200s (decade)

Events

200

By place

World

• Human population reaches about 257 million.

Roman Empire

• Emperor Septimius Severus visits the provinces of Syria, Palestine, and Arabia.
• The province of Numidia is taken from the African proconsul, and made an Imperial province.

India

• Rudrasena I, Saka ruler of the Western Satrap dynasty, becomes king of Malwa in Classical India.

China

• September-November - Battle of Guandu: Chinese warlord Cao Cao defeats his rival Yuan Shao.

Japan

• In Japan, Himiko, whose capital is situated in Yamatai, extends her authority over a number of clans.

America

• The Classic Age of Maya civilization begins (around this year).
• The Paracas culture in the Andes ends (around this year).

By topic

Art

• The Severan Tondo, depicting Septimius Severus, Julia Domna and their children Geta and Caracalla, from Fayum, Egypt, is made. It is now kept at Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Antikensammlung.

Religion

• Jewish Eretz Yisraeli scholar Judah ha-Nasi compiles tracts of the Mishnah, creating Talmudic law.
• Clement of Alexandria denounces the use of musical instruments instead of human voices in Christian music.
• Brahmanism evolves into Hinduism (approximate date).

201

By place

Roman Empire

• Lucius Annius Fabianus and Marcus Nonius Arrius Mucianus become Roman Consuls.

China

• Battle of Cangting: Warlord Cao Cao defeats his rival, Yuan Shao.

By topic

Religion

• November – A flood in Edessa destroys a Christian church, killing over 2,000 people.

202

By place

Roman Empire

• Emperor Septimius Severus returns to Rome after a five-year absence. Festivals are held to celebrate his six-year reign. Severus undertakes changes in the imperial government, giving the Roman army a dominant role, raising pay in the legions and permitting legionaries to marry in order to secure their loyalty.
• Rome is a city of about 1.5 million citizens, its people housed mostly in 46,600 insulae or apartment blocks, each three to eight stories high, flimsily made of wood, brick or rubble.
• Some 400,000 slaves perform the menial work of Rome, with middle-class citizens often owning eight; the rich from 500 to 1,000; an emperor as many as 20,000. Free urban workers enjoy 17 to 18 hours of leisure each day, with free admission to baths, sport events and gladiatorial games.
• Severus launches a campaign in Africa; Legio III Augusta under Quintus Anicius Faustus fights a guerrilla war against the Garamantes along the Limes Tripolitanus. They capture several settlements such as Cydamus, Gholaia and their capital Garama, 600 km south of Lepcis Magna. The province of Numidia is enlarged: the Romans annex Castellum Dimmidi, Gemellae and Vescera.
• An edict bans conversions to Christianity and all Christian propaganda.
• A Roman law bans female gladiators.
• The Pantheon is restored.

China

• Battle of Bowang: Warlord Liu Bei defeats Cao Cao's forces under Xiahou Dun.

By topic

Medicine

• Rome establishes medical licenses, awarded only to trained physicians who have passed examinations. Medical societies and civic hospitals are set up, and laws are passed to govern the behavior of medical students. They are prohibited from visiting brothels.

Religion

• In order to avoid Septimus Severus' persecution of Christians, Clement of Alexandria seeks refuge with Alexander in Cappadocia.

203

By place

Roman Empire

• Emperor Septimius Severus rebuilds Byzantium, and expands the southern frontier of Africa, with the metropolis Carthage re-fortified.
• Gaius Fulvius Plautianus and Publius Septimius Geta become Roman Consuls.
• An arch dedicated to Septimius Severus is erected near the Forum.
• The Portico of Octavia is reconstructed.

India

• Prince Vijaya becomes king of the Andhra Empire. During his reign, the empire is broken apart into smaller independent principalities.

China

• Battle of Xiakou: Warlord Sun Quan battles his rival Huang Zu along the Yangtze River near Wuhan.

By topic

Religion

• Origen of Alexandria replaces Clement as the head of the Christian school in Alexandria.

204

By place

Roman Empire

• Lucius Fabius Cilo and Marcus Annius Flavius Libo become Roman Consuls.
• The Daysan River floods Edessa.

China

• Gongsun Kang, Chinese warlord of Liaodong, establishes the Daifang Commandery in northern Korea.
• Battle of Ye: Warlord Cao Cao lays siege to and captures the military headquarter of Yuan Shao in Ye.

By topic

Commerce

• A trade recession in the Leptis Magna region (Africa) is alleviated by Emperor Septimius Severus, who buys up the country's olive oil for free distribution in Rome.

205

By place

Roman Empire

• Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus and his brother Publius Septimius Geta Caesar become Roman Consuls.
• Hadrian's Wall is restored, after heavy raids by Caledonian tribes had overrun much of northern Britain.
• January 22 – Gaius Fulvius Plautianus, a praetorian prefect and father-in-law of Caracalla, is assassinated.
• Aemilius Papinianus becomes praetorian prefect, after the death of Gaius Fulvius Plautianus.

China

• Battle of Nanpi: Warlord Cao Cao defeats and kills Yuan Tan, the eldest son of his rival Yuan Shao.

206

By place

Roman Empire

• Hadrian's Wall is retaken for the first time, since the Pictish uprising of 180.
• Emperor Septimius Severus comes to Britain, with his sons Caracalla and Geta.

207

By place

China

• Battle of White Wolf Mountain: Warlord Cao Cao defeats the Wuhuan tribes, sending the Wuhuan into decline.

208

By place

China

Zhao Yun fights at Changban (or Jing Province)

Map of the Battle of Changban

• Spring – Battle of Jiangxia: Sun Quan defeats Huang Zu.
• October
  • Warlord Cao Cao marches south with his army, and captures the enemy fleet at Jiangling.
  • Battle of Changban: Warlord Liu Bei escapes from Cao Cao.
• December 10 – Cao Cao writes Duǎn Ge Xíng.
• Winter – Zhou Yu and Liu Bei defeat Cao Cao at the Battle of Red Cliffs; along with the Battle of Yamen and Battle of Lake Poyang. This is one of the largest naval battles in China's history.

Parthia

• King Vologases VI succeeds his father Vologases V to the throne. His brother Artabanus V begins a rebellion against him in the Parthian Empire.
• Ardashir I, ruler of Istakhr (Persia), revolts against his brother and founds the Sassanid Dynasty.

209

By place

Roman Empire

• Publius Septimius Geta receives the titles of Imperator and Augustus from his father, Emperor Septimius Severus.
• Septimius Severus makes plans to subdue the land to the north of Scotland, ravaging it severely. Road-building and forest-clearing, the Roman army reaches Aber; Scottish tribes begin guerrilla warfare.

India

• Chandra Shri Satakarni begins his reign, as ruler of the Satavahana Dynasty in Andhra Pradesh (approximate date).

Births

• Gaius Messius Quintus Decius, better known as Decius. Born c. 201, he would eventually become a Roman emperor.
• Sextus Varius Avitus Bassianus, better known as Elagabalus. Born c. 203, he would eventually become a Roman emperor.
• Marcus Julius Philippus, better known as Philip the Arab. Born c. 204, he would eventually become a Roman emperor.
• Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus, better known as Diadumenian. Born in 208, he would eventually become a Roman emperor.
• Marcus Julius Gessius Bassianus Alexianus, later known as Severus Alexander. Born in 208, he would eventually become a Roman emperor.