290s BC
Encyclopedia
During the 290s BC, Hellenistic civilization
begins its emergence throughout the successor states of the former Argead Macedonian Empire
of Alexander the Great resulting in the diffusion of Greek culture throughout the Ancient world and advances in Science, mathematics, philosophy and etc. Meanwhile, the Roman Republic
is embroiled in war against the Samnites, the Mauryan Empire continues to thrive in Ancient India, and the Kingdom of Qin
in Ancient China, the one which in the future will conquer its adversaries and unite China, begins to emerge as a significant power during the Warring States Period
.
Hellenistic civilization
Hellenistic civilization represents the zenith of Greek influence in the ancient world from 323 BCE to about 146 BCE...
begins its emergence throughout the successor states of the former Argead Macedonian Empire
Diadochi
The Diadochi were the rival generals, family and friends of Alexander the Great who fought for the control of Alexander's empire after his death in 323 BC...
of Alexander the Great resulting in the diffusion of Greek culture throughout the Ancient world and advances in Science, mathematics, philosophy and etc. Meanwhile, the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
is embroiled in war against the Samnites, the Mauryan Empire continues to thrive in Ancient India, and the Kingdom of Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
in Ancient China, the one which in the future will conquer its adversaries and unite China, begins to emerge as a significant power during the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
.
Significant people
- NanKing Nan of ZhouKing Nan of Zhou, ch. 周赧王, py. zhōu năn wáng, wg, King Nan of Zhou, or less commonly King Yin of Zhou, trad. ch.: 周隱王, sim. Ch.: 周隐王, py: zhōu yĭn wáng, wg: King Yin of Zhou was the thirty-sixth and last sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. He was King for fifty-nine years, longest in Zhou...
, Zhou dynastyZhou DynastyThe Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
king of China, r. 314–256 BC - Perunar killi, King of the Chola Empire, r. 316-286 BC
- Huai, King of ChuChu (state)The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
, r. 328–299 BC - Qingxiang, King of ChuChu (state)The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
, r. 299–263 BC - Qu YuanQu YuanQu Yuan was a Chinese poet who lived during the Warring States Period in ancient China. He is famous for his contributions to the poetry collection known as the Chu-ci...
, poet, scholar, and minister from ChuChu (state)The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong... - Ptolemy IPtolemy I SoterPtolemy I Soter I , also known as Ptolemy Lagides, c. 367 BC – c. 283 BC, was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great, who became ruler of Egypt and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty...
, Pharaoh of EgyptAncient EgyptAncient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
, r. 305–285 BC - EuclidEuclidEuclid , fl. 300 BC, also known as Euclid of Alexandria, was a Greek mathematician, often referred to as the "Father of Geometry". He was active in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy I...
of Alexandria, mathematician and "Father of Geometry" - Onias IOnias IOnias I was the son of the Jaddua mentioned in Nehemiah. According to Josephus, this Jaddua is said to have been a contemporary of Alexander the Great. I Maccabees regards Onias as a contemporary of the Spartan king Areus I...
High-Priest of Israel, held position 320–280 BC - Neoptolemus IINeoptolemus II of EpirusNeoptolemus II of Epirus was a son of Alexander I of Epirus and Cleopatra of Macedonia....
, King of Epirus, r. 302–297 BC - Pyrrhus IPyrrhus of EpirusPyrrhus or Pyrrhos was a Greek general and statesman of the Hellenistic era. He was king of the Greek tribe of Molossians, of the royal Aeacid house , and later he became king of Epirus and Macedon . He was one of the strongest opponents of early Rome...
, King of Epirus, r. 307–302, 297–272 BC - KōanEmperor Koan; also known as Yamatotarashihikokunioshihito no Mikoto; was the sixth emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 392 BC through 291 BC, but he may have...
, Legendary Emperor of Japan, r. 392–291 BC - KōreiEmperor Korei; also known as Ooyamatonekohikofutoni no Mikoto; was the seventh emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 290 BC–215 BC, but he may have lived in the...
, Legendary Emperor of Japan, r. 291–215 BC - CassanderCassanderCassander , King of Macedonia , was a son of Antipater, and founder of the Antipatrid dynasty...
, King of Macedon, r. 305–297 BC - Philip IVPhilip IV of MacedonPhilip IV of Macedon was the son of Cassander. He briefly succeeded his father on the throne of Macedon prior to his death....
