70s
Eighth decade of the first century AD From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 70s was a decade that ran from January 1, AD 70, to December 31, AD 79.
As the decade began, the First Jewish–Roman War continued: In AD 70, the Romans besieged and sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple. After this major victory, the Romans continued to clear pockets of Jewish resistance, with the final stronghold taken being Masada (73). The Flavian dynasty, which included emperors Vespasian and Titus, ruled the empire during this decade. During their reign, the Romans faced military challenges from various sources, including clashes with British and Germanic tribes. However, the Romans were largely successful in defeating these tribes, expanding their territories and consolidating their power. Following the death of Vologases I in 78, Parthia saw internal conflict as Vologases II and Pacorus II competed for the throne. In China, the Han–Xiongnu War was re-invigorated, with the Han defeating the Northern Xiongnu in the Battle of Yiwulu (73). In 75, Emperor Ming of Han died, being succeeded by Emperor Zhang: the reign of these two emperors is considered to have been a golden age.
The destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple during the First Jewish–Roman War marked a major turning point in Jewish history. The loss of mother-city and temple necessitated a reshaping of Jewish culture to ensure its survival. Judaism's Temple-based sects, including the priesthood and the Sadducees, diminished in importance. A new form of Judaism that became known as Rabbinic Judaism developed out of Pharisaic school and, centuries later, eventually became the mainstream form of the religion. Many followers of Jesus of Nazareth also survived the city's destruction. They spread his teachings across the Roman Empire, giving rise to the new religion of Christianity.
In the autumn of 79, Mount Vesuvius violently spewed forth a deadly cloud of super-heated tephra and gases to a height of 33 km (21 mi), ejecting molten rock, pulverized pumice and hot ash. The event destroyed several towns and minor settlements in the area, at the time part of the Roman Empire. Pompeii and Herculaneum, obliterated and buried underneath massive pyroclastic surges and ashfall deposits, are the most famous examples. The total population of both cities was over 20,000. The remains of over 1,500 people have been found at Pompeii and Herculaneum so far, although the total death toll from the eruption remains unknown.
The period also saw significant architectural and engineering accomplishments, such as the construction of the Colosseum in Rome. In 75, Vespasian erected a colossal statue of Apollo, begun under Nero, and he dedicated a stage of the theatre of Marcellus. Valerius Flaccus wrote the Argonautica, an epic poem. Pliny the Elder composed the 10-volume Natural History, covering topics including astronomy, mathematics, geography, ethnography, anthropology, human physiology, zoology, botany, agriculture, horticulture, pharmacology, mining, mineralogy, sculpture, art, and precious stones.
Manning (2008) tentatively estimates the world population in AD 70 to have been 250 million.[1]
AD 70
By place
Roman Empire
- Emperor Vespasian and his son Caesar Vespasian (the future Emperor Titus) become Roman consuls.
- Panic strikes Rome as adverse winds delay grain shipments from Africa and Egypt, producing a bread shortage. Ships laden with wheat from North Africa sail 300 miles to Rome's port of Ostia in 3 days, and the 1,000 mile voyage from Alexandria averages 13 days. The vessels often carry 1,000 tons each to provide the city with the 8,000 tons per week it normally consumes.
- Sextus Julius Frontinus is praetor of Rome. Legio II Adiutrix is created from marines of Classis Ravennatis.
- Pliny the Elder serves as procurator in Gallia Narbonensis.
- 14th of Xanthikos[2] (14th of Nisan, about April 14) – Siege of Jerusalem: Titus surrounds the Jewish capital, with three legions (V Macedonica, XII Fulminata and XV Apollinaris) on the western side and a fourth (X Fretensis) on the Mount of Olives to the east. He puts pressure on the food and water supplies of the inhabitants by allowing pilgrims to enter the city to celebrate Passover and then refusing them egress.
- About April 21 – Titus opens a full-scale assault on Jerusalem, concentrating his attack on the city's Third Wall (HaHoma HaShlishit) to the northwest. The Roman army begins trying to breach the wall using testudos, mantlets, siege towers, and battering rams.
- 7th of Artemisios[3] (7th of Iyar, about May 6) – The Third Wall of Jerusalem collapses and the Jews withdraw from Bezetha to the Second Wall, where the defences are unorganized.
- 12th of Artemisios[4] (12th of Iyar, about May 11) – Titus and his Roman legions breach the Second Wall of Jerusalem. The Jewish defenders retreat to the First Wall. The Romans start building a circumvallation; all trees within 90 stadia (ca. fifteen kilometres) of the city are cut down.
- 21st of Artemisios (about May 20 or 21) – A "certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon", "chariots and troops" seen running in the clouds around Jerusalem[5]
- Pentecost (Shavuot, 6th of Sivan, about June 4) – Priests in the Temple in Jerusalem feel a quaking and hear "a sound as of a great multitude saying, Let us remove hence".[5]
- 17th of Panemos (17th of Tammuz), about July 14) – Sacrifices cease in the temple.[6]
- 24th of Panemos[7] (about July 20) – Romans set fire to a cloister after the capture of the Fortress of Antonia, north of the Temple Mount. The Romans are drawn into street fighting with the Zealots.
