300 BC--By this time, Chandragupta Maurya, King of the northern Indian state of Magadha, has built an empire encompassing most of northern India. In 300 BC he attacks Persis, Bactria and Parthia, wresting territory from all of them. The Persian, Parthian, and Bactrian kings agree to pay tribute, and Chandragupta retires.

c. 300 BC: Euclid writes the Elements of Geometry. Philosophic schools of Epicureanism (Epicurus) and Stoicism (Zeno) founded. The Ramayana is composed.

300 BC-293 BC--The First War of the Diadochi. In 300 BC, King Seleucus of Cappadocia, a Macedonian General who has carved out for himself a realm in Asia Minor and is seeking to expand his realm, declares war on King Nabu-apal-usur II of Babylon. Seleucid armies invade northern Mesopotamia, and defeat the Babylonian army near the city of Opis. Seleucus occupies all of Mesopotamia down to Opis, and the stops to consolidate his gains.

Meanwhile, King Nabu-apal-usur desperate seeks allies, and his entreaties meet a favourable response at the court of King Ptolemy of Lydia, a rival Macedonian who also has a realm in Asia Minor. In 299 BC, Ptolemy invades the Seleucid realm in Anatolia, moving rapidly toward the Seleucid capital at Mazaca on the Halys River. Seleucus is forced to withdraw most of his army northward to meet the Ptolemaic threat, and King Nabu-apal-usur takes the opportunity to invade northern Mesopotamia. However, he is defeated by the Seleucid garrison there and forced to retreat.

In 298 BC, Seleucus defeats the Ptolemaic army outside of Mazaca, and Ptolemy is killed. Seleucus invades the Ptolemaic kingdom and annexes it, and Ptolemy Keraunos, heir of the slain king, flees to the court of King Demetrius of Macedon. At this point, Demetrius, fearing to see one of his rivals become too powerful, declares war on Seleucus.

Demetrius lands an army in the Troad in 297 BC, while at the same time, King Nabu-apal-usur of Babylon once again invades northern Mesopotamia. Demetrius is defeated and forced to retreat back across the Hellaspont. The Babylonians are able to make some gains, but do not reclaim all of their lost territory.

These will prove to be the last major campaigns of the war. Inconclusive skirmishing will take place along the borders between the warring powers (mostly naval skirmishing between Seleucus and Demetrius, and land skirmishing between Seleucus and the Babylonians) for the next four years, in which Antigonus and Ptolemy Keraunos will capture Cyprus but little else will change. A treaty is finally agreed upon in 293 BC, ending the war. By the terms of the treaty, Seleucus is to keep the lands he has managed to hold onto until the treaty was signed. Demetrius sets up Ptolemy Keraunos as King of Cyprus...subordinate to himself, of course. Babylon recognizes the new border between itself and Seleucus. The peace will not last long, however.

299 BC--Death of Pharaoh Nekhtnebef II of Egypt. He is succeeded by his son, who reigns as Pharaoh Necho III. Death of King Antigonus "One-Eye" of Macedon. He is succeeded by his son, Demetrius, who will go down in history as "The Besieger" (Poliorcetes in Greek).

297 BC--Death of Cassander, Tyrant of Sicily. He is succeeded by his son, who reigns as Tyrant Antipater II.

295 BC--Pyrrhus comes to the throne of Epirus.

293 BC--The Etruscan League inflicts a decisive defeat on the Celtic tribes north of the Po River and occupies the lands north of the Po and south of the Alps. Some of the Celts remain in the area and accept Etruscan rule, while others migrate north and east, joining other migrating Celts who will soon be entering the Balkans.

290 BC--Bindusara, successor of Chandragupta Maurya, extends the Mauryan Empire to the Deccan.

290-280 BC--Second War of the Diadochi: In 290 BC, King Demetrius Poliorcetes of Macedon, having made alliances with his brother-in-law, King Pyrrhus of Epirus, King Ptolemy Keraunos of Cyprus, and King Nabu-apal-usur II of Babylon, declares war on King Seleucus of Lydia and Cappadocia (as his realm has come to be known). Meanwhile, King Seleucus has made alliances with Tyrant Antipater II of Sicily and with Pharaoh Necho III of Egypt. So, in short order, warfare engulfs the eastern Mediterranean region and much of the near east.

