View source for 3rd century BC

{{Short description|One hundred years, from 300 BC to 201 BC}}
{{redirect|200s BC|the decade|200s BC (decade)}}
{{Centurybox|-3}}
[[File:Hannibal traverse le Rhône Henri Motte 1878.jpg|thumb|right|320px|[[Hannibal]] [[Hannibal's crossing of the Alps|crosses the Alps]] during the [[Second Punic War]]]]

The '''3rd century BC''' started the first day of [[300 BC]] and ended the last day of [[201 BC]]. It is considered part of the [[Classical antiquity|Classical Era]], [[Epoch (reference date)|epoch]], or [[historical period]].

In the [[Mediterranean Basin]], the first few decades of this century were characterized by a balance of power between the [[Greeks|Greek]] [[Hellenistic]] kingdoms in the east, and the great mercantile power of [[Carthage]] in the west. This balance was shattered when conflict arose between [[ancient Carthage]] and the [[Roman Republic]]. In the following decades, the [[Carthaginian Republic]] was first humbled and then destroyed by the Romans in the [[First Punic War|First]] and Second [[Punic Wars]]. Following the [[Second Punic War]], Rome became the most important power in the western Mediterranean.

In the [[eastern Mediterranean]], the [[Seleucid Empire]] and [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]], [[Diadochi|successor states]] to the empire of [[Alexander the Great]], fought a series of [[Syrian Wars]] for control over the [[Levant]]. In [[mainland Greece]], the short-lived [[Antipatrid dynasty]] of [[Macedon]] was overthrown and replaced by the [[Antigonid dynasty]] in 294 BC, a royal house that would dominate the affairs of [[Hellenistic Greece]] for roughly a century until the stalemate of the [[First Macedonian War]] against [[Ancient Rome|Rome]]. Macedon would also lose the [[Cretan War (205–200 BC)|Cretan War]] against the Greek city-state of [[Rhodes]] and its allies.

In [[India]], [[Ashoka]] ruled the [[Maurya Empire]]. The [[Early Pandyan Kingdom|Pandya]], [[early Cholas|Chola]] and [[Chera dynasty|Chera]] dynasties of the classical age flourished in the [[ancient Tamil country]].

The [[Warring States]] period in [[Imperial China|China]] drew to a close, with [[Qin Shi Huang]] conquering the six other nation-states and establishing the short-lived [[Qin dynasty]], the first empire of China, which was followed in the same century by the long-lasting [[Han dynasty]]. However, a brief interregnum and civil war existed between the Qin and Han periods known as the [[Chu-Han contention]], lasting until 202 BC with the ultimate victory of [[Liu Bang]] over [[Xiang Yu]].

The [[Proto–Three Kingdoms Period|Protohistoric Period]] began in [[Korean Peninsula|Korea]]. In the following century the Chinese Han dynasty would conquer the [[Gojoseon]] kingdom of northern Korea. The [[Xiongnu]] were at the height of their power in [[Mongolia]]. They defeated the Han Chinese at the [[Battle of Baideng]] in 200 BC, marking the beginning of the forced ''[[Heqin]]'' tributary agreement and marriage alliance that would last several decades.

==The world in the 3rd century BC==

[[File:World in 300 BCE.PNG|thumb|550px|centre|Map of the world in 300 BC, the beginning of the third century BC.]]

[[File:Hellenistic world and Maurya Empire 281 BCE.png|thumb|550px|centre|Map of the Hellenistic world and Maurya Empire in 281 BC.]]

[[File:East-Hem 200bc.jpg|thumb|550px|centre|Map of the world in 200 BC, the end of the third century BC.]]