, King of Macedon, r. 297 BC - Alexander VAlexander V of MacedonAlexander V of Macedon was the third and youngest son of Cassander and Thessalonica of Macedon, who was a half-sister of Alexander the Great. He ruled as King of Macedon along with his brother Antipater from 297 to 294 BC...
and Antipater IIAntipater II of MacedonAntipater II of Macedon , was the son of Cassander and Thessalonike of Macedon, who was a half-sister of Alexander the Great. He was king of Macedon from 297 BC until 294 BC, jointly with his brother Alexander V. Eventually, he murdered his mother and ousted his brother from the throne...
, co-kings of Macedon r. 297–294 BC - Demetrius IDemetrius I of MacedonDemetrius I , called Poliorcetes , son of Antigonus I Monophthalmus and Stratonice, was a king of Macedon...
, King of Macedon, r. 294–288 BC - EpicurusEpicurusEpicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher and the founder of the school of philosophy called Epicureanism.Only a few fragments and letters remain of Epicurus's 300 written works...
, Greek philosopher (founder of EpicureanismEpicureanismEpicureanism is a system of philosophy based upon the teachings of Epicurus, founded around 307 BC. Epicurus was an atomic materialist, following in the steps of Democritus. His materialism led him to a general attack on superstition and divine intervention. Following Aristippus—about whom...
) - Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya , was the founder of the Maurya Empire. Chandragupta succeeded in conquering most of the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta is considered the first unifier of India and its first genuine emperor...
, Mauryan dynasty Emperor of India, r. 322–298 BC - BindusaraBindusaraBindusara was the second Mauryan emperor after Chandragupta Maurya. During his reign, the empire expanded southwards. He had two well-known sons, Susima and Ashoka, who were the viceroys of Taxila and Ujjain...
, Mauryan dynasty Emperor of India, r. 298–272 BC - ChanakyaChanakyaChānakya was a teacher to the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta , and the first Indian emperor generally considered to be the architect of his rise to power. Traditionally, Chanakya is also identified by the names Kautilya and VishnuGupta, who authored the ancient Indian political treatise...
, Mauryan Prime Minister - Zhaoxiang, King of Qin, r. 307–251 BC
- Bai QiBai QiBái Qǐ was an outstanding military leader of the State of Qin during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Born in Mei , as commander of the Qin army for more than 30 years, Bai Qi was responsible for the deaths of a total over 890,000 enemy soldiers, earning him the nickname Ren Tu...
, Qin general - Lucius Cornelius Scipio BarbatusLucius Cornelius Scipio BarbatusLucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus was one of the two elected Roman consuls in 298 BC. He led the Roman army to victory against the Etruscans near Volterra...
, Roman ConsulRoman consulA consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
and general, in office 298 BC - Publius Decius MusPublius Decius Mus (312 BC)Publius Decius Mus , of the plebeian Decia, was a Roman consul in the years 312 BC, 308 BC, 297 BC and 295 BC. He was a member of a family that was renowned for sacrificing themselves on the battlefield for Rome.-First and second consulship:...
, Roman ConsulRoman consulA consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
, in office 312, 308, 297, 295 BC - Fabius Maximus RullianusFabius Maximus RullianusQuintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus , son of Marcus Fabius Ambustus, of the patrician Fabii of ancient Rome, was five times consul and a hero of the Samnite Wars. He was brother to Marcus Fabius Ambustus ....
, Roman ConsulRoman consulA consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
, in office 322, 310, 308, 297, 295 BC - Gellius EgnatiusEgnatiusGellius Egnatius was the leader of the Samnites during the Third Samnite War, which broke out in 298 BC. By the end of the second campaign the Samnites appeared completely defeated, however in the following year Gallius Egnatius marched into Etruria, and roused the Etruscans to a close co-operation...
, leader of the Samnites during the Third Samnite War - Seleucus ISeleucus I NicatorSeleucus I was a Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great and one of the Diadochi. In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander's death, Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire...
, King of the Seleucid EmpireSeleucid EmpireThe Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
, r. 305–281 BC - AntiochusAntiochus I SoterAntiochus I Soter , was a king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. He reigned from 281 BC - 261 BC....
