Ancient World
Battle of Hormozdgan (224): Ardashir I Founds Sasanian Persia
Ardashir I killed Artabanus IV and overthrew the Parthian Arsacid dynasty, founding the Sasanian Empire, which lasted until 651.
Region
Middle East
Ancient World
Crisis of the Third Century (235-284): Empire on the Brink
The empire fragmented and nearly collapsed, but was reunited by Aurelian and reorganised by Diocletian, emerging as a more militarised and centralised state.
Ancient World
Mani and Manichaeism: A New World Religion in Sasanian Persia
Mani founded a missionary religion that spread across Eurasia, flourished for centuries in Central Asia and China, and then disappeared as an organised faith.
Ancient World
Siege of Dura-Europos (256): Sasanian Assault on a Roman Town
The Sasanians captured Dura-Europos and the town was abandoned, but the Roman defensive works preserved many of its buildings under earth.
Ancient World
Battle of Edessa (260): Shapur I Captures Emperor Valerian
Sasanian victory; the emperor Valerian was captured and died in captivity, deepening Rome's 3rd-century crisis.
Ancient World
Zenobia and the Palmyrene Empire (270-273): Revolt in the East
Aurelian defeated Zenobia in 272, captured her and destroyed Palmyra after a second revolt in 273, restoring Roman rule in the east.
Ancient World
Diocletian and the Tetrarchy (293): Rule of Four Emperors
The Tetrarchy stabilised the empire after the third-century crisis, but the succession plan broke down soon after Diocletian abdicated in 305.
Ancient World
Armenia Adopts Christianity (301): Tiridates III and Gregory
Christianity became the official religion of the Armenian kingdom, and the Armenian Church was organised under Gregory and his descendants.
Ancient World
Great Persecution (303-311): Diocletian Against the Christians
The persecution failed to suppress Christianity; Galerius ended it with an edict of toleration in 311, and it was finally abandoned in the East in 313.
Ancient World
Julian the Apostate (361-363): The Last Pagan Roman Emperor
Julian's attempt to revive traditional Greco-Roman religion ended with his death on campaign in Persia, and his successors restored Christianity's privileged position.
Ancient World
Shapur II and Julian's Persian Expedition of AD 363
The invasion failed, Julian was killed, and his successor Jovian ceded Nisibis, Singara and five regions beyond the Tigris to Shapur II.
Ancient World
Taq-e Bostan: Sasanian Rock Reliefs and Grottoes at Kermanshah
The site preserves the last great group of Sasanian royal rock reliefs, including the largest carved grotto of the dynasty.