==Events==
===[[290s BC]]===

*[[299 BC]]: The [[Samnites]], seizing their chance when Rome is engaged on the [[Lombardy|Lombard]] plain, start the [[Third Samnite War]] with a collection of mercenaries from [[Gaul]] and [[Sabine]] and [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] allies to help them.
*[[298 BC]]: The Samnites defeat the [[Roman Republic|Romans]] under [[Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus]] in the [[Battle of Camerinum]], the first battle of the Third Samnite War.
*[[294 BC]]: [[Antipater II of Macedon]] is killed by [[Lysimachus]], allowing [[Demetrius I of Macedon|Demetrius I]] to become [[King of Macedonia|king]] of [[Macedon]]ia, thus ending the [[Antipatrid dynasty]]'s control over [[Hellenistic Greece]] and ushering in a period of rule by the [[Antigonid dynasty]].
*[[293 BC]]: The Chinese [[Qin (state)|State of Qin]] reduced the threat of the [[Wei (state)|State of Wei]] and the [[Han (Warring States)|State of Han]] with the Qin victory in the [[Battle of Yique]].
*Roman armies penetrate into the heart of the Samnite territory and then capture the Samnite cities of Taurasia, Bovianum Vetus and [[Aufidena]].
*[[Agathocles of Syracuse|Agathocles]], king of [[Syracuse, Sicily]], assists the Italian Greeks against the [[Bruttians]].
*[[Bindusara]] succeeds his father [[Chandragupta Maurya]] as emperor of the [[Mauryan dynasty|Mauryan Empire]].
*The [[Epi-Olmec culture]] forms as a successor civilization to the [[Olmecs]] in [[Mesoamerica]].

===[[280s BC]]===
*[[285 BC]]: The [[Pharos of Alexandria]] is completed.
*[[281 BC]]: [[Antiochus I Soter]], on the assassination of his father [[Seleucus I Nicator|Seleucus]] becomes emperor of the [[Seleucid empire]].
*[[281 BC]]: [[Achaean League]] founded in Greece.
*[[280 BC]]: King [[Pyrrhus of Epirus]] invades Italy in an attempt to subjugate the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] and bring [[Italy]] under a new empire ruled by himself.
*280 BC: Construction of the [[Colossus of Rhodes]] is completed.

===[[270s BC]]===
[[File:Sarnath capital.jpg|thumb|The [[Lion Capital of Ashoka]] of [[Sarnath]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India, now the [[National Emblem of India]], 3rd century BC, dated to the reign of [[Ashoka the Great]] during the [[Maurya Empire]]]]

*[[279 BC]]: [[Singidunum]] and [[Taurunum]], today's [[Belgrade]] and [[Zemun]], are founded by [[Scordisci]] Celts.
*After failing to decisively defeat the Romans, [[Pyrrhus of Epirus]] withdraws from [[Italy]].
*[[Gauls|Gallic]] migration to [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedon]], [[Thrace]] and [[Galatia]]. During the [[Gallic invasion of Greece]], the Macedonian king [[Ptolemy Keraunos]] is killed in battle by the forces of the Celtic ruler [[Bolgios]]. However, both he and [[Brennus (3rd century BC)|Brennus]] are driven out of Macedonian territory by [[Sosthenes of Macedon]].
*[[277 BC]]: in the [[Battle of Lysimachia]], the invasion by Gauls is finally defeated by [[Antigonus II of Macedon]]. 
*[[274 BC]]: the [[Syrian Wars|First Syrian War]] erupts between [[Antiochus I Soter]] of the [[Seleucid dynasty]] and [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]] of the [[Ptolemaic dynasty]] over control of [[Syria]] and southern [[Anatolia]].
*[[273 BC]] – [[232 BC]]: [[Ashoka the Great]] ruled the [[Maurya Empire]].

===[[260s BC]]===
*[[265 BC]]: [[Kalinga War]] takes place between [[Ashoka the Great]] and the [[Kalinga (historical kingdom)|kingdom of Kalinga]].
*[[264 BC]]: [[First Punic War]] breaks out between the Carthaginian Empire and the [[Roman Republic]].
*[[261 BC]]: [[Antiochus II Theos]], 2nd son, at the death of his father becomes emperor of the [[Seleucid empire]].
*[[260 BC]]: [[Battle of Changping]] between the [[Qin (state)|State of Qin]] and the [[Zhao (state)|State of Zhao]] in China; a decisive Qin victory.
*[[260 BC]]: [[Ashoka]] inscribes the [[Edicts of Ashoka]].

===[[250s BC]]===
*[[258 BC]]: [[An Dương Vương]] overthrows the [[Hồng Bàng dynasty]] in [[Viet Nam]].
*[[257 BC]]: [[Thục dynasty]] takes over Vietnam.

