How old is 1st century bc

It is considered part of the Classical era , epoch , or historical period. An alternative name for this century is the last century BC. 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 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 very near the close of this century. The Seleucid dynasty ends when Syria, the last remnant ruled by his family, falls to the Romans. Phoenicia is incorporated into the Roman province of Syria, with Tyre and Sidon retaining a measure of self-government.

Pompey captures Jerusalem, bringing Judaea under Roman control. Caesar is elected Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest of the Roman state religion.

An unproven rumour about Pompeia causes Caesar to divorce her on the grounds that 'Caesar's wife must be above suspicion'. Caesar's numerous creditors prevent him leaving Rome until the immensely wealthy Marcus Licinius Crassus stands bail for some of his debts.

Go to Crassus, Marcus Licinius c. Back in Rome, Caesar stands in the election to become one of the two consuls for the year 59, and wins. Julius Caesar persuades Pompey and Crassus to join him in a political alliance to their mutual advantage, known now as the first triumvirate. Caesar and Pompey use violence and intimidation to force through the senate a bill giving public land to retired soldiers with Pompey's men at the head of the queue.

At the end of his year as consul, Caesar travels north to become governor of northern Italy and southern France. Julius Caesar begins the long slow process of pushing Roman occupation steadily northwards in France or Gaul. Julius Caesar makes the first of his two invasions of Celtic Britain. Julius Caesar returns to Britain for a second visit, this time reaching north of the Thames into the kingdom of Cassivellaunus. Crasssus is killed at Carrhae, in Turkey, when the Parthians defeat his army, largely thanks to their brilliance as mounted archers.

The death of Crassus at Carrhae brings to an end the first triumvirate. The Celtic leader Vercingetorix inflicts an unaccustomed defeat on Julius Caesar, at Gergovia, but is captured later in the year.

In his winter quarters Julius Caesar writes The Gallic War , an account of his own achievements in suppressing the Gauls. Go to Gaul in World Encyclopedia 1 ed. The Xiongnu split into two hordes, one of them submitting to China and the other moving west.

The Phoenicians discover that a blob of molten glass can be puffed out to form a hollow vessel. Go to glass in Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World 1 ed.

A body preserved in the tannin of Lindow Moss, an English peat bog, is probably a sacrificial victim of the Druids. Gladiators have metal studs on their boxing gloves, and a public bout is expected to go on until the loser dies. Go to boxing in Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World 1 ed. The Great Stupa at Sanchi is the earliest surviving Buddhist stupa. The Maya independently develop the concept of place value in numbers, previously pioneered in Babylon.

The senate, controlled by Pompey and his faction, orders Caesar to disband his army and return to Rome. The Maya introduce a calendar which has a cycle of fifty-two years, known as the Calendar Round. A doctrinal split emerges within Jainism over whether a devotee must go naked sky clad or may be allowed a simple robe white clad.

Julius Caesar crosses the river Rubicon the southern boundary of Gaul with his army — and in doing so launches a civil war. Pompey flees from Rome at the approach of Caesar, and boards a ship at Brindisi to sail eastwards. Go to Pompey —48 bc in World Encyclopedia 1 ed. Julius Caesar moves fast to drive Pompey's supporters from Italy and to crush forces loyal to him in Spain.

Julius Caesar defeats his rival Pompey at Pharsalus, in Greece, and makes himself master of the Roman world. Julius Caesar, now fifty-two, meets the year-old Cleopatra in Alexandria and they become lovers.

Cleopatra acquires a new co-ruler and husband in the form of another young brother, now Ptolemy XIV. Julius Caesar leaves Alexandria to travel with his army by the land route back to Italy, through Turkey. Cleopatra gives birth to a son and calls him Ptolemy XV Caesar later known by the nickname Caesarion. Julius Caesar concludes a campaign in Asia Minor so speedily that he declares, succinctly, Veni, vidi, vici 'I came, I saw, I conquered'. Vercingetorix is a prize exhibit in Caesar's great triumph in Rome, but the Celtic chieftain is strangled once the procession is over.

Julius Caesar goes to Africa to confront the remainder of Pompey's forces, and defeats them at Thapsus — but two of Pompey's sons escape to Spain. Cleopatra travels to Rome with Caesarion, whom Caesar now officially recognizes as his son. A town is founded by Julius Caesar on the ruined site of Carthage, and eventually flourishes as Colonia Julia Carthago. In the final act of his long struggle with supporters of Pompey, Julius Caesar defeats their last survivors at Munda in Spain. Julius Caesar's new calendar is introduced, at a time when its predecessor has become out of step with the seasons by three months.

Mark Antony gives a dramatic speech in praise of Caesar, calming the crowd but also positioning himself for the next stage in an ongoing power struggle.

Octavian, an year-old student in Apollonia, hears that he has been named by his uncle, Julius Caesar, as his successor and heir. Go to Augustus 63 bc—ad 14 in World Encyclopedia 1 ed.

Soon after the assassination of Caesar, Cleopatra and Caesarion return to Egypt. Cleopatra appoints Caesarion, now aged three, her co-ruler and heir. Cleopatra's brother and co-ruler, Ptolemy XIV, dies — probably at her command.

Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus meet in Bologna and form an alliance known as the second triumvirate. After their victory at Philippi, Octavian returns to Rome and Mark Antony remains in the east to control the extremities of the empire. Mark Antony summons Cleopatra to visit him in Tarsus, to answer rumours that she has been disloyal to the empire. Keeping her appointment with Mark Antony in Tarsus, Cleopatra arrives in a golden barge, dressed as the goddess of love — and he proves susceptible.

Cleopatra persuades Mark Antony to execute her sister Arsinoe, thus removing her last potential rival in the Egyptian royal family. Manage consent. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.

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