Cenotaph of a centurion who died in theBattle of the Teutoburg Forest (AD 9). Teutoburg Forest is commonly seen as one of the most important defeats in Roman history, bringing the triumphant period of expansion underAugustus to an abrupt end. The outcome of this battle dissuaded the Romans from their ambition of conqueringGermania, and is thus considered one of the most important events inEuropean history.
The0s began on January 1, AD 1 and ended on December 31, AD 9, covering the first nine years of theCommon Era.
Literary works from the 0s include works from the ancientRoman poetOvid; theArs Amatoria, an instructionalelegy series in three books,Metamorphoses, a poem which chronicles the history of the world from itscreation to the deification ofJulius Caesar within a loose mythico-historical framework, andIbis, a curse poem written during his years inexile across theBlack Sea for an offense againstAugustus.Nicolaus of Damascus wrote the 15-volumeHistory of the World.
Estimates for the world population by AD 1 range from 170 to 300 million. Acensus was concluded inChina in AD 2: final numbers showed a population of nearly 60 million (59,594,978 people in slightly more than 12 million households). The census is one of the most accurate surveys in Chinese history. (Full article...)
In the Roman Empire, an edict was issued effecting an empire-wide ban ondivinatory practices especiallyastrology. The edict requires any consultation between a customer and a practitioner to be conducted with at least one third party witness present and bans inquiry into anyone's death.A large earthquake caused the destruction of at least twelve cities in the region ofLydia in theRoman province ofAsia inAsia Minor. In China, a major flooding took place in theYellow River in AD 11, which is credited with helping bring about the fall of theXin dynasty in the next decade.
Manning (2008) tentatively estimates the world population in AD 10 as 241 million. (Full article...)
In science, the 20s saw the manufacture ofpens and metal writing tools in Rome. Major disasters of this decade include a fire inRome, and the collapse of a poorly builtamphitheatre inFidenae, which killed 20,000 of the 50,000 spectators. In 27,Christianity originates fromJudaea as aJewish Christian sect of theSecond Temple Judaism.Geographica, an encyclopedia of geographical knowledge created byStrabo, was finished no later than AD 23.
Manning (2008) tentatively estimates the world population in AD 20 as 246 million. (Full article...)
An earthquake that shookAntioch in AD 37 caused the emperorCaligula to send two senators to report on the condition of the city. In China, anepidemic broke out in K'aui-chi, causing many deaths, and Imperial official Ch'ung-li I (Zhongli Yi) provided medicine that saved many lives.
Valerius Maximus wroteFactorum ac dictorum memorabilium libri IX: It is a collection of approximately a thousand short stories that Valerius wrote during the reign ofTiberius (42 BC – AD 37). Other literary works from the 30s include a popular collection offables written byPhaedrus, a symbolic interpretation of the Old Testament(Allegory) written byPhilo, and a general history of the countries known inAntiquity written byVelleius Paterculus.
Manning (2008) tentatively estimates the world population in AD 30 as 247 million. (Full article...)
Christianity came toEgypt as theChurch of Alexandria was founded withMark the Evangelist as the first Patriarch.James the Great died in 44: One of theTwelve Apostles ofJesus, he was the first to bemartyred according to theNew Testament. Claudiusexpelled the Jews from Rome between 41 and 53: Silvia Cappelletti describes Claudius's motivation as the need to control the population of Rome and prevent political meetings. (He "did not have an anti-Jewish policy.") Donna Hurley explains thatSuetonius includes the expulsion "among problems with foreign populations, not among religions"
Between 44 and 48, afamine took place in Judea. Josephus relates thatHelena of Adiabene "went down to the cityJerusalem, her son conducting her on her journey a great way. Now her coming was of very great advantage to the people of Jerusalem; for whereas a famine did oppress them at that time, and many people died for want of what was necessary to procure food withal, queen Helena sent some of her servants to Alexandria with money to buy a great quantity of corn, and others of them to Cyprus, to bring a cargo of dried figs. And as soon as they were come back, and had brought those provisions, which was done very quickly, she distributed food to those that were in want of it, and left a most excellent memorial behind her of this benefaction, which she bestowed on our whole nation. And when her sonIzates was informed of this famine, he sent great sums of money to the principal men in Jerusalem."