In Anatolia, Macedonian and Cypriot armies clash with those of Seleucus. It is here, after carrying out many sieges of Seleucid fortresses, that King Demetrius earns his nickname of "Besieger." But, although he takes several cities and inflicts a major defeat on the Seleucid army near Sardis, Demetrius fails to achieve ultimate success, and Seleucus is able to retain control of the most important cities in his realm. Demetrius is ultimately forced to drop out of the war and abandon Anatolia in 281 BC by news of Celtic invaders who are ravaging his Macedonian homeland, leaving Seleucus battered, but still in control of his kingdom. Demetrius is killed fighting the Celts, and his successor, Antigonus II Gonatas, sues for peace in 280 BC.

In other arenas, Seleucid armies, in alliance with those of Egypt, also clash with those of Babylon and Cyprus in northern Syria. The war does not go so well for Seleucus there, as the combined Seleucid and Egyptian army suffers a devastating defeat outside Damascus in 285 BC in which Pharaoh Necho III is killed. The Babylonian army then moves north and reclaims Mesopotamia and much of Armenia...since Seleucus is fully occupied with fighting Demetrius of Macedon in western Anatolia, there is little he can do to stop the Babylonian march. Meanwhile, the Cypriot army sweeps southward to gobble up Egypt’s Asian possessions (they find ready allies in the Jews of Yehud, who have been in rebellion against the Egyptians for some decades). Finally, in 283 BC, the Cypriots under Ptolemy Keraunos enter Egypt itself, defeating the Egyptian army at Pelusium. Pharaoh Psammuthes II is captured and executed, and Ptolemy Keraunos establishes himself on the throne of Egypt by 280 BC.

Meanwhile, the forces of Epirus and Sicily battle for control of the Greek colonies in Southern Italy. Pyrrhus lands an army at Tarentum, which was under siege by the forces of Antipater of Sicily. Pyrrhus quickly proves his superiority as a general, and over the next few years campaigns over much of southern Italy, inflicting defeat after defeat on Antipater’s armies. However, Antipater’s fleet defeats that of Pyrrhus, effectively blockading him in southern Italy, and so Pyrrhus is prevented from invading Sicily itself, or returning home to Epirus. So the war eventually reaches a stalemate in that region, with Pyrrhus in control of the Greek cities of southern Italy, and Antipater still uneasily on his throne in Sicily.

A treaty is finally signed in 280 BC which recognizes the status quo as it exists at that time.

288 BC--Death of King Nabu-apal-usur II of Babylon. He is succeeded by his son, who reigns as King Hamurabbi II. Hamurrabi will successfully conclude Babylon’s participation in the Second War of the Diadochi, and afterward his reign will be relatively peaceful, and will see a flowering of the arts and culture in Babylonia. Hammurabi will be known to history more as a builder than as a warrior.

285 BC--Death of Pharaoh Necho III of Egypt in battle outside of Damascus. He is succeeded by his son, who reigns as Pharaoh Psammuthes II.

283 BC onward--The Jews of Yehud, having aided the Ptolemies in their conquest of Egypt, expect to be rewarded with independence, or at least autonomy within the Ptolemaic empire. They are given some lattitude, but in general, their dreams are frustrated. In addition, under the influence of the Ptolemies, the Jews increasingly are exposed to Hellenistic culture, which has deep impacts on their society. Many young Jews want to blend in with the new regime and take part in Greek culture, and this is creating problems. One major issue comes about as Jews start participating in Greek athletic contests. It is the custom for those participating in these contests to do so naked. But Jews, being circumcised, are often subjects of ridicule by the uncircumcised Greeks, who consider the exposed glans of the penis to be a sign of sexual excitement. This makes many young Jews resentful of their own Jewish heritage, which in turn, creates anger and resentment against the Greeks among many Jewish religious leaders, who feel the Greeks are "corrupting" Jewish youth. Tensions will continue to build in the province over the succeeding decades.

282 BC--Pharaoh Psammuthes II of Egypt is captured and executed by Ptolemy Keraunos of Cyprus. End of native rule in Egypt.