- 10th of Loios[8] (9th or 10th of Av, about August 4) – Titus destroys the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Roman troops are stationed in Jerusalem and abolish the Jewish high priesthood and Sanhedrin. This becomes known as the Fall of Jerusalem, a conclusive event in the First Jewish–Roman War (the Jewish Revolt), which began in 66 AD. Following this event, the Jewish religious leadership moves from Jerusalem to Jamnia (present-day Yavne), and this date is mourned annually as the Jewish fast of Tisha B'Av.
- August – Titus captures Jerusalem.[9]
- 8th of Gorpiaios (8th of Elul, about September 2) – Romans gain control of all of Jerusalem and proceed to burn it and kill its remaining residents, except for some who are taken captive to be killed later or enslaved.[10]
- Neapolis (present-day Nablus) is founded in Iudaea Province.
- Naval clashes on the Rhine during the Batavian Revolt; the crew of a captured Roman flagship is imprisoned at Augusta Treverorum (modern Trier).
- Roman legions V Alaudae and XV Primigenia are destroyed by the Batavi. Later, Quintus Petillius Cerialis puts down the Batavian rebellion of Gaius Julius Civilis.
- Vespasian disbands four Rhine legions (I Germanica, IV Macedonica, XV Primigenia and XVI Gallica), disgraced for having surrendered or lost their eagles during the revolt of Julius Civilis.
- Later Roman emperor Domitian marries Domitia Longina.
- Romans make a punitive expedition against the Garamantes – they are forced to have an official relationship with the Roman Empire.
- Annexation of the island of Samothrace by the Roman Empire under Vespasian.
Asia
- India sees the end of the Hellenistic dynasties.
- A flood in the yellow river returns the river north of Shandong, to essentially its present course[11]
Africa
- Expedition by the Roman Septimius Flaccus to southern Egypt. He probably reaches Sudan.
- Ze-Hakèlé (Zoskales in Greek) becomes king of Aksum.
By topic
Religion
- Following the destruction of Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin moved to Jamnia.
- Members of the Oneida Community, a now non-existent religious group formed in the nineteenth century, believed this was the year Jesus Christ returned.
Significant people
Births
AD 70
- Demonax, Greek Cynic philosopher (approximate date)
- Gaius Julius Quadratus Bassus, Roman politician (d. AD 117)
- Marinus of Tyre, Greek geographer and writer (d. AD 130)
- Menelaus of Alexandria, Greek mathematician (d. AD 140)
AD 71
AD 72
- Julia Balbilla, princess of Commagene
AD 73
- Titus Flavius Hyrcanus, Roman aristocrat
AD 74
- March 18 – Hyginus, bishop of Rome[citation needed]
AD 75
- Suetonius, Roman historian (approximate date) (d. c. 122)
- Gaius Julius Alexander Berenicianus, Cilician prince (d. 150)
AD 76
- January 24 – Hadrian, Roman emperor (d. 138)[20]
AD 78
- Liu Qing, Chinese prince of the Han Dynasty (d. 106)
- Wang Fu, Chinese historian, poet and philosopher (approximate date)
- Zhang Heng, Chinese mathematician, astronomer, inventor, and statesman (d. 139)
AD 79
Deaths
AD 70
- Eleazar ben Simon, Jewish leader of the Zealots
- Gaius Dillius Vocula, Roman general (murdered)
- Hero of Alexandria, Greek mathematician and engineer
- Lucius Calpurnius Piso, Roman consul and governor
- Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella, Roman writer
- Malichus II, Roman client king of Nabatea
- Phannias ben Samuel, high priest of Israel
- Simeon ben Gamliel, Jewish leader (nasi)
- Simon bar Giora, Jewish leader (executed)
- Emperor Suinin of Japan, according to legend.
AD 71
- Liu Ying, Chinese prince of the Han Dynasty who converted to Buddhism
AD 72
- July 3 – Thomas the Apostle, Christian preacher and martyr (according to Roman Catholic tradition)
AD 74
- Caenis, Roman slave and secretary of Antonia Minor (mother of Emperor Claudius) and mistress of Emperor Vespasian
- Polemon II, prince of the Bosporan Kingdom, Pontus, Cilicia and Cappadocia
AD 75
- Chen Mu, Chinese governor and general
- Guo Xun, Chinese general
- Han Mingdi, Chinese emperor of the Han dynasty (b. AD 28)
AD 76
- Linus, pope of the Catholic Church (approximate date)
- Marcus Vettius Bolanus, Roman politician and governor (b. 33 AD)
- Nicanor the Deacon, Greek missionary and martyr
- Quintus Asconius Pedianus, Roman historian (b. 9 BC)
AD 77
- Daru of Baekje, Korean king[17]
AD 78
- Gaius Salonius Matidius Patruinus, Roman politician
- Vologases I, king of the Parthian Empire[21]
AD 79
- June 24 – Vespasian, Roman emperor (b. AD 9)[9]
- August 16 – Ma, Chinese empress of the Han Dynasty (b. AD 40)
- August 25 – Caesius Bassus, Roman poet (died in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius)
- August 25 – Drusilla, daughter of Herod (died in the eruption of Vesuvius)
- August 25 – Pliny the Elder, Roman writer and scientist (b. AD 23)[19]
- Apollinaris of Ravenna, Syrian bishop and martyr (approximate date)
- Aulus Caecina Alienus, Roman general and politician (executed)
- Tiberius Claudius Balbilus, Roman politician and astrologer (b. AD 3)
- Titus Clodius Eprius Marcellus, Roman politician (committed suicide)
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.