, Prince, commander of western territories, and future king of the Seleucid Empire - BerossusBerossusBerossus was a Hellenistic-era Babylonian writer, a priest of Bel Marduk and astronomer writing in Greek, who was active at the beginning of the 3rd century BC...
of Babylon, astronomer and writer - MegasthenesMegasthenesMegasthenes was a Greek ethnographer in the Hellenistic period, author of the work Indica.He was born in Asia Minor and became an ambassador of Seleucus I of Syria possibly to Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra, India. However the exact date of his embassy is uncertain...
, traveller, geographer, and Seleucid ambassador to the Mauryan Empire - Areus IAreus IAreus I was Agiad King of Sparta from 309 to 265 BC, who died in battle near Corinth during the Chremonidean War. He was the grandson of Cleomenes II and was succeeded by his son Acrotatus II.-Military Success:...
(Agaid king) r. 309–265 and Archidamus IVArchidamus IVArchidamus IV was a king of Sparta from 305 BC to c. 275 BC. He was the 23rd of the Eurypontids, the son of Eudamidas I and Arachidamia and the brother of Agesistrata, the nephew of Agis III and the grandson of Archidamus III. In 296 BC he was defeated by Demetrius Poliorcetes. He was succeded by...
(Eurypontid king) r. 305–275 BC, Co-kings of SpartaKings of SpartaSparta was an important Greek city-state in the Peloponnesus. It was unusual among Greek city-states in that it maintained its kingship past the Archaic age. It was even more unusual in that it had two kings simultaneously, coming from two separate lines... - AgathoclesAgathoclesAgathocles , , was tyrant of Syracuse and king of Sicily .-Biography:...
, Tyrant of Syracuse, in office 317–289 BC289 BCYear 289 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Corvus and Noctua... - LysimachusLysimachusLysimachus was a Macedonian officer and diadochus of Alexander the Great, who became a basileus in 306 BC, ruling Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon.-Early Life & Career:...
, King of ThraceThraceThrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
and Asia MinorAsia MinorAsia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
, r. 306 BC (Thrace), 301 BC (Asia Minor)–281 BC (both) - WulingKing Wuling of ZhaoKing Wuling of Zhao reigned in the State of Zhao during the Warring States Period of Chinese history...
, King of ZhaoZhao (state)Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
, r. 326–299 BC - Huiwen, King of ZhaoZhao (state)Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
, r. 299–266 BC
Births
- 299 BC299 BCYear 299 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Paetinus and Torquatus/Corvus...
– Lyco of TroasLyco of TroasLyco of Troas, son of Astyanax, was a Peripatetic philosopher and the disciple of Strato, whom he succeeded as the head of the Peripatetic school, c. 269 BC; and he held that post for more than forty-four years.-Life:...
, philosopher - c. 295 BC295 BCYear 295 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rullianus and Mus...
– Arsinoe I of EgyptArsinoe I of EgyptArsinoe I was a Greek Princess who was of Macedonian and Thessalian descent. She was the second daughter and youngest child born to the diadochus who was King of Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedonia Lysimachus from his first wife the Queen consort, Nicaea of Macedon...
, Queen - 291 BC291 BCYear 291 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Megellus and Brutus...
– Lü Buwei, Statesman of the Kingdom of QinQin (state)The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history... - 290 BC290 BCYear 290 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rufinus and Dentatus...
– Lucius Caecilius MetellusLucius Caecilius Metellus (died 221 BC)Lucius Caecilius Metellus was the son of Lucius Caecilius Metellus Denter. He was Consul in 251 BC and 247 BC, Pontifex Maximus in 243 BC and Dictator in 224 BC....
, Roman statesman
Deaths
- 299 BC299 BCYear 299 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Paetinus and Torquatus/Corvus...
– Titus Manlius TorquatusTitus Manlius Torquatus (consul 299 BC)Titus Manlius T.f. Torquatus was a patrician Roman Republican consul for 299 BC, elected along with a plebeian co-consul Marcus Fulvius Cn.f...
, Roman Consul. - 297 BC297 BCYear 297 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rullianus and Mus...
- Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya , was the founder of the Maurya Empire. Chandragupta succeeded in conquering most of the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta is considered the first unifier of India and its first genuine emperor...
, Emperor of the Maurya EmpireMaurya EmpireThe Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in ancient India, ruled by the Mauryan dynasty from 321 to 185 BC...
in India, r. 322–298 BC (approximate date) - Cassander, King of Macedon, r. 305–297 BC.