281-278 BC--Celtic Invasions of Macedonia and Greece: Beginning in 281 BC, migrating Celtic tribes (Gauls) under the leadership of Brennus enter Thrace and begin invading Macedon and northern Greece. In 281 BC, they defeat the Macedonian army, killing and beheading King Demetrius Poliorcetes, and ravage Macedon. In 279 BC, the Celtic onslaught storms through Greece and succeeds in sacking Delphi, only to meet defeat shortly afterwards at the hands of the Macedonian army commanded by the new King, Antigonus II Gonatas. Brennus kills himself shortly afterward, supposedly by drinking "undiluted wine." However, Macedon loses control of Illyria and much of Thrace to the Celts, who settle the region in large numbers. Indeed, Thrace will become so dominated by Celts that it comes to be known as Galatia, and the Celts there will establish a powerful state which will give Macedon much trouble in the years to come.

280 BC--Concerned by the new power of Epirus which has extended it’s reach over southern Italy, the Etruscan League renews it’s old alliance with Carthage. Also at this time, the Etruscan League grants a vote on the Great Council to the Latin cities of Latium, which have been non-voting members of the League for about 150 years, but have been ruled by Etruscan dynasties since the end of the War of Voluminus. In order to preserve the dominance of the original Etruscan cities on the governing body of the League, the Great Council is reorganized, and a bi-cameral legislative body is created. A new upper house, The Senate, is created, to be composed of members from the original Etruscan cities, while the original Great Council, representing all League cities, becomes the lower house. The Great Council continues to function as in the past, but the Senate...which does not pass laws itself...has the right to veto any law which is passed by said Council.

279 BC--The poor performance of Sicilian arms in the recent war has weakened Tyrant Antipater II’s hold on the throne of Sicily. In 279 BC he is murdered by his cousin, Sosthenes, who usurps the throne. Antipater’s son, Agathocles, flees to Carthage. Also in this year, King Demetrius Poliorcetes of Macedon is killed in battle with invading Celts. He is succeeded by his son, Antigonus II Gonatas ("knock-kneed").

278 BC--Ptolemy Keraunos is murdered by his brother, also called Ptolemy, who usurps the Egyptian Throne. He marries his sister, Arsinoe, who is the widow of Macedonian General Lysimachus (who was killed whilst fighting for Seleucus during the Second War of the Diadochi). This union, while sanctioned by Egyptian custom, scandalizes the Greeks. As in Macedon under Antigonus Gonatas, his reign will mark a minor golden age of Hellenistic culture. Ptolemy will found a major new city on the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast, named Ptolemaia, and will maintain a splendid court there. He will patronize scientists, poets, and philosophers. And he will also found a royal library which will become a center of learning for the Mediterranean world.

277-269 BC--The Fourth Sicilian War: Agathocles, son and legitimate heir of Tyrant Antipater II of Sicily, convinces the Carthaginian Senate to support him in his bid to reclaim the Sicilian throne. The Carthaginians declare war on Tyrant Sosthenes in 277 BC, and Carthaginian forces cross the Halcyus River. Carthage calls on the Etruscan League to join in the attack, but the League declines to take part in an aggressive war. Carthage defeats Sosthenes at Himera, and pursues him back to his capital at Syracuse, which they place under siege. In desperation, Sosthenes sends a plea for assistance to Pyrrhus of Epirus, who lands with an army and raises the siege of Syracuse. Over the next two years, Pyrrhus drives the Carthaginians back, until only their base at Lilybaeum (on the far western end of the island) remains to them. The Carthaginians now again call upon the Etruscan League for assistance, and this time, the Etruscans honour their alliance, since Carthage is clearly on the defensive. An Etruscan army and fleet arrives in Sicily, and begins cooperating with the Carthaginians. Another Etruscan army begins moving south toward the Epirote possessions in southern Italy (this army will not make much progress, but will tie up substantial Epirote forces which could otherwise have been deployed to Sicily). 

In 275 BC, the combined Carthaginian and Etruscan fleet inflicts a massive defeat on that of Pyrrhus off Tarentum, sinking over three quarters of the Epirote fleet. Meanwhile, the Greek cities of southern Italy, which have been very unhappy under the despotic rule of Pyrrhus, rebel and throw out the Epirote garrisons. Pyrrhus, who fears being cut off in Sicily and separated from his sources of supply and reinforcements, abandons Sicily and returns to Epirus, leaving Sosthenes to his fate. 

