Editing 2nd century BC

{{Short description|One hundred years, from 200 BC to 101 BC}}
{{redirect|100s BC|the decade|100s BC (decade)}}

{{Centurybox|-2}}
[[Image:East-Hem_200bc.jpg|thumb|250px|Map of the Eastern Hemisphere in 200 BC, the beginning of the second century BC.]]
[[File:World in 100 BCE.PNG|thumb|250px|Map of the world in 100 BC, the end of the second century BC.]]
The '''2nd century BC''' started the first day of [[200 BC]] and ended the last day of [[101 BC]]. It is considered part of the [[Classical antiquity|Classical]] [[era]], although depending on the region being studied, other terms may be more suitable. It is also considered to be the end of the [[Axial Age]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Introducing Philosophy of Religion |last=Meister |first=Chad |year=2009 |publisher=Routledge |location=Abingdon |pages=10 |isbn=978-0-203-88002-9}}</ref> In the context of the [[Eastern Mediterranean]], it is the mid-point of the [[Hellenistic period]].

Fresh from its victories in the [[Second Punic War]], the [[Roman Republic]] continued its expansion in the western Mediterranean, campaigning in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] throughout the century and annexing the [[North Africa]]n coast after the destruction of the city of [[Carthage]] at the end of the [[Third Punic War]]. They became the dominant force in the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] by destroying [[Antigonid]] [[Macedon (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]] in the [[Macedonian Wars]] and [[Corinth]] in the [[Achaean War]]. The Hellenistic kingdoms of [[Ptolemaic Egypt]] and [[Attalid|Attalid Pergamon]] entered into subordinate relationships with the Romans – Pergamon was eventually annexed. The end of the century witnessed the evolution of the [[Roman army]] from a citizen army into a voluntary professional force, which later scholars would misattribute to putative reforms by noted general and statesman [[Gaius Marius]] (the so-called [[Marian Reforms]]).

In the Near East, the other major Hellenistic kingdom, the [[Seleucid Empire]] collapsed into civil war in the middle of the century, following the loss of [[Asia Minor]] to the Romans and the conquest of the [[Iranian plateau]] and [[Mesopotamia]] by the [[Parthian empire]]. Outlying regions became independent kingdoms, notably the [[Hasmonean kingdom]] in [[Judaea]].

In [[East Asia]], [[China]] reached a high point under the [[Han dynasty]]. The Han Empire [[History of the Han dynasty|extended its boundaries from Korea in the east to Vietnam in the South to the borders of modern-day Kazakhstan]] in the west. The nomadic [[Xiongnu]] were at the height of their power at the beginning of the century, collecting tribute from the Han. Their victories over the [[Yuezhi]] set off a chain of westward migrations in [[Central Asia]]. Han efforts to find allies against the Xiongnu by exploring the lands to their west would ultimately lead to the opening of the [[Silk Road]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18006|title=Silk Road, North China|website=The Megalithic Portal}}</ref>

In [[South Asia]], the [[Mauryan Empire]] in [[India]] collapsed when Brihadnatha, the last emperor, was killed by [[Pushyamitra Shunga]], a Mauryan general who founded of the [[Shunga Empire]]. The [[Greco-Bactrians]] crossed the [[Hindu Kush]] and established the [[Indo-Greek Kingdom]], but lost their homeland in [[Bactria]] to the [[Sakas]], themselves under pressure from the Yuezhi.

==Events==
[[File:Rosetta Stone.JPG|thumb|upright|The [[Rosetta Stone]], a trilingual decree recording the coronation of [[Ptolemy V]] at [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]] in Egypt.]]

*[[200 BC]]: [[Battle of Panium]]: [[Antiochus III]] of the [[Seleucid empire]] defeats [[Ptolemy V]] of [[Ptolemaic Egypt|Egypt]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Walbank |first1=F. W. |title=The Hellenistic world |date=1992 |publisher=Fontana |location=London |isbn=0-00-686104-0 |page=101 |edition=[Rev.]}}</ref>
* c.[[200 BC]]: In ancient Philippines, the archipelago's indigenous people began to increase their contact with other nations in Southeast and East Asia, resulting in the establishment of fragmented city-states-like polities formed by complex sociopolitical units known as barangay or [[barangay state]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historylearning.com/history-of-the-philippines/pre-history/barangay-states/|title=Barangay States|website=History Learning}}</ref>

