200s BC (decade)

This article concerns the 200 BC decade, that lasted from 209 BC to 200 BC.

Map of the Eastern Hemisphere in 200 BC.

209 BC

This section is transcluded from 209 BC. (edit | history)

By place

Roman Republic

• The Romans under Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus capture Tarentum (modern Taranto), which the Carthaginian general Hannibal has held for three years.
• The Battle of Canusium is fought between Hannibal's Carthaginian army and a Roman force led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus. The battle is indecisive.
• From his headquarters at Tarraco (Tarragona), Publius Cornelius Scipio, the Roman commander in Spain, launches a combined military and naval assault on the Carthaginian headquarters at Carthago Nova (modern-day Cartagena). He successfully besieges and captures the city. In capturing this city, Scipio gains access to copious stores and supplies, Spanish hostages, the local silver mines, a splendid harbour and a base for an advance further south.

Seleucid Empire

• The King of the Parthians, Arsaces II, is attacked by the Seleucid king Antiochus III, who takes Hecatompylos (southeast of the Caspian Sea), the Arsacid capital and Syrinx in Hyrcania. Antiochus III defeats Arsaces II at the Battle of Mount Labus and then forces Arsaces II to enter into an alliance with the Seleucids.

Greece

• As strategos of the Achaeans, the Greek general Philopoemen is responsible for turning the Achaean League into an aggressive military power. He builds up the League's military capability. The Achaean League's army and cavalry under Philopoemen then defeat the Aetolians on the Elean frontier.

China

• Jiao, Lord of Wey is deposed by Emperor Qin Er Shi, marking the end of the state of Wei
• In August, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang begin an uprising to oppose Qin
• The rebels restore the monarchies of Chu, Qi, Yan, Zhao, Wei and (in 208) Han.
• The Qin general Zhang Han defeats an invasion of Guanzhong by the rebel general Zhou Wen.
• Wu Guang is killed by his own officers, and Zhang Han defeats Chen Sheng, who is killed by an attendant while in flight.^[1]
• Having helped to conquer Baiyue in northern Vietnam and southern China for the Qin dynasty, the general Zhao Tuo uses the rebellions against the Qin to establish his own independent kingdom in Nanyue, and conquers the neighboring provinces of Guilin and Xiang. He declares himself King Wu of Nanyue.^[2]

Central Asia

• Modun khaan inherits Teoman's Hunnu confederations and founds the Xiongnu Empire in Mongolia proper. Modu's forces push into Northern China, threatening the Qin Empire and forcing them to further fortify the Great Wall.

Births

Transcluding articles: 209 BC, 208 BC, 207 BC, 206 BC, 205 BC, 204 BC, 203 BC, 202 BC, 201 BC, and 200 BC

208 BC

• Liu Ruyi, Chinese prince and only son of the first Han emperor Liu Bang (d. 194 BC)
• Polybius, Greek historian, famous for his book called "The Histories" or "The Rise of the Roman Empire", covering in detail the period between 220 and 146 BC (d. 120 BC)

200 BC

• Chao Cuo, Chinese political advisor and official (approximate date)
• Gongsun Hong, Chinese statesman and chancellor (d. 121 BC)
• Jia Yi, Chinese statesman and poet (d. 170 BC)
• Wen, Chinese emperor of the Han dynasty (d. 157 BC)

Deaths

Transcluding articles: 209 BC, 208 BC, 207 BC, 206 BC, 205 BC, 204 BC, 203 BC, 202 BC, 201 BC, and 200 BC

209 BC

• Touman, chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. (Killed by his successor)

208 BC

• Marcus Claudius Marcellus, Roman general who has captured Syracuse during the Second Punic War and has become known as "the sword of Rome" (b. 268 BC)
• Li Si, Chinese philosopher and politician (assassinated) (b. 280 BC)

207 BC

• June 22 – Hasdrubal Barca, Carthaginian general in the Second Punic War (b. 245 BC)
• date unknown
  • An Dương Vương, King of Nam Việt since 257 BC
  • Chrysippus, Greek philosopher from Soloi who was the principal systematiser of Stoic philosophy (b. c. 280 BC)
  • Hasdrubal Barca, Carthaginian general who has unsuccessfully attempted to sustain Carthage's military ascendancy on the Spanish peninsula in the face of Roman attacks (b. 245 BC)
  • Machanidas, Spartan general and regent (killed in the battle of Mantinea)
  • Qin Er Shi, Emperor of the Qin dynasty of China (assassinated) (b. 229 BC)
  • Simuka, Indian king from 230 BC and the founder of the Satavahana dynasty (b. 230 BC)^{[citation needed]}
  • Zhao Gao, Chief eunuch in the service of the Emperors of the Qin dynasty of China (assassinated)

206 BC

• Chrysippus, Greek Stoic philosopher (approximate date)
• Han Cheng, Chinese ruler of the Eighteen Kingdoms
• Han Guang, Chinese ruler of the Eighteen Kingdoms
• Scerdilaidas, Illyrian king of the Ardiaean Kingdom
• Yi (or Huai II), Chinese ruler of the Chu State
• Ziying, Chinese ruler of the Qin Dynasty

205 BC

• Ptolemy IV Philopator, Greek king of Egypt who has reigned from 221 BC (b. c. 238 BC)
• Sima Ang, Chinese ruler of the Eighteen Kingdoms
• Zhang Han, Chinese general of the Qin dynasty

204 BC

• Arsinoe III, queen of Egypt, sister and wife of Ptolemy IV (assassinated) (b. c. 246 BC)
• Dong Yi, Chinese general of the Qin Dynasty and conferred with the title of "King of Di"
• Fan Zeng, Chinese adviser during the Chu-Han Contention (206–202 BC) (b. 277 BC)
• Gong Ao, Chinese ruler of the Eighteen Kingdoms during the Chu-Han Contention
• Hanno the Elder, Carthaginian general executed by Scipio Africanus
• Ji Xin, Chinese general during the Chu-Han Contention
• Li Yiji, Chinese politician and adviser (b. 268 BC)
• Long Ju, Chinese general and Grand Marshal
• Ptolemy IV Philopator, king (Pharaoh) of Egypt
• Sima Xin, Chinese general of the Qin Dynasty

203 BC

• Mago Barca, Carthaginian general during the Second Punic War against Rome who has accompanied his brother Hannibal on the invasion of Italy (b. 243 BC)
• Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, Roman general and statesman whose cautious delaying tactics (which have led to his surname Cunctator, meaning "delayer") during the early stages of the Second Punic War have given Rome time to recover its strength and take the offensive against the invading Carthaginian army of Hannibal (b. c. 275 BC)
• Syphax, Numidian king allied with the Carthaginians during the Second Punic War against Rome

202 BC

• Hasdrubal Gisco, Carthaginian general who has fought against Rome in Iberia and North Africa during the Second Punic War, customarily identified as the son of Gisco (suicide)
• Xiang Yu, rebel leader against the Qin dynasty and nemesis of Liu Bang in the Chu–Han Contention (b. 232 BC)

201 BC

• Gnaeus Naevius, Latin epic poet and dramatist of the Old Latin period, who invented a new genre of written historical plays called fabulae praetextae, which are based on Roman historical or legendary figures and events (b. c. 264 BC).^[18]
• Zhongli Mo, Chinese general during the Chu–Han Contention.^{[citation needed]}

200 BC

• Abdissares, king of Sophene (Armenian Kingdom) from 212 BC
• Euthydemus I, king of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom from 223 BC (approximate date) (b. c. 260 BC)