The Carthaginians and Etruscans advance eastward from Lilybaeum and lay siege to Syracuse again in 273 BC. The city holds out for four years, until the allies finally manage to totally defeat the Sicilian fleet and cut off Syracuse from supply by sea. The city surrenders in 269 BC. Sosthenes, in desperation, commits suicide. The Carthaginians, instead of restoring Agathocles to his throne, renege on their alliance with him, and he is taken back to Carthage and crucified. End of the Antipatrid Dynasty of Sicily. The Carthaginians want to raze Syracuse to the ground and sell the inhabitants into slavery, but the Etruscans...remembering the low return they got from previous interventions in Sicily...demand the city for themselves. Not desiring to go to war...yet...against their erstwhile allies, the Carthaginians agree. An Etruscan king is installed in Syracuse, who rules the city and the surrounding region. The rest of the island goes to Carthage.

275-273 BC--King Cyrus III of Persis invades Elam. The Elamites are defeated outside the capital at Susa, and Cyrus lays siege to the city. A two year siege results, but Susa eventually falls. Cyrus adds the Elamite lands to his own.

274 BC--King Pyrrhus of Epirus, arriving back in Epirus, decides to take advantage of the chaos reigning in Macedonia since the Celtic invasions of a few years before and invade. He defeats the army of King Antigonus II Gonatas and usurps the Macedonian throne.

273 BC--Death of King Seleucus I of Lydia and Cappadocia. He is succeeded by his son, Antiochus I.

272 BC--King Pyrrhus of Epirus and Macedonia decides to bring the Greek cities of the Achaean League under his control, but is killed while besieging Argos. Antigonus II Gonatas resumes the Macedonian throne and recognizes Greek independence. The latter part of his reign will be comparatively peaceful...marred only by intermittent border raids by the Celts of Galatia... and he gains the affection of his subjects by his honesty and his cultivation of the arts. He gathers round him distinguished literary men...philosophers, poets, and historians...and his reign marks a minor "golden age" of Hellenistic culture in the region. Meanwhile, Alexander II, son of Pyrrhus, assumes the throne of Epirus. Alexander is a weak ruler, and will pay tribute to Antigonus II of Macedon for most of his reign.

270 BC--King Cyrus III of Persis, emboldened by his victory over the Elamites, declares war on Media. He is defeated and killed by the Medes near Ecbatana. He is succeeded by his son, who reigns as Xerxes IV. Xerxes, unlike his father, is not an aggressive ruler, and peace will generally reign on the Iranian plateau for the next couple of decades.

270-240 BC--Intermittent warfare between the Seleucids and the Ptolemies for control of Syria and Palestine. By the end of the period, the Seleucids have achieved control of Syria, but Palestine remains in the hands of the Ptolemies.

269 BC onward--Period of deteriorating relations between Carthage and the Etruscan League. Carthage, upset at having had to accede to the Etruscan demand for Syracuse at the conclusion of the recent war, takes an increasingly hostile attitude toward the Etruscans. The Etruscans, aiming to break the Carthaginian stranglehold on trade in the western Mediterranean, build up Syracuse into a major naval base which directly threatens Carthaginian control of the surrounding region. A tense "cold war" results which will last for some time without bursting into active hostilities. Also at about this time, King Pleuratus unites the warring native tribes of Illyria and forces out the Celts, who had occupied the region for some time, and establishes Illyrian independence. The Illyrians will become a major irritant, pursuing piracy in the Adriatic and launching periodic wars against Macedon and other regional powers.

261 BC--Death of King Antiochus I of Lydia and Cappadocia. He is succeeded by his son, who reigns as King Antiochus II.

258-252 BC--King Antiochus II of Lydia and Cappadocia declares war on King Hammurabi II of Babylon. In bitter fighting, Seleucid armies retake Armenia and part of northern Mesopotamia. But a new outbreak of fighting on the border between the Seleucids and the Ptolemies forces Antiochus to cut short the war, and Hammurabi accepts a peace based on the current status quo in 252 BC.