The50s decade ran from January 1, 50, to December 31, 59. It was the sixth decade in theAnno Domini/Common Era, if the nine-year period from 1 AD to 9 AD is considered as a "decade".
TheCouncil of Jerusalem was held early in the decade: The council decided thatGentile converts to Christianity were not obligated to keep most of the fasts, and other specific rituals, including the rules concerningcircumcision of males. The Council did, however, retain the prohibitions on eatingblood,meat containing blood, and meat of animals that were strangled, and onfornication andidolatry.
Literary works of this decade includeDe Vita Beata (which explains that the pursuit ofhappiness is the pursuit ofreason) andDe Clementia (an instructional contrast between the good ruler and a tyrant), both of which were written bySeneca the Younger.
Manning (2008) tentatively estimates the world population in AD 50 as 248 million. (Full article...)
The60s decade ran from January 1, AD 60, to December 31, AD 69.
In the Roman Empire, the early part of the decade saw the beginning of theBoudican Revolt inBritannia, where several tribes (chiefly theIceni), led byBoudica, rebelled against the Roman occupation. The revolt led to the sacking of several Roman cities, but was ultimately quelled by governorGaius Suetonius Paulinus. In 63, theRoman–Parthian War came to an end with theTreaty of Rhandeia. In 66, theFirst Jewish-Roman War began, as Jewish rebels fought against Roman rule. Near the end of the decade in 69, theYear of the Four Emperors saw a period of civil war and political instability in the Roman Empire, as four different men (Galba,Otho,Vitellius, andVespasian) claimed the title of Emperor within the span of a year. Ultimately, the year ended with the ascension of Vespasian to the throne and the beginning of theFlavian Dynasty. In East Asia, the state ofFunan was established, while Chinacontinued its golden age.
In 62,an earthquake of an estimated magnitude of between 5 and 6 and a maximum intensity of IX or X on theMercalli scale struck the towns ofPompeii andHerculaneum, severely damaging them. The towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum both suffered major damage, with damage to some buildings also reported fromNaples andNuceria. Seneca reported the death of a flock of 600 sheep that he attributed to the effects of poisonous gases. Later, in 64, theGreat Fire of Rome began in the merchant shops around Rome's chariot stadium,Circus Maximus. After six days, the fire was brought under control, but before the damage could be assessed, the fire reignited and burned for another three days. In the aftermath of the fire, two-thirds ofRome had been destroyed. According toTacitus and laterChristian tradition,Emperor Nero blamed the devastation on the Christian community in the city, initiating the empire's firstpersecution against the Christians.
In the Roman Empire,Christianity continued to spread, despite acampaign of persecution being initiated under Emperor Nero in 64. According to tradition, the apostles Peter and Paul were both martyred during this period: Traditionally,Roman authorities allegedly sentenced Peter to death bycrucifixion atVatican Hill. In accordance with theapocryphalActs of Peter, he was crucified head down. As for Paul, theSecond Epistle to Timothy states that he was arrested inTroad and brought back to Rome, where he was imprisoned and put on trial before being executed. TheWhite Horse Temple, the firstBuddhist temple in China, was traditionally constructed in 68, though it is not recorded in contemporary sources before 289.
The destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple during theFirst Jewish–Roman War marked a major turning point in Jewish history. The loss of mother-city and temple necessitated a reshaping of Jewish culture to ensure its survival. Judaism's Temple-based sects, including thepriesthood and theSadducees, diminished in importance. A new form ofJudaism that became known asRabbinic Judaism developed out ofPharisaic school and, centuries later, eventually became the mainstream form of the religion. Many followers ofJesus of Nazareth also survived the city's destruction. They spread his teachings across the Roman Empire, giving rise to the new religion ofChristianity.
In the autumn of 79,Mount Vesuvius violently spewed forth a deadly cloud of super-heated tephra and gases to a height of 33 km (21 mi), ejectingmolten rock, pulverizedpumice andhot ash. The event destroyed several towns and minor settlements in the area, at the time part of theRoman Empire.Pompeii andHerculaneum, obliterated and buried underneath massivepyroclastic surges andashfall deposits, are the most famous examples. The total population of both cities was over 20,000. The remains of over 1,500 people have been found at Pompeii and Herculaneum so far, although the total death toll from the eruption remains unknown.
