Ancient World
Pataliputra: Capital of Magadha, the Mauryas and the Guptas
Pataliputra became the political centre of ancient India and one of the largest cities in the world.
Region
Asia
Ancient World
Battle of Mycale (479 BC): The Greeks Strike Back in Ionia
Greek victory; the Persian camp was stormed, the beached Persian fleet burned and the Ionian Greeks rose in revolt.
Ancient World
Warring States Period (475-221 BC): China's Age of Rival Kingdoms
After two and a half centuries of war and reform, Qin conquered the other six kingdoms between 230 and 221 BC and founded China's first unified empire.
Ancient World
Mozi and Mohism: Ancient China's Philosophy of Universal Love
Mohism was one of the leading schools of the Warring States period but faded after the Qin unification; its texts were rediscovered and re-evaluated from the 18th century onward.
Ancient World
Anuradhapura: Ancient Capital of Sri Lanka and Its Stupas
Anuradhapura became the centre of Sinhalese kingship and Theravada Buddhism and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ancient World
Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng: The Bronze Bells of 433 BC
One of the richest Warring States tombs ever found; its set of 65 two-tone bronze bells transformed knowledge of early Chinese music and bronze-casting.
Ancient World
Battle of Arginusae (406 BC): Victory, Then the Generals' Trial
Athenian naval victory that relieved Mytilene, followed by the controversial execution of six victorious generals in Athens.
Ancient World
Battle of Aegospotami (405 BC): Lysander Destroys Athens' Fleet
Decisive Spartan victory: about 170 Athenian ships were captured, Athens was besieged and surrendered in 404 BC, ending the Peloponnesian War.
Ancient World
Partition of Jin (403 BC): The Birth of Han, Zhao and Wei
The great state of Jin was divided among the Han, Zhao and Wei lineages, whose heads were formally recognised as feudal lords in 403 BC.
Ancient World
March of the Ten Thousand (401 BC): Xenophon's Anabasis
Most of the Greek mercenaries survived a retreat of well over 1,500 kilometres and reached the Black Sea, later returning to service in Thrace and Asia Minor.
Ancient World
Mahabharata: The Ancient Indian Epic and Its Historical World
The Mahabharata became a foundational text of Hinduism and one of the most influential works of world literature.
Ancient World
Laozi and the Tao Te Ching: Origins of Daoism in Ancient China
The Tao Te Ching became the founding text of Daoist philosophy and religion and one of the most translated books in the world.