- Philip IVPhilip IV of MacedonPhilip IV of Macedon was the son of Cassander. He briefly succeeded his father on the throne of Macedon prior to his death....
, king of Macedon r. 297 BC
- Chandragupta Maurya
- 295 BC295 BCYear 295 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rullianus and Mus...
- Thessalonica of MacedonThessalonica of MacedonThessalonike was a Macedonian princess, the daughter of king Philip II of Macedon by his Thessalian wife or concubine, Nicesipolis, from Pherae. History links her to three of the most powerful men in Macedon—daughter of King Philip II, half sister of Alexander the Great and wife of...
, Macedonian Queen - Publius Decius MusPublius Decius Mus (312 BC)Publius Decius Mus , of the plebeian Decia, was a Roman consul in the years 312 BC, 308 BC, 297 BC and 295 BC. He was a member of a family that was renowned for sacrificing themselves on the battlefield for Rome.-First and second consulship:...
, Roman consul - ZhuangziZhuangziZhuangzi was an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the 4th century BCE during the Warring States Period, a period corresponding to the philosophical summit of Chinese thought — the Hundred Schools of Thought, and is credited with writing—in part or in whole—a work known by his name,...
, Chinese philosopher - King Wuling of ZhaoKing Wuling of ZhaoKing Wuling of Zhao reigned in the State of Zhao during the Warring States Period of Chinese history...
, king of the ChineseChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
State of ZhaoZhao (state)Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others... - Gellius EgnatiusEgnatiusGellius Egnatius was the leader of the Samnites during the Third Samnite War, which broke out in 298 BC. By the end of the second campaign the Samnites appeared completely defeated, however in the following year Gallius Egnatius marched into Etruria, and roused the Etruscans to a close co-operation...
, leader of the Samnites during the Third Samnite War
- Thessalonica of Macedon
- 294 BC294 BCYear 294 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Megellus and Regulus...
- Alexander VAlexander V of MacedonAlexander V of Macedon was the third and youngest son of Cassander and Thessalonica of Macedon, who was a half-sister of Alexander the Great. He ruled as King of Macedon along with his brother Antipater from 297 to 294 BC...
, king of Macedon, r. 297–294 BC. - Marsyas of PellaMarsyas of PellaMarsyas of Pella , son of Periander, was aMacedonian historian. According to Suidas, he was a brother of Antigonus I Monophthalmus, who was afterwards king of Asia, by which an uterine brother alone can be meant, as the father of Antigonus was named Philip...
, historian
- Alexander V
- 291 BC291 BCYear 291 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Megellus and Brutus...
- MenanderMenanderMenander , Greek dramatist, the best-known representative of Athenian New Comedy, was the son of well-to-do parents; his father Diopeithes is identified by some with the Athenian general and governor of the Thracian Chersonese known from the speech of Demosthenes De Chersoneso...
, Athenian dramatist - DinarchusDinarchusDinarchus or Dinarch was a logographer in Ancient Greece. He was the last of the ten Attic orators included in the "Alexandrian Canon" compiled by Aristophanes of Byzantium and Aristarchus of Samothrace in the third century BC.A son of Sostratus , Dinarchus settled at Athens early in life, and...
of Athens, logographer (speech writer)
- Menander
- 290 BC290 BCYear 290 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rufinus and Dentatus...
- Autolycus of PitaneAutolycus of PitaneAutolycus of Pitane was a Greek astronomer, mathematician, and geographer. The lunar crater Autolycus was named in his honour.- Life and work :Autolycus was born in Pitane, a town of Aeolis within Western Anatolia...
, astronomer, mathematician, and geographer - MegasthenesMegasthenesMegasthenes was a Greek ethnographer in the Hellenistic period, author of the work Indica.He was born in Asia Minor and became an ambassador of Seleucus I of Syria possibly to Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra, India. However the exact date of his embassy is uncertain...
, Greek traveller and geographer (approximate date) - OnesicritusOnesicritusOnesicritus , a Greek historical writer, who accompanied Alexander on his campaigns in Asia. He claimed to have been the commander of Alexander's fleet but was actually only a helmsman; Arrian and Nearchus often criticize him for this. When he returned home, he wrote a history of Alexander's...
of Astypalaia, historical writer
- Autolycus of Pitane