1st century BC Totally Explained

Everything about 1st Century Bce totally explained

The 1st century BC started the first day of 100 BC and ended the last day of 1 BC. It is considered part of the Classical era, epoch, or historical period. An alternative name for this century is the last century BC. The AD/BC notation doesn't use a year zero; however, astronomical year numbering does use a minus sign, so '2 BC' is equal to 'year -1'.
In the course of the century all the remaining independent lands surrounding the Mediterranean were steadily brought under Roman control, being ruled either directly under governors or through puppet kings appointed by Rome. The Roman state itself was plunged into civil war several times, finally resulting in the marginalization of its 500 year old republic, and the embodiment of total state power in a single man - the emperor. The internal turbulence which plagued Rome at this time can be seen as the last death throes of the Roman Republic, as it finally gave way to the autocratic ambitions of powerful men like Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Octavian. Octavian's ascension to total power as the emperor Augustus is considered to mark the point in history where the Roman Republic ends and the Roman Empire begins. Some scholars refer to this event as the Roman Revolution. It is generally concluded that the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity took place at the close of this century.

Events

92 BC Lucullus invades Armenia, setting off the centuries long Roman vs Persian Wars.
81 BC Sulla is appointed dictator of the Roman state, and brings about major reforms.
73 BC A slave rebellion lead by the escaped gladiator Spartacus leads to the Third Servile War.
63 BC Pompey captures Jerusalem, and establishes Roman annexation of Judea as a client kingdom. King Judah Aristobulus II removed from power, while his brother John Hyrcanus II becomes king under Roman suzerainty.
57 BC Silla is founded in southeastern Korea (traditional date according to Samguk Sagi, a 12th century AD historical document).
53 BC The Parthians defeat the Romans under Crassus in the Battle of Carrhae
49 BC January 10: Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon river, precipitating war with Rome
44 BC Julius Caesar murdered
37 BC Goguryeo is founded in southern Manchuria (traditional date according to Samguk Sagi)
31 BC Roman Civil War: Battle of Actium - Off the western coast of Greece, forces of Octavian defeat troops under Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
27 BC The Roman Senate votes Octavian the title of Augustus. Augustus eventually assumes all authority formerly held by the Roman senate becoming the first emperor. The Roman state is henceforth known as the Roman Empire, and the period from 27 BC to AD 305 as the Principate.
18 BC Baekje is founded in midwestern Korea (traditional date according to Samguk Sagi)
c. 6 to 4 BC Birth of Jesus of Nazareth (see Chronology of Jesus' birth and death and Anno Domini for further details)

Significant persons

Burebista, greatest king of Dacia

Catiline, attempted to overthrow Roman Republic

Caesar Augustus, Roman emperor

Cicero, Roman politician and writer

Cleopatra VII of Egypt, Egyptian ruler

Herod the Great

Hillel the Elder, Jewish rabbi

Horace, Roman poet

Jesus of Nazareth, central figure of Christianity

Jing Fang, Chinese mathematician and music theorist

Julius Caesar, Roman politician

Livy, Roman historian

Lucretius, Roman philosopher

Marcus Antonius, Roman politician

Marcus Junius Brutus, Caesar's adopted son, supposedly killed him

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Roman statesman and general

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio Roman writer, architect and engineer

Sextus Pompeius, Roman general

Ptolemy XIII of Egypt, drowned in Nile

Ovid, Roman poet

Virgil, Roman poet

Spartacus, gladiator

Sima Qian, Chinese historian, father of Chinese historiography

Tigranes the Great, king of Armenia

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

Sunspots, first recorded by Chinese

The Antikythera mechanism is made

The first dome was built by the Romans

Glass blowing is invented in Roman Syria

The Chinese Ji Jiu Pian dictionary published in 40 BC during the Han Dynasty is the earliest known reference to the hydraulic-powered trip hammer device.

Decades and years

Further Information

Get more info on '1st Century Bce'.

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