===[[190s BC]]===
*[[198 BC]]: [[Fifth Syrian War]]: Antiochus III takes control of [[Coele Syria]] and [[Judea]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Peter |title=Alexander to Actium : the historical evolution of the Hellenistic age |date=1990 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Berkeley |page=304|isbn=978-0-520-08349-3}}</ref>
**(November 12): Antiochus issues a decree requiring registration of all Egyptians taken slave during the war (''somata Aigyptia'') for census purposes.<ref>Willy Clarysse, Dorothy J. Thompson, Ulrich Luft, ''Counting the People in Hellenistic Egypt'', Volume 2, Historical Studies  (Cambridge University Press, 2006) p263</ref>
*[[197 BC]]: (June) [[Titus Quinctius Flamininus|Flamininus]] defeats [[Philip V of Macedon|Philip V]], king of [[Antigonid]] [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]] at the [[Battle of Cynoscephalae]], ending the [[Second Macedonian War]].<ref>Bernard Mineo, ''A Companion to Livy'' (Wiley, 2014) p412 (drawn by author from [[Polybius]] and [[Livy]]</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Walbank |first1=F. W. |title=The Hellenistic world |date=1992 |publisher=Fontana |location=London |isbn=0-00-686104-0 |page=98|edition=[Rev.]}}</ref>
*[[196 BC]]: 
**(March 27) Upon reaching the age of 14, [[Ptolemy V Epiphanes]] is crowned as the [[Ptolemaic Egypt|King of Egypt]] at [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]].  The decree made in conjunction with the coronation, dated the first day of the Egyptian month of Pharmouthi, is written in the [[Egyptian language]] in both [[Egyptian hieroglyphs|hieroglyphics]] and in [[Demotic (Egyptian)|demotic script]], as well as in [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] on the [[Rosetta Stone]], providing the key to deciphering the hieroglyphics almost 20 centuries later.<ref name=Bowman>Alan K. Bowman, ''Egypt After the Pharaohs, 332 BC-AD 642: From Alexander to the Arab Conquest'' (University of California Press, 1989), p30</ref>
**[[Lampsacus]] and [[Smyrna]] appeal to Rome for protection against [[Antiochus III]]'s expansion into western [[Asia Minor]] and [[Thrace]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Errington |first1=R. M. |editor1-last=Astin |editor1-first=A. E. |editor2-last=Walbank |editor2-first=F. W. |editor3-last=Frederiksen |editor3-first=M. W. |editor4-last=Ogilvie |editor4-first=R. M. |title=The Cambridge Ancient History 8: Rome and the Mediterranean to 133 BC |date=1989 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge [England] |isbn=978-0-521-23448-1 |page=271 |edition=Second |chapter=Rome against Philip and Antiochus}}</ref>
**[[Empress Lü Zhi|Empress Lü]]'s execution of [[Han Xin]] leads to the [[Ying Bu]] rebellion.
*[[195 BC]]: 
**(June 1) In China, [[Emperor Gaozu of Han]] dies and is succeeded by his 15-year-old son [[Emperor Hui of Han|Prince Liu Ying]].  As the second [[Han dynasty]] ruler, Liu Ying is given the regnal name of Emperor Hui and reigns until his death in 188 BC at the age of 22.  However, the true power resides with his mother, the [[Empress Lü Zhi]], who serves as the Regent as widow of Gaozu.
**The [[War against Nabis]] marks the end of [[Sparta]]n power in Greece.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cartledge |first1=Paul |last2=Spawforth |first2=A. |title=Hellenistic and Roman Sparta : a tale of two cities |date=2002 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=0-415-26277-1 |pages=74–79 |edition=2nd}}</ref>
*[[194 BC]]: 
**(April 4) — The first [[Megalesia|Games of Megalesia]] and a festival are held in Rome after games were promised in honor of [[Cybele]] following Rome's triumph over Carthage in the [[Punic Wars]].  The festival and games last seven full days, closing on April 10.<ref>Eckart Kèohne, ''Gladiators and Caesars: The Power of Spectacle in Ancient Rome'' (University of California Press, 2000) p10</ref>
**[[Wiman of Gojoseon]] establishes [[Wiman Joseon]] in Korea.<ref>{{cite book |last =Kim |first =Jinwung |title=A history of Korea: from "Land of the Morning Calm" to states in conflict |date=2012 |location=Bloomington, IN | publisher = Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-00024-8 |page=16}}</ref>
*[[192 BC]]: 
**The [[Baiyue|Yue]] Kingdom of Eastern Ou established in [[Zhejiang]] with [[Han dynasty|Chinese]] support.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}
**(February)— Antiochus, the son of Antiochus III and co-regent for the Seleucid throne since 209 BC, dies; according to cuneiform tablets, news reaches Babylon sometime during the month of Addara after April 8.<ref>T. Boiy, ''Late Achaemenid and Hellenistic Babylon'' (Peeters Publishers, 2004) p157</ref>
**(November) — Antiochus III leads an army into Greece to challenge Roman control, at the invitation of the [[Aetolians]], starting the [[Roman-Syrian War]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bringmann |first1=Klaus |title=A history of the Roman republic |date=2007 |publisher=Polity |location=Cambridge, UK |isbn=978-0-7456-3371-8 |page=91}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Walbank |first1=F. W. |title=The Hellenistic world |date=1992 |publisher=Fontana |location=London |isbn=0-00-686104-0 |page=237|edition=[Rev.]}}</ref>
*[[191 BC]]: (April 24) [[Battle of Thermopylae (191 BC)|Battle of Thermopylae]]: [[Manius Acilius Glabrio (consul 191 BC)|Manius Acilius Glabrio]] drives Antiochus III out of Greece.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grainger |first1=John D. |title=The Roman war of Antiochos the Great |date=2002 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden |isbn=978-90-04-12840-8 |pages=240–246}}</ref>
*[[190 BC]]: (December or January 189 BC) [[Battle of Magnesia]]: [[Roman Republic|Rome]] and [[Pergamon]] drive [[Antiochus III]] out of [[Asia Minor]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grainger |first1=John D. |title=The Roman war of Antiochos the Great |date=2002 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden |isbn=978-90-04-12840-8 |pages=320–329}}</ref>

