3rd century BC

The 3rd century BC started on the first day of 300 BC and ended on the last day of 201 BC. It was part of the Classical Era, a time when many important events shaped the world.

In the Mediterranean Basin, powerful kingdoms like those created by Alexander the Great and the trading city of ancient Carthage fought for control. This led to big wars between Carthage and the rising power of the Roman Republic. After these wars, Rome became the strongest force in the western Mediterranean.

Far to the east, in India, a ruler named Ashoka led the Maurya Empire. Meanwhile, in China, a leader called Qin Shi Huang united many smaller states to form the first big empire of China, known as the Qin dynasty. Not long after, a new dynasty called the Han dynasty began.

In Korea, early history was just beginning, and in Mongolia, a group known as the Xiongnu were very powerful. They even fought the Chinese and made agreements that lasted for many years.

The world in the 3rd century BC

The 3rd century BC started on the first day of 300 BC and ended on the last day of 201 BC. It was part of a time called the Classical Era.

During this time, powerful Greek kingdoms and the rich city of Carthage shared the land around the Mediterranean Sea. But then, big troubles began between Carthage and the Roman Republic, changing everything.

Events

290s BC

Main article: 290s BC

The Samnites started a war against Rome. New leaders took over in Macedonia and China. Rome fought battles, and leaders changed in other places.

280s BC

Main article: 280s BC

Important buildings like the Pharos of Alexandria and the Colossus of Rhodes were finished. A king from Epirus tried to take over Italy. New leaders came to power in the Seleucid Empire and the Achaean League.

270s BC

Main article: 270s BC

Belgrade and Zemun were founded by Celtic people. Pyrrhus of Epirus left Italy after battles with Rome. There were battles in Greece and Syria, and Ashoka the Great began ruling the Maurya Empire.

260s BC

Main article: 260s BC

Big wars happened in China and between Carthage and Rome. New leaders took over in the Seleucid Empire. Ashoka made important rules known as the Edicts of Ashoka.

250s BC

Main article: 250s BC

New leaders took over in Vietnam, changing the ruling families there.

240s BC

Main article: 240s BC

Wars continued in Syria. The First Punic War ended with Rome winning. Chinese mathematicians observed Halley's Comet.

230s BC

Main article: 230s BC

The Qin State in China took over Han. A new empire called the Satavahana Empire began in India.

220s BC

Main article: 220s BC

Rome won a war against Illyria. The last tyrants in the Peloponnese left power. Big battles happened in China and Greece. Qin Shi Huang united China into one empire.

210s BC

Main article: 210s BC

The Second Punic War began when Hannibal crossed the Alps to attack Italy. Hannibal won a big battle against Rome. Qin Shi Huang started building the Great Wall of China.

200s BC

Main article: 200s BC

New empires began in Vietnam and China. The Second Punic War ended with Rome winning. The Han dynasty started in China. Rome began a war against Macedon. Indian traders visited Arabia, and Scythians moved into modern-day Uzbekistan.

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

Many important discoveries and inventions changed how people lived during this time.

Eratosthenes figured out the size of the Earth and found a way to work with special numbers called prime numbers. A game called Weiqi, also known as Go, became popular in China. People in Southern India began making strong steel. The idea of adding an extra day every few years, called a leap year, began in Egypt. The first sundial in Rome was made. A device to move water, called a water screw, was invented by Archimedes. Euclid introduced a math method we still use today. Ctesibius in Alexandria created an early musical instrument. People in India began to smelt zinc from its ore. In China, an impressive puppet theater was found, and a huge water control system was built by Li Bing in 256 BC. Silk from China began to be traded in Europe. The Greeks made models of the sky to help teach and invented a rotating mill.

Significant people

The 3rd century BC was a time of important leaders, thinkers, and creators.

Politics

• Appius Claudius Caecus, Roman leader
• Aratus of Sicyon, Greek leader
• Arsinoe II, co-ruler of Egypt
• Ashoka, ruler of India
• Bindusara, ruler of the Mauryan Empire
• Diodotus I, first ruler of Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
• Emperor Gaozu of Han (高皇帝), founder of the Han dynasty in China
• Hamilcar Barca, Carthaginian general
• Hannibal, Carthaginian general
• Hanno the Great, Carthaginian leader
• Ilamchetchenni, king of the Chola dynasty in South India
• Nedunjeliyan I, ruler of the Pandya dynasty in South India
• King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Chinese king
• Li Bing (李冰), Chinese leader
• Li Si (李斯), Chinese Chancellor of the Qin dynasty
• Lü Buwei, Chinese leader
• Lin Xiangru, Chinese leader
• Marcus Porcius Cato, Roman leader
• Masinissa, king of Numidia
• Modu Chanyu, Xiongnu leader
• Philip V of Macedon, King of Macedonia
• Ptolemy I, pharaoh of Egypt
• Ptolemy II, pharaoh of Egypt
• Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, Roman general
• Pyrrhus of Epirus, King of Epirus
• Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇), Chinese Emperor
• Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, Roman general
• Xiao He, Chinese Chancellor of the Han dynasty
• Zhang Liang, Chinese leader

Military

• Bai Qi (白起), Chinese general
• Gaius Lutatius Catulus, Roman general
• Han Xin, Chinese general
• Hasdrubal Barca, Carthaginian general
• Lian Po, Chinese general
• Li Mu, Chinese general
• Mago Barca, Carthaginian general
• Manius Curius Dentatus, Roman general
• Marcus Atilius Regulus, Roman general
• Marcus Claudius Marcellus, Roman general
• Meng Tian, Chinese general
• Xanthippus of Carthage, Greek general
• Wang Jian, Chinese general
• Xiang Yu (項羽), Chinese general
• Zhao Tuo, Chinese leader who ruled Au Lac

Literature

• Apollonius of Rhodes, Greek poet
• Aratus, Greek poet
• Callimachus, Greek poet
• Gnaeus Naevius, Roman poet
• Herodas, Greek writer
• Menander, Greek playwright
• Menippus, Greek writer
• Plautus, Old Latin playwright
• Song Yu (宋玉), Chinese poet
• Theocritus, Greek poet
• Timaeus, Greek Historian
• Qu Yuan (屈原), Chinese poet
• Sangam literature (300BC-100AD), of the Tamil language

Science and philosophy

• Apollonius of Perga, Greek mathematician
• Arcesilaus, Greek philosopher
• Archimedes, Greek scientist
• Aristarchus of Samos, Greek scientist
• Aristillus, the Greek scientist
• Berossus Hellenistic historian and scientist
• Conon of Samos, the Greek scientist
• Demetrius of Phalerum, Greek philosopher
• Dicaearchus, Greek philosopher
• Epicurus, Greek philosopher
• Eratosthenes, Greek scientist
• Euclid, the Greek scientist
• Han Fei (韓非), Chinese philosopher
• Manetho, Hellenistic historian
• Mencius, Chinese philosopher
• Philo of Byzantium, Greek scientist
• Pyrrho, Greek philosopher
• Theophrastus, Greek philosopher
• Timon of Phlius, Greek philosopher
• Xun Kuang (荀況, Xun Li), Chinese philosopher
• Zeno of Citium, Greek philosopher
• Zenodotus, Greek scholar

Sovereign states

See: List of sovereign states in the 3rd century BC.

The 3rd century BC started on the first day of 300 BC and ended on the last day of 201 BC. It was part of a time called the Classical Era.

During this time, around the Mediterranean Sea, there were several Greek kingdoms and the powerful city of Carthage. Later, big fights began between Carthage and the Roman Republic, which changed many things.