===[[240s BC]]===
*[[246 BC]]: The death of [[Antiochus II]] sparks the [[Third Syrian War]]; [[Ptolemy III]] conquers Syria and Babylon from the Seleucids, but loses the [[Nesiotic League]] to [[Antigonus II]]
*[[243 BC]]: Surprise attack on the [[Macedon]]ian garrison at [[Corinth]]. Expansion of the Achaean League.
*[[241 BC]]: [[First Punic War]] ends in Carthaginian defeat. Rome demands large reparations, and annexes [[Sicily]] and [[Corsica]].
*[[240 BC]]: On May 15, Chinese mathematicians observed and recorded the passage of the [[Halley's Comet]].
[[File:Terrakottaarmén.jpg|thumb|right|The [[History of China|Chinese]] [[Terracotta Army]] of [[Qin Shi Huang]]'s tomb at [[Xi'an]], [[Shaanxi]], China]]

===[[230s BC]]===
*[[230 BC]]: The Chinese [[State of Qin|Qin State]] conquers [[State of Han|Han]].
*[[230 BC]]: [[Simuka]] declares independence from Mauryan rule and establishes the [[Satavahana Empire]].

===[[220s BC]]===
*[[229 BC]]: The [[First Illyrian War]] ends with a Roman victory.
*229 BC: Last tyrants on the [[Peloponnese]] abdicate, [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]] joins the Achaean League, [[Athens]] liberated from Macedonian garrison.
*[[227 BC]]: The attempted assassination of [[Ying Zheng]] (嬴政), king of [[State of Qin|Qin State]], by [[Jing Ke]] (荊軻) from [[State of Yan|Yan]] failed.
*[[225 BC]]: A large Gallic army is defeated by the Romans at the [[Battle of Telamon]].
*[[225 BC]]: The Chinese [[State of Qin|Qin State]] conquers [[State of Wei|Wei]].
*[[223 BC]]: The Chinese [[State of Qin|Qin State]] conquers [[State of Chu|Chu]].
*[[222 BC]]: The Chinese [[State of Qin|Qin State]] conquers [[State of Yan|Yan]] and [[State of Zhao|Zhao]].
*222 BC: Spartan defeat in the [[Battle of Sellasia]] ends the [[Cleomenean War]].
*[[221 BC]]: With the conquest of the [[Qi (state)|State of Qi]], [[Qin Shi Huang]] (秦始皇) [[Qin's wars of unification|unifies the whole of China]] into one empire that also included northern Vietnam, forming the [[Qin dynasty]].
*[[220 BC]]: the [[Social War (220–217 BC)]] of Greece begins, pitting [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]] and the [[Achaean League]] against [[Sparta]] and the [[Aetolian League]], ultimately resulting in a Macedonian-Achaean victory with territorial gains for each.

===[[210s BC]]===
*[[218 BC]]: [[Second Punic War]] begins. [[Hannibal]] makes his famous [[Alps|Alpine]] crossing to invade [[Italy]], the Roman heartland.
*[[217 BC]]: [[Antiochus III]] invades the Levant in the [[Third Syrian War]], but is defeated by [[Ptolemy IV]] at the [[Battle of Raphia]].
*[[216 BC]]: [[Hannibal]] famously crushed the Roman legions at the [[Battle of Cannae]].
*[[214 BC]]: [[Qin Shi Huang]] (秦始皇) of the Chinese [[Qin dynasty]] ordered construction of the [[Great Wall of China]]. 
*[[214 BC]]: In the Mediterranean, the [[First Macedonian War]] between Rome and Macedon begins, with Rome encouraging its Greek allies, such as [[Attalus I]] of [[Pergamon]], to attack the forces of [[Philip V of Macedon]].
*[[210 BC]]: [[Qin Shi Huang]] dies while on a trip to the far eastern reaches of his empire in an attempt to procure an [[elixir]] of immortality from [[Taoist]] magicians.