===[[180s BC]]===
[[File:Changling 2.jpg|thumb|Tomb of Empress Lü in Changling, [[Xianyang]], Shaanxi]]
[[File:I17 1karshapana Sunga MACW4325 1ar (8485402873).jpg|thumb|300px|A silver coin of 1 [[karshapana]] of King [[Pushyamitra Shunga]] (185-149 BC), founder of the [[Shunga dynasty]].]]
*[[189 BC]]: [[Galatian War]]: [[Gnaeus Manlius Vulso (consul 189 BC)|Gnaeus Manlius Vulso]] and [[Pergamon]] defeat the [[Galatia]]ns.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grainger |first1=John D. |title=The Roman war of Antiochos the Great |date=2002 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden |isbn=978-90-04-12840-8 |pages=341–344}}</ref>
*[[188 BC]]: (September 26)  [[Emperor Qianshao of Han|Prince Liu Gong]], the five-year old younger brother of Emperor Hui becomes the third [[Han dynasty]] Emperor of China upon his brother's death, taking the regnal name of Emperor Qianshao.  Because of his minority, his grandmother, Empress Lü continues as the actual ruler and serves as the regent.
*[[187 BC]]: (July 3) Seleucid king Antiochus III dies at the age of 53 and is succeeded by his son [[Seleucus IV Philopator]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Wilson. Nigel Guy|title=Encyclopedia of ancient Greece|publisher=Routledge|year=2006|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofan0000unse_a6l6/page/58 58]|isbn=978-0-415-97334-2|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofan0000unse_a6l6/page/58}}</ref>
*[[186 BC]]: Ptolemy V defeats [[Ankhwennefer (pharaoh)|Ankhwennefer]] and regains control of [[Upper Egypt]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hölbl |first1=Günther |title=A History of the Ptolemaic Empire |date=2013 |isbn=978-1-135-11983-6 |page=156}}</ref>
*[[185 BC]]: [[Pushyamitra Shunga]] assassinates the last [[Maurya]] emperor, founding the [[Shunga dynasty]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thapar |first1=Romila |title=The past before us: historical traditions of early north India |date=2013 |location=Cambridge, MA |isbn=978-0-674-72651-2 |page=296 |edition=First Harvard University Press | publisher = Harvard University Press }}</ref>
*[[184 BC]]: (June 15)  [[Emperor Qianshao of Han]], the 11-year old nominal ruler of China, is removed, imprisoned and then put to death on order of his grandmother, Empress Lü.  [[Emperor Houshao of Han|Prince Liu Hong]], the brother of Qianshao, is installed by the regent as the new Emperor, under the name of Emperor Houshao.
*[[183 BC]]: [[Zhao Tuo]] of [[Nanyue]] declares himself Emperor and attacks [[Han dynasty|China]].<ref>{{The Cambridge History of China|volume=1 | last=Loewe | first=Michael| chapter=The Former Han Dynasty |page=136}}</ref>
*[[180 BC]]: (November 14) [[Lü Clan Disturbance]]: with the death of [[Empress Lü Zhi|Empress Lü]] of China, the nominal [[Emperor Houshao of Han|Houshao]] is killed along with the rest of the Lü Clan.  Another son of Gaozu, the first Han emperor, [[Emperor Wen of Han|Prince Liu Heng]], becomes the fifth Han emperor and takes the name of Emperor Wen.