259 BC--The Mauryan King Ashoka converts to Buddhism and sends out Buddhist missionaries to the surrounding regions.

251 BC--Ashoka's son Mahinda introduces Buddhism to Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

c. 250 BC--The Parni, a Scythian tribe from the region north of the Jaxartes River, move south into Parthia. In India, Buddhists carve the first cave temples (Lomas Rishi).

249 BC--Agron comes to the throne of Illyria, which had been united under his father, King Pleuratus, about two decades earlier. Under his rule, Illyria will rise to become a great power, at least for a brief time, playing a pivotal role in the struggle for power between Macedon and the Achaean League which will occupy most of the latter half of the Third Century, B.C.

247 BC--Arsaces becomes ruler of the Parni, founding the Arsacid Dynasty.

245 BC--Aratos of Sicyon becomes Strategos of the Achaean League for the first time. He will hold this post, with brief interruptions, for most of the next three decades. During this time he will work toward the destruction of the power of Macedon and the unification of all the Greek polei under the banner of the Achaean League.

246 BC--King Antiochus II of Lydia and Cappadocia is poisoned by his wife, Laodice. He is succeeded by his son by Laodice, who reigns as King Seleucus II. Seleucus is a weak individual, and it is not long before he is openly challenged by his younger brother, Antiochus Hierax. Laodice will throw her support behind her younger son before too long, and the Seleucid kingdom will fall into civil war. Also in this year, King Ptolemy II of Egypt dies, and is succeeded by his son, who reigns as King Ptolemy III.

240 BC--Death of King Hamurabbi II of Babylon. He is succeeded by his son, who reigns as King Nebuchadnezzar IV. Also in this year, the Etruscan League votes to admit the Marsi, Paeligni, Marrucini and Vestini as members into the League. All of Italy, except the Greek-held areas in the far south, is under the rule of the Etruscan League.

239 BC--King Nebuchadnezzar IV of Babylon signs a treaty of alliance with King Ptolemy III of Egypt. Seeing the chaos in Asia Minor as the Seleucid Kingdom falls into civil war, the two kingdoms begin preparing for war against the Seleucids. Also in this year, King Antigonus II Gonatas of Macedon dies, and is succeeded by his son, who reigns as King Demetrius II.

238 BC--The Parni, under Arsaces, seize control of the district of Astavene in northern Parthia.

237-235 BC--Undeclared naval war between Carthage and the Etruscan League in the western Mediterranean. Beginning in 237 BC, Carthage takes a more aggressive stance versus Etruscan traders in what she considers her sphere of influence, and begins seizing Etruscan ships on the high seas. In response, the Etruscans begin seizing Carthaginian ships which venture into Etruscan waters. There are several clashes between Etruscan and Carthaginian warships as a result, and it seems that an all-out war is inevitable. But cooler heads prevail, and the two powers agree on a treaty in which each recognizes the right of the other to trade with neutral powers in the western Mediterranean, while recognizing the exclusive rights of each power to trade in certain ports. While the treaty mainly favors Carthage, who gains many more "exclusive" ports than the Etruscans do, the Etruscans do gain one significant plum...the exclusive right to trade at the Greek port of Massilia, in southern Gaul. The Etruscans thus gain unimpeded access to the tin and amber of northern Europe and Britain, as well as other valuable items.

238-230 BC--The Third War of the Diadochi: In 238 BC, hoping to take advantage of the civil war between Seleucus II and his brother, Antiochus Hierax, in Asia Minor, King Ptolemy III of Egypt and King Nebuchadnezzar IV of Babylon declare war on the Seleucid kingdom. Egyptian and Babylonian armies move north into Asia Minor, and advance rapidly against weak Seleucid resistance. By the end of 238 BC Antiochus Hierax has been defeated and killed, and Seleucus II is under siege inside his capital of Seleucia (the former city of Mazaca on the Halys River).

At this point, King Demetrius II of Macedon, who has no desire to see the Ptolemies of Egypt become supreme in Asia Minor, declares war on Egypt and lands an invasion force in the Troad in early 237 BC. He advances rapidly to the relief of Seleucus II at Mazaca, but his army is defeated by the combined Egyptian and Babylonian hosts outside the city and is forced to retreat to Sardis. Mazaca falls later that year, and King Seleucus II is captured and put to death, ending the Seleucid Dynasty.