===[[200s BC (decade)|200s BC]]===
*[[208 BC]]: [[Zhao Tuo]] (Triệu Đà) defeats the [[Vietnam]]ese king [[An Dương Vương]].
*[[207 BC]]: [[Triệu dynasty]] of Viet Nam is inaugurated.
*[[206 BC]]: [[Qin dynasty]] falls after men from all over China revolts, attacking officials, raising armies, and declaring themselves kings of seized territories.
*[[206 BC]] – [[202 BC]]: Civil war of the [[Chu-Han contention]] in China.
*[[205 BC]]: the [[Cretan War (205–200 BC)]] begins between [[History of Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]] and its allies against the Greek ''[[polis]]'' of [[Rhodes]] and its allies, resulting in a Rhodian victory.
*[[202 BC]]: Romans defeat Carthage, ending the [[Second Punic War]]. Carthage's territories are reduced to some of its North African holdings, and crippling reparations are demanded by Rome. 
*[[202 BC]]: In East Asia, the Chu-Han contention comes to a close, [[Xiang Yu]] commits suicide, and the [[Han dynasty]] of China is founded (202 BC–220 AD) by [[Liu Bang]].
*[[200 BC]]: The [[Second Macedonian War]] between Rome and Macedon begins.
*[[India]]n traders regularly visit [[Arabia]].
*[[Scythia]]ns occupy [[Sogdiana]], in modern-day [[Uzbekistan]].

==Inventions, discoveries, introductions==
*[[Eratosthenes]] accurately calculates [[Earth's circumference]] and introduces the [[sieve of Eratosthenes]], an algorithm for identifying [[prime number]]s.
*[[Go (board game)|Weiqi]], known as Go in English, well-established in [[China]], and may date back to the [[2nd millennium BC]].
*[[Crucible steel]] was first produced in Southern [[India]].
*Canopus stele of [[Ptolemy III]] implements the [[leap year]] in Egypt. Leap year not formally recognized until Caesar in 55 BC.
*First Roman [[sundial]] (293 BC).<ref>Pliny ''Natural History'' 7.213</ref>
*[[Toe stirrup]] finds its earliest manifestation in [[India]].
*[[Archimedes' screw|Water screw]] invented by [[Archimedes]].
*The [[Euclidean algorithm]], the oldest algorithm still in use today, introduced by [[Euclid]].
*Invention of the [[hydraulis]] (the precursor to the [[Pipe organ]]) by [[Ctesibius]], a Greek engineer working in [[Alexandria]].
*[[Zinc mining]] was first smelted from zinc ore in [[India]]
*[[Emperor Gaozu of Han]] China discovers an elaborate [[Ma Jun (mechanical engineer)#Engineering and technological achievements|mechanical puppet theater]] in the treasury of the previous ruler [[Qin Shi Huang]].
*The enormous [[Du Jiang Yan Irrigation System]] of China is engineered and constructed by [[Li Bing (Qin)|Li Bing]] (李冰) in [[256 BC]].
*Great Stupa, [[Sanchi]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]], [[Maurya period]], is founded by King [[Chandragupta Maurya]].
*[[Silk]] is exported to [[Europe]] from China.
*[[Armillary sphere]]s, models of objects in the sky developed by the Greeks, are in use as teaching tools.
*[[Rotary mill]] invented by the ancient Greeks.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Yannopoulos |first1=Stavros |last2=Lyberatos |first2=Gerasimos |last3=Theodossiou |first3=Nicolaos |last4=Li |first4=Wang |last5=Valipour |first5=Mohammad |last6=Tamburrino |first6=Aldo|author7-link=Andreas N. Angelakis |last7=Angelakis |first7=Andreas |title=Evolution of Water Lifting Devices (Pumps) over the Centuries Worldwide |journal=Water |date=2015 |volume=7 |issue=9 |pages=5031–5060 |doi=10.3390/w7095031 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Significant people==
[[File:Seleuco I Nicatore.JPG|120px|thumb|right|[[Seleucus I]]]]
[[File:Ptolemy I Soter Louvre Ma849.jpg|120px|thumb|right|[[Ptolemy Soter]]]]
[[File:Demetrius I of Macedon.jpg|120px|thumb|right|[[Demetrius Poliorcetes]]]]
[[File:Pyrrhus.JPG|120px|thumb|right|[[Pyrrhus of Epirus]]]]
[[File:Mommsen p265.jpg|120px|thumb|right|[[Hannibal]]]]
[[File:Escipión africano.JPG|120px|thumb|right|[[Scipio Africanus]]]]
[[File:Menander Chiaramonti Inv1453.jpg|120px|thumb|right|[[Menander]]]]
[[File:Paolo Monti - Servizio fotografico (Napoli, 1969) - BEIC 6353768.jpg|120px|thumb|right|[[Zeno of Citium]]]]

