 2981
Jonathan assassinated - lured to meeting by Tryphon, captured and killed, Simon takes leadership
ID: 2981
142 BC
ID: 2982
Judean independence achieved - Simon negotiates end of Seleucid tribute, 'yoke of Gentiles' lifted, coins minted
ID: 2982
141 BC
ID: 2983
Acra fortress falls - Simon captures last Seleucid stronghold in Jerusalem, complete control achieved
ID: 2983
141 BC
ID: 4661
Parthians capture Seleucia - major Hellenistic city falls, Ctesiphon becomes winter capital
ID: 4661
140s BC (6 events)
140 BC
ID: 2984
Simon declared Prince and High Priest - assembly makes position hereditary, Hasmonean dynasty formally established
ID: 2984
140 BC
ID: 5347
Diodorus Siculus describes mine horrors - children carry ore through tunnels, prisoners worked to death, bodies left where they fall
ID: 5347
139 BC
ID: 4705
Zhang Qian opens Silk Road - Emperor Wu sends envoy west, establishes trade routes
ID: 4705
135 BC
ID: 2985
Simon assassinated at Jericho - killed with two sons by son-in-law Ptolemy at banquet, John Hyrcanus escapes
ID: 2985
134 BC
ID: 2986
John Hyrcanus becomes ruler - expands territory, forcibly converts Idumeans (Edom) to Judaism, including Herod's ancestors
ID: 2986
133 BC
ID: 2674
Tiberius Gracchus murdered - tribune killed by senators for land reform proposal, first political violence in Forum, Republic's crisis begins
ID: 2674
130s BC (7 events)
130 BC
ID: 5396
Arverni control wine trade - most powerful Gallic tribe, King Bituitus displays wealth with silver wine vessels
ID: 5396
125 BC
ID: 5376
Rome conquers southern Gaul to protect Massalia - secures wine trade route, destroys Entremont, establishes Provincia (Provence)
ID: 5376
123 BC
ID: 2675
Gaius Gracchus's reforms - grain dole for masses, extends citizenship, creates populares vs optimates conflict
ID: 2675
123 BC
ID: 4662
Mithridates II 'the Great' rules - Parthian Empire reaches greatest extent, controls Silk Road
ID: 4662
121 BC
ID: 2676
Death of Gaius Gracchus - 3,000 supporters killed, first senatus consultum ultimum (emergency decree), political violence normalized
ID: 2676
121 BC
ID: 5398
Battle of Vindalium - Rome defeats Arverni King Bituitus despite his war elephants, secures wine trade route through Provincia
ID: 5398
121 BC
ID: 5423
Opimian vintage - legendary year, wine still drunk 200 years later, Pliny reports tasting 160-year-old Opimian
ID: 5423
120s BC (4 events)
120 BC
ID: 3666
Bibracte becomes major oppidum - fortified Celtic town, 5000-10000 inhabitants, trade center
ID: 3666
120 BC
ID: 5397
Luernius's legendary feast - Arverni king feeds thousands for days, wine fountain in 12 square mile enclosure, displays Celtic gift economy
ID: 5397
113 BC
ID: 5927
Cimbri and Teutones appear from north - massive Germanic tribes fleeing floods, Romans describe them as giants with pale skin and blue eyes, terrifying appearance
ID: 5927
113 BC
ID: 5928
Romans terrified by Germanic 'giants' - Cimbri warriors over 6 feet tall (huge for Romans), pale as ghosts, hair like flame, women as fierce as men
ID: 5928
110s BC (14 events)
108 BC
ID: 2987
John Hyrcanus destroys Samaritan Temple - razes rival temple on Mount Gerizim, permanent enmity with Samaritans
ID: 2987
108 BC
ID: 5511
Han Dynasty China conquers Gojoseon, establishes Four Commanderies of Han in northern Korea
ID: 5511
107 BC
ID: 2677
Marian army reforms - Marius recruits landless poor, creates professional army loyal to generals not state
ID: 2677
106 BC
ID: 2988
Pharisee-Sadducee split emerges - John Hyrcanus breaks with Pharisees, joins aristocratic Sadducees, religious parties crystallize
ID: 2988
106 BC
ID: 5377
Gold of Tolosa discovered - Romans loot 100,000 pounds gold and 110,000 pounds silver from Celtic temples, treasure mysteriously vanishes
ID: 5377
105 BC
ID: 2678
Battle of Arausio - Cimbri and Teutones destroy two Roman armies, 80,000 dead, worst defeat since Cannae
ID: 2678
105 BC
ID: 5378
Battle of Arausio disaster linked to Tolosa gold - Consul Caepio who stole temple gold loses 80,000 Romans to Cimbri, worst defeat since Cannae
ID: 5378
105 BC
ID: 5931
Terror Cimbricus grips Rome - panic in city, 'the Germans are coming' becomes nightmare phrase, human sacrifices performed, worst fear since Hannibal
ID: 5931
104 BC
ID: 2989
Death of John Hyrcanus - Hasmonean state at peak, son Aristobulus I takes title 'King,' imprisons family
ID: 2989
103 BC
ID: 2990
Alexander Jannaeus becomes king - marries widow Salome Alexandra, brutal expansion, will crucify 800 Pharisees
ID: 2990
102 BC
ID: 2679
Battle of Aquae Sextiae - Marius annihilates Teutones, 100,000 killed, Rome saved from Germanic invasion
ID: 2679
102 BC
ID: 5930
Cimbri women fight from wagon fort - after men defeated, women kill children and themselves rather than slavery, fight with same ferocity as men
ID: 5930
102 BC
ID: 5932
Syrian prophetess Martha guides Marius - mysterious woman predicts victory over Cimbri, Marius keeps her with army, sacrifices before battle
ID: 5932
102 BC
ID: 5933
Ambrones recognize Ligurian allies by battle cry - both shout 'Ambrones!' realize they're same ancient tribe separated by centuries, fight anyway
ID: 5933
100s BC (5 events)
100 BC
ID: 4454
Romans develop portable hand abacus - bronze tablet with grooves and counters for merchants and engineers
ID: 4454
100 BC
ID: 5326
Slave uprising at Spanish mines - thousands of mining slaves revolt, suppressed brutally, Diodorus describes horrific conditions
ID: 5326
100 BC
ID: 5379
Aedui become 'friends of Roman people' - Celtic tribe controls wine trade, exchanges slaves for Roman wine, later crucial Caesar allies
ID: 5379
100 BC
ID: 5388
Celts invent wooden barrel - replaces heavy ceramic amphorae for wine storage and transport, revolutionizes trade
ID: 5388
100 BC
ID: 5424
Falernian wine reaches peak prestige - Rome's greatest wine, three types (dry, sweet, light), aged 10-20 years, mentioned by every Roman author
ID: 5424