However, this does not end the war, as King Demetrius of Macedon remains in Asia Minor for the next five years, fighting a see-saw campaign against the Egyptians and Babylonians for control of the lands west of the Halys River. Despite repeated attempts, King Ptolemy’s navy is unable to defeat that of Demetrius, and the Macedonians are able to maintain their lines of supply and reinforcement.

The war would probably have gone on for a few more years, but in 231 BC, Aratos of Sicyon brought the Achaean League into the war against Macedon, and King Demetrius quickly sued for peace with the Egyptians and Babylonians. Those powers, which were by now quite exhausted after almost a decade of war, accepted, and in 230 BC, the three kings agreed on a treaty ending the war. King Demetrius of Macedon retains control of Asia Minor north of the Taurus Mountains and west of the Halys River. Egypt takes the former Seleucid lands east of the line of the Halys and the Taurus Mountains and west of the Euphrates River. Babylon takes the remainder east of the Euphrates.

231-230 BC--War between Macedon and the Achaean League. Aratos of Sicyon, Strategos of the Achaean League, decided to try to take advantage of Macedon’s engagement in Anatolia during the Third War of the Diadochi by declaring war and invading Macedon in 231 BC. King Demetrius of Macedon, however, quickly concluded a peace ending the war with Egypt and Babylon and brought his army home to deal with the invading Greeks. Demetrius also made an alliance with King Agron of Illyria, and the Illyro-Macedonian army decisively defeated the Achaean League’s forces outside of Pella in 230 BC. Aratos of Sicyon sued for peace following this defeat, and Demetrius imposed harsh terms, demanding that the Achaean League acknowledge the overlordship of Macedon and pay a heavy indemnity. Having little choice, the Achaean League accepts these terms.

230 BC onward--Following the Third War of the Diadochi and the destruction of the Seleucid dynasty, a rough equilibrium settles on the eastern Mediterranean. Egypt and Macedon are both absorbed by troubles close to home, and neither has much power to attempt to interfere in the lands claimed by the other. Babylon, too, will experience an interlude of peace under rulers who are much more interested in building than in expansion.

230 BC--King Agron of Illyria, celebrating his recent victory, in alliance with King Demetrius of Macedon, over the Achaean League, drinks a huge quantity of wine and dies of alcohol poisoning. His son, Pinnes, is a mere infant. Agron’s second wife, Teuta, rules as regent. Under her rule, local tribal chieftains will once again reassert their power, and Illyria will gradually fall apart.

235 BC--The Parni, under Prince Tiridates (brother of King Arsaces), seize the remainder of Parthia, deposing the native Parthian dynasty. They will spend the remainder of this century consolidating their rule in Parthia.

229 BC--King Demetrius II of Macedon is killed in battle with the Dardanians, a wild tribe living north of Macedon. His son, Philip, being only nine years old, the rulership of Macedon is taken by a cousin of Demetrius, Antigonus Doson, who rules initially as regent but will, within two years, depose Philip and take the throne for himself.

228 BC--Aratos of Sicyon, Strategos of the Achaean League, has been scheming to end the Macedonian domination of the Achaean League since the end of the recent war. Seeing an opportunity with the death of King Demetrius II, Aratos forms alliances with Queen Teuta of Illyria and the Celts of Galatia against Macedon.

225-221 BC--The War of Aratos: In 225 BC, the alliance of the Achaean League, Illyria, and the Celts of Galatia declare war on Macedon. King Antigonus III Doson of Macedon fights valiantly, allied with King Pyrrhus III of Epirus, against the combined armies of the three neighboring powers, but to no avail. He is killed in 221 BC in battle against the Illyrians, and Macedon is cast down. The Achaean League occupies the Greek cities which had been ruled by Macedon, and large sections are annexed by Illyria and Galatia. A Macedonian rump state, ruled by a puppet imposed by the Achaean League, is all that is left of the once-proud Macedonian nation. Meanwhile, Philip IV, deposed son of Demetrius II, flees to Macedon’s Anatolian possessions and establishes himself there.