=== Politics ===
*[[Appius Claudius Caecus]], Roman statesman
*[[Aratus of Sicyon]], Greek statesman 
*[[Arsinoe II of Egypt|Arsinoe II]], co-ruler of [[Egypt]]
*[[Ashoka]], [[Mauryan]] 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]], [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] general and politician
*[[Hannibal]], Carthaginian general and politician
*[[Hanno the Great]], Carthaginian politician
*[[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 of the [[Qin (state)|Qin]] state
*[[Li Bing (Qin)|Li Bing]] (李冰), Chinese administrator and engineer 
*[[Li Si]] (李斯), Chinese [[Chancellor (China)|Chancellor]] of the [[Qin dynasty]]
*[[Lü Buwei]], Chinese merchant and Chancellor of Qin
*[[Lin Xiangru]], Chinese politician
*[[Cato the Elder|Marcus Porcius Cato]], Roman statesman and writer
*[[Masinissa]], king of [[Numidia]]
*[[Modu Chanyu]], [[Xiongnu]] chieftain
*[[Philip V of Macedon]], King of Macedonia
*[[Ptolemy I of Egypt|Ptolemy I]], [[pharaoh]] of Egypt
*[[Ptolemy II of Egypt|Ptolemy II]], pharaoh of Egypt
*[[Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus]], Roman general and politician
*[[Pyrrhus of Epirus]], King of Epirus
*[[Qin Shi Huang]] (秦始皇), Chinese Emperor
*[[Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus]], Roman general and politician
*[[Xiao He]], Chinese statesman and [[Chancellor (China)|Chancellor]] of the [[Han dynasty]]
*[[Zhang Liang (Western Han)|Zhang Liang]], Chinese strategist and statesman

===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 (Qin)|Wang Jian]], Chinese general
*[[Xiang Yu]] (項羽), Chinese rebel general against the Qin dynasty
*[[Zhao Tuo]], Chinese military commander who conquered the Vietnamese Kingdom of [[Au Lac]]

===Literature===
*[[Apollonius of Rhodes]], Greek poet
*[[Aratus]], Greek poet
*[[Callimachus]], Greek poet and scholar
*[[Gnaeus Naevius]], Roman poet
*[[Herodas]], Greek satirist
*[[Menander]], Greek playwright
*[[Menippus]], Greek satirist
*[[Plautus]], Old Latin playwright
*[[Song Yu]] (宋玉), Chinese poet
*[[Theocritus]], Greek poet 
*[[Timaeus (historian)|Timaeus]], Greek Historian
*[[Qu Yuan]] (屈原), Chinese poet and scholar
*[[Sangam literature]] (300BC-100AD), of the Tamil language

===Science and philosophy===
*[[Apollonius of Perga]], Greek mathematician
*[[Arcesilaus]], Greek philosopher
*[[Archimedes]], Greek mathematician, physicist, and engineer
*[[Aristarchus of Samos]], Greek astronomer and mathematician
*[[Aristillus]], the Greek astronomer
*[[Berossus]] Hellenistic Babylonian historian and astronomer
*[[Conon of Samos]], the Greek astronomer
*[[Demetrius of Phalerum]], Greek philosopher and orator
*[[Dicaearchus]], Greek philosopher and scientist
*[[Epicurus]], Greek philosopher
*[[Eratosthenes]], Greek mathematician, geographer, and astronomer
*[[Euclid]], the Greek geometer
*[[Han Fei]] (韓非), Chinese philosopher
*[[Manetho]], Hellenistic Egyptian historian
*[[Mencius]], Chinese philosopher
*[[Philo of Byzantium]], Greek mechanic
*[[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 grammarian

==Sovereign states==
See: [[List of sovereign states in the 3rd century BC]].

==References==
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{{Decades and years}}
{{Centuries}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:3rd Century BC}}
[[Category:3rd century BC| ]]
[[Category:1st millennium BC|-7]]
[[Category:Centuries|-97]]