Ancient World
Tollund Man: The Iron Age Bog Body Found in Denmark
One of the best-preserved prehistoric bodies ever found; his head is displayed at the Silkeborg Museum.
Region
Europe
Ancient World
Trial of Socrates (399 BC): Athens Condemns Its Philosopher
Socrates was convicted of impiety and corrupting the young, sentenced to death and executed by drinking hemlock.
Ancient World
Fall of Veii (396 BC): Rome Conquers Its Etruscan Rival
Rome destroyed Veii as an independent city, annexed its territory and became the dominant power in the lower Tiber valley.
Ancient World
Gallic Sack of Rome (390 BC) and the Battle of the Allia
The Gauls defeated the Roman army, sacked Rome except the Capitol and left after receiving a ransom in gold; Rome recovered and built stronger walls.
Ancient World
King's Peace (387 BC): Persia Dictates Terms to the Greeks
The Corinthian War ended; the Greek cities of Asia Minor passed to Persia and Sparta became the enforcer of the peace in Greece.
Ancient World
Plato's Academy (c. 387 BC): The First School of Philosophy
The Academy became the model of a philosophical school and gave its name to academies and academic life across the world.
Ancient World
Sacred Band of Thebes (378 BC): The Elite Corps of 150 Pairs
The Sacred Band helped Thebes break Spartan power and was annihilated by the Macedonians at Chaeronea in 338 BC.
Ancient World
Battle of Leuctra (371 BC): Thebes Breaks Spartan Power
Decisive Theban victory; the Spartan king was killed and Sparta's dominance of Greece came to an end.
Ancient World
Licinian-Sextian Laws (367 BC): Plebeians Win the Consulship
The consular tribunate was abolished, the consulship restored and opened to plebeians, and Lucius Sextius became the first plebeian consul in 366 BC.
Ancient World
Battle of Mantinea (362 BC): The Death of Epaminondas
Tactical Theban victory, but Epaminondas was mortally wounded and Theban leadership of Greece collapsed.
Ancient World
Philip II of Macedon (359 BC): Building the Macedonian Army
Philip turned Macedon from a weak kingdom into the dominant power in Greece and left Alexander a professional army ready to invade Persia.
Ancient World
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (356 BC): Burned by Herostratus
The Archaic temple was destroyed by arson and replaced by an even grander Late Classical temple, counted among the Seven Wonders.