222 BC--Death of King Nebuchadnezzar IV of Babylon. He is succeeded by his son, who reigns as King Sargon III (Akkadian King Sargon being the first, and Sargon II of Assyria being the second). Sargon will occupy his reign with great building projects in Babylon and other cities of his empire, and the military power of Babylon will gradually begin to fall apart during his reign as a result of a policy of "benign neglect." In the short term, this has little impact as Babylon’s neighbors are also in a state of weakness. In the long term, it will prove disastrous. Also in this year, King Ptolemy III of Egypt dies, and is succeeded by his son, who reigns as King Ptolemy IV. With the accession of Ptolemy IV, the power of Egypt also begins a slow, steady decline as the Ptolemaic kings come increasingly under the domination of corrupt court favorites who loot the treasury and direct Egypt’s foreign and domestic policy ineptly for their own aggrandizement.

221 BC onward--In the aftermath of the War of Aratos, the victorious powers all find that the lack of a direct Macedonian threat removes the urge toward unity and allows centrifugal forces within their midst to begin tearing them apart. Queen Teuta of Illyria, as mentioned elsewhere, is soon faced with increasing challenges from local Illyrian tribal chieftains, who increasingly assert their own power over that of the Queen. The assassination of Aratos of Sicyon in 220 BC, shortly after the end of the victorious war, will lead to the breakup of the Achaean League by 210 BC. Only Galatia maintains a sort of stability. The loose governmental system of Galatia...which is ruled by a committee of three Tetrarchs who are elected by a Council of the Tribes which meets bi-annually, proves resilient, and Galatia remains unified, although there are brief outbreaks of warfare between the constituent tribes of the Galatian League. But Galatia is the exception to the rule, and by the end of the century, a power vacuum exists in the Balkans which will prove inviting to outside powers. It will be only a matter of time before a conqueror arrives to exploit it.

221 BC--King Antigonus II Doson of Macedon is killed in battle against the Illryians. Philip IV, son of Demetrius II who had been deposed by Antigonus Doson a few years earlier, ascends the throne, but has to flee into exile in Anatolia. Philip will work toward the restoration of the power of Macedon, but is handicapped by the lack of sufficient resources in his remaining provinces and so is not immediately able to make war on his neighbors. But given time, that might change...and Philip is a patient man.

220 BC--In India, the Maurya dynasty under Ashoka's son Bindusara expands to control almost all of India.

219 BC--With the weakening of Illyrian royal power, Illyrian piracy in the Adriatic is reaching epidemic levels, seriously impacting Etruscan trade in the region. In 219 BC, the Etruscan League carries out a punitive expedition to Illyria in an effort to stamp out Illyrian piracy in the Adriatic. The Etruscans defeat the Illryian fleet and burn several seaport towns which serve as pirate havens. The Illyrian pirates are scattered...for a while.

218 BC--Death of King Arsaces I of Parthia. He is succeeded by his brother, who reigns as King Tiridates I.

211 BC--King Tiridates I of Parthia dies, and is succeeded by his son, who reigns as King Arsaces II. King Pinnes of Illyria comes of age and assumes the throne of Illyria. Unfortunately, the degeneration of royal authority which had begun under Queen Teuta has progressed too far to reverse easily, and Pinnes will be a king with very little power.

207 BC--Second punitive expedition by the Etruscan League against Illyrian pirate bases in the Adriatic.

204 BC--King Ptolemy IV of Egypt dies, and is succeeded by his son, who reigns as King Ptolemy V. The decline of Egyptian power continues under Ptolemy’s inept rule.

201-195 BC--Former Macedonian king Philip IV takes advantage of the power vacuum in the Balkan Peninsula and invades with the aim of re-establishing his rule over Macedon. The disunited Greek polei and the weakened Illyrians and Galatians are powerless to intervene, and the puppet ruler installed in Macedon is captured and executed. Philip campaigns in the region until he has restored Macedon to it’s full former territorial extent and re-established Macedonian hegemony over the surrounding states.

200 BC--The Andhras rebel against Mauryan rule and occupy the Indian east coast

PART TWO: 200-100 B.C.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Background picture is a bronze statue of an Etruscan warrior, c. 450 BC, and is used courtesy of THE CITY REVIEW.

Other clipart is courtesy of

Copyright 2005 by Robert Perkins, all rights reserved.  Last updated on 16 September 2005.