The80s was a decade that ran from January 1, AD 80, to December 31, AD 89.
As the decade began, theParthian Empire was in a phase of division untilPacorus II managed to consolidate his rule, eliminating the two rival contenders for his throne:Vologases II in AD 80 andArtabanus III in AD 81.Domitian became Roman emperor in AD 81: The military campaigns undertaken during his reign were generally defensive in nature, as the Emperor rejected the idea of expansionist warfare. His most significant military contribution was the development of theLimes Germanicus, which encompassed a vast network of roads, forts and watchtowers constructed along the Rhine river to defend the Empire. Nevertheless, several important wars were fought in Gaul, against theChatti, and across theDanube frontier against theSuebi, theSarmatians, and theDacians (seeDomitian's Dacian War). In northern Britain, the Romans defeated local tribes in theBattle of Mons Graupius (AD 83). In China, theHan–Xiongnu War continued, with theBattle of the Altai Mountains (AD 89) bringing theNorthern Xiongnu to the brink of collapse. The death ofEmperor Zhang of Hanended a golden age.
In spring of AD 80, a fire broke out in Rome and burned large parts of the city for three days and three nights. Although the extent of the damage was not as disastrous as during theGreat Fire of 64 and crucially spared the many districts ofinsulae,Cassius Dio records a long list of important public buildings that were destroyed, including Agrippa'sPantheon, theTemple of Jupiter, theDiribitorium, parts of theTheatre of Pompey, and theSaepta Julia among others. Emperor Titus personally compensated for the damaged regions. According to Suetonius, a plague also broke out during the fire. The nature of the disease, however, and the death toll are unknown.
Manning (2008) tentatively estimates the world population in AD 80 to have been 250 million. (Full article...)
The90s was a decade that ran from January 1, AD 90, to December 31, AD 99.
As the decade began, theHan–Xiongnu War was approaching its end, with the Xiongnu having been on the verge of collapse since theBattle of the Altai Mountains (89) the prior decade. In 90, Dou Xian dispatched General Geng Kui and Shizi of the Southern Xiongnu with 8000 light cavalry to attack the Northern Chanyu, encamped at Heyun (河雲). There, the Han killed 8000 men and captured several thousands. By 91, the last remnants of the Northern Xiongnu had migrated west towards theIli River valley, ending the war. After the downfall of the Xiongnu, theXianbei replaced them with a loose confederacy from 93.
The Roman Empire did not see any significant military action this decade, exceptingclashes along the Danube in 92. Economically, the empire saw reforms byNerva after the death ofDomitian in 96, including but not limited to a string of economic reforms intended to alleviate the burden of taxation from the most needy Romans. Before long, Nerva's expenses strained the economy of Rome and, although perhaps not ruinous to the extent once suggested by Syme, necessitated the formation of a specialcommission of economy to drastically reduce expenditures.
According to some historians,Jews and Christians were heavily persecuted toward the end ofDomitian's reign (89-96). TheBook of Revelation, which mentions at least one instance of martyrdom (Rev 2:13; cf. 6:9), is thought by many scholars to have been written during Domitian's reign. According to Barnes, "Melito, Tertullian, and Bruttius stated that Domitian persecuted the Christians. Melito and Bruttius vouchsafe no details, Tertullian only that Domitian soon changed his mind and recalled those whom he had exiled". A minority of the historians have maintained that there was little or no anti-Christian activity during Domitian's time. The lack of consensus by historians about the extent of persecution during the reign of Domitian derives from the fact that while accounts of persecution exist, these accounts are cursory or their reliability is debated.
AD 78: the beginning of the Saka Era used by South Asian calendars.
c.AD 80: althoughPhilo of Byzantium described the saqiyachain pump in the early 2nd century BC, the square-palletchain pump was innovated in China during this century, mentioned first by the philosopherWang Chong around AD 80. Wang Chong also accurately described thewater cycle inmeteorology, and argued against the mainstream 'radiating influence' theory forsolar eclipses, the latter of which was accepted by many, includingZhang Heng.
_Tib%25C3%25A8re_-_Mus%25C3%25A9e_Saint-Raymond_Ra_342_b.jpg)
_obverse.jpg)
_-_2021-08-25_-_1.jpg)
