Ancient World
Battle of the Metaurus (207 BC): Hasdrubal's Defeat in Italy
Decisive Roman victory; Hasdrubal was killed and his army destroyed, leaving Hannibal isolated in southern Italy.
Era · c. 3000 BC – AD 500
Ancient World
The first cities, empires and written records, from the pyramids of Egypt to Greece and the Roman Empire.
Ancient World
Hongmen Banquet (206 BC): Liu Bang's Escape from Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu let Liu Bang leave alive; Liu Bang later defeated him and founded the Han dynasty.
Ancient World
Founding of the Han Dynasty (206 BC): Liu Bang's Rise to Power
Liu Bang defeated Xiang Yu in the Chu-Han Contention and proclaimed himself emperor in 202 BC, founding the Han dynasty.
Ancient World
Battle of Ilipa (206 BC): Scipio Wins Spain From Carthage
Decisive Roman victory; the Carthaginian field army in Spain was destroyed and Carthage lost the Iberian Peninsula.
Ancient World
Battle of Gaixia (202 BC): The Fall of Xiang Yu and Rise of Han
Decisive Han victory; Xiang Yu took his own life, ending the Chu-Han contention and leaving Liu Bang sole ruler of China as the first Han emperor.
Ancient World
Battle of Zama (202 BC): Scipio Africanus Defeats Hannibal
Decisive Roman victory; Carthage accepted peace in 201 BC, surrendering its fleet, elephants and independence in foreign policy.
Ancient World
Bhagavad Gita: The Ancient Hindu Scripture and Its Origins
The Gita became one of the most widely read and commented Hindu scriptures and an influential text of world philosophy.
Ancient World
Ajanta Caves: Buddhist Rock-Cut Monasteries and Murals of India
About 30 Buddhist cave monasteries and halls were cut and painted, preserving the finest surviving body of ancient Indian painting.
Ancient World
Battle of Baideng (200 BC): Han Emperor Gaozu Besieged by Modu
Gaozu escaped after seven days, but Han abandoned offensive war against the Xiongnu and adopted the heqin policy of marriage alliances and annual gifts.
Ancient World
Meroitic Script: The Undeciphered Language of Ancient Kush
Kush gained its own writing system; its sounds were worked out in 1909–1911, but most of its vocabulary remains unknown.
Ancient World
Roman Concrete: How Opus Caementicium Built an Empire
Concrete allowed Romans to build vaults, domes and sea harbours on a new scale, and many structures still stand after two thousand years.
Ancient World
Battle of Cynoscephalae (197 BC): Legion Against Phalanx
Decisive Roman victory; Philip V accepted peace, gave up his Greek possessions and paid an indemnity.