Editing 246 BC (section)

== Events ==
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=== By place ===
==== Egypt ====
* [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt's]] [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy II]] dies and is succeeded by his son, [[Ptolemy III Euergetes|Ptolemy III]]. At the time of Ptolemy II's death, Egypt comprises the ancient kingdom of Egypt in the [[Nile Valley]], [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]], [[Judea]] and the coast of southern [[Syria]], [[Cyprus]] and a number of cities on the shores and islands of the [[Aegean Sea]]. The [[Macedon]]ian Ptolemies maintain their authority over their territories with a small [[mercenary]] army made up of Macedonians and other Greeks.

==== India ====
* The Ashokan pillar in [[Lauriya]], [[Nandangarh]] (from the [[Maurya period]]) is made.

==== Seleucid Empire ====
* [[Antiochus II Theos|Antiochus II]] leaves [[Berenice (Seleucid queen)|Berenice]] in order to live again with his former wife [[Laodice I|Laodice]] and his son [[Seleucus II Callinicus|Seleucus]]. However, Laodice poisons him and proclaims her son as King Seleucus II Callinicus, while her supporters in [[Antioch]] kill Berenice and her children who have taken refuge at Daphne, near Antioch, in [[Syria]].
* Berenice's brother, [[Ptolemy III Euergetes|Ptolemy III]], sets about to avenge his sister's murder by invading Syria which begins the [[Third Syrian War]] (also known as the [[Laodicean War]]). Ptolemy III's navy, perhaps with the aid of rebels in the cities, advances against Seleucus II's forces as far as [[Thrace]], across the [[Hellespont]], and also captures some islands off the [[Anatolia]]n coast.
* Ptolemy III wins major victories over Seleucus II in Syria and Anatolia and briefly occupies Antioch. These victories are marred by the loss of the [[Cyclades]] to [[Antigonus II Gonatas]] in the [[Battle of Andros (246 BC)|Battle of Andros]].
* Seleucus II Callinicus' mother, Laodice attempts to take control over the Seleucid Empire by insisting that Seleucus II make his younger brother, [[Antiochus Hierax]], co-regent and give him all the Seleucid territory in [[Anatolia]]. Antiochus promptly declares independence and begins fighting a war with his brother.
* In order to secure the [[Bactria]]n King [[Diodotus I|Diodotus']] friendship, Seleucus II Callinicus arranges the marriage of one of his sisters to King Diodotus.

==== Roman Republic ====
* With [[Hamilcar Barca]] wearing the [[Roman Republic|Romans]] down in [[Sicily]], the Romans, by private subscription, build another fleet with the aim of regaining command of the sea.
* In Rome, the number of [[praetor]]s is increased from one to two. The second praetor is appointed to relieve the backlog of judicial business and to give the Republic a magistrate with Imperium who can field an army in an emergency when both consuls are away fighting a war.

==== China ====
* The [[Zhengguo Canal]], approximately one hundred miles long, is built across the current-day province of [[Shaanxi]] in [[China]], greatly adding to the agricultural productivity of the area and to the military potency of the [[Qin dynasty]].
* The Qin general Meng Ao crushes a revolt in Jinyang.<ref>{{cite book|first=Sima|last= Qian|title=Records of the Grand Historian, Section: The First Emperor}}</ref>
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