3rd century BC

Millennium: 1st millennium BC
Centuries: 4th century BC · 3rd century BC · 2nd century BC
Decades: 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC
240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC
Categories: Births – Deaths
Establishments – Disestablishments

The 3rd century BC started the first day of 300 BC and ended the last day of 201 BC. It is considered part of the Classical era, epoch, or historical period.

Contents

Overview

The first few decades of this century were characterized by a balance of power between the Greek Hellenistic kingdoms in the east, and the great mercantile power of Carthage in the west. This balance was shattered when conflict arose between Carthage and the Roman Republic. In the following decades, the Carthaginian Republic was first humbled and then destroyed by the Romans in the first and second Punic wars. Following the Second Punic War, Rome became the most important power in the western Mediterranean.

In India, Ashoka the Great ruled the Maurya Empire. The Pandya, Chola and Chera dynasties of the classical age rule and flourish in the ancient Tamil country. The Xiong Nu were at the height of their power in Mongolia. The Warring States period in China drew to a close, with Qin Shihuang conquering other nation-states and establishing the short-lived Qin dynasty, the first empire of China, which was followed in the same century by the long-lasting Han dynasty. The Protohistoric Period began in the Korean peninsula.

Events

290s BC

280s BC

270s BC

260s BC

250s BC

240s BC

230s BC

220s BC

210s BC

200s BC

Significant persons

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

Evidence

Much of what is known of this century comes from the works of the Roman historian Polybius, whose main concern is the story of how Rome comes to dominate the known world.

Decades and years

3rd century BC
5th century BC←4th century BC← ↔ →2nd century BC→1st century BC

309–300 BC 309 BC 308 BC 307 BC 306 BC 305 BC 304 BC 303 BC 302 BC 301 BC 300 BC
290s BC 299 BC 298 BC 297 BC 296 BC 295 BC 294 BC 293 BC 292 BC 291 BC 290 BC
280s BC 289 BC 288 BC 287 BC 286 BC 285 BC 284 BC 283 BC 282 BC 281 BC 280 BC
270s BC 279 BC 278 BC 277 BC 276 BC 275 BC 274 BC 273 BC 272 BC 271 BC 270 BC
260s BC 269 BC 268 BC 267 BC 266 BC 265 BC 264 BC 263 BC 262 BC 261 BC 260 BC
250s BC 259 BC 258 BC 257 BC 256 BC 255 BC 254 BC 253 BC 252 BC 251 BC 250 BC
240s BC 249 BC 248 BC 247 BC 246 BC 245 BC 244 BC 243 BC 242 BC 241 BC 240 BC
230s BC 239 BC 238 BC 237 BC 236 BC 235 BC 234 BC 233 BC 232 BC 231 BC 230 BC
220s BC 229 BC 228 BC 227 BC 226 BC 225 BC 224 BC 223 BC 222 BC 221 BC 220 BC
210s BC 219 BC 218 BC 217 BC 216 BC 215 BC 214 BC 213 BC 212 BC 211 BC 210 BC
209–200 BC 209 BC 208 BC 207 BC 206 BC 205 BC 204 BC 203 BC 202 BC 201 BC 200 BC
190s BC 199 BC 198 BC 197 BC 196 BC 195 BC 194 BC 193 BC 192 BC 191 BC 190 BC