===[[170s BC]]===
[[File:Antiokhos IV.jpg|thumb|upright|Bust of Antiochus IV at the Altes Museum in Berlin.]]
*[[179 BC]]: 
** [[Zhao Tuo]] of [[Nanyue]] makes peace with Han China.
** Upon the death of Philip V, [[Perseus of Macedon|Perseus]] becomes king of Antigonid Macedon.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bringmann|first=Klaus|title=A History of the Roman Republic|year=2007|orig-year=2002|location=Cambridge & Malden|translator=Smyth, W. J.|publisher=Polity Press|isbn=978-0-7456-3371-8|url=http://www.polity.co.uk/book.asp?ref=9780745633701|page=97}}</ref>
*[[178 BC]]: [[Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus (consul 177 BC)|Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus]] ends the [[First Celtiberian War]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Harris|first1=W. V. |editor1-last=Astin |editor1-first=A. E. |editor2-last=Walbank |editor2-first=F. W. |editor3-last=Frederiksen |editor3-first=M. W. |editor4-last=Ogilvie |editor4-first=R. M. |title=The Cambridge Ancient History 8: Rome and the Mediterranean to 133 BC |date=1989 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge [England] |isbn=978-0-521-23448-1 |page=125|edition=Second |chapter=Roman Expansion in the West}}</ref>
*[[176 BC]]: The [[Xiongnu]] defeat the [[Yuezhi]], who subsequently emigrate from [[Gansu]] to the [[Qilian Mountains]] and the [[Ili valley]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Beckwith |first=Christopher I. |author-link=Christopher I. Beckwith |year=2009 |title=Empires of the Silk Road: A History of Central Eurasia from the Bronze Age to the Present |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Ue8BxLEMt4C |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |isbn=978-1-4008-2994-1|pages=380–383}}</ref>
*[[175 BC]]: (September 3) Upon the assassination of Seleucus IV Philopator, his brother [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]] takes possession of the Seleucid throne.<ref>M. Zambelli, "L'ascesa al trono di Antioco IV Epifane di Siria," ''[[Rivista di Filologia e di Istruzione Classica]]'' 38 (1960) 363–389</ref>
*[[171 BC]]: At the prompting of the Attalid king Eumenes II, the Romans declare war on Perseus, beginning the [[Third Macedonian War]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Bringmann|first=Klaus|title=A History of the Roman Republic|year=2007|orig-year=2002|location=Cambridge & Malden|translator=Smyth, W. J.|publisher=Polity Press|isbn=978-0-7456-3371-8|url=http://www.polity.co.uk/book.asp?ref=9780745633701|pages=98–99}}</ref>

===[[160s BC]]===
[[File:Lagid queen Isis Ma3546.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Cleopatra II]] ruled [[Ptolemaic Egypt|Egypt]] in co-operation and competition with her brothers [[Ptolemy VI]] and [[Ptolemy VIII|VIII]] for most of the century.]]
*[[168 BC]]: 
**Third Macedonian War: [[Roman Republic|Roman]] victory in the [[Battle of Pydna]] leads to the dissolution of the Antigonid Kingdom of Macedon.
**[[Sixth Syrian War]]: [[Antiochus IV]] of the Seleucid empire invades Ptolemaic Egypt, but is forced to turn back by [[Gaius Popillius Laenas]] at the Day of Eleusis.
*[[167 BC]]: [[Mithradates I of Parthia]] takes [[Margiana]] and [[Aria (satrapy)|Aria]] from the [[Greco-Bactrian Kingdom]].
*[[164 BC]]
**25 [[Kislev]]: [[Judas Maccabaeus]], son of Mattathias of the [[Hasmonean]] family, restores the [[Temple in Jerusalem]] ([[Hanukkah]], [[Maccabean Revolt]]).
**[[Ptolemy VIII]] drives his brother [[Ptolemy VI]] out of [[Alexandria]]. He flees to Rome.
**[[Antiochus IV]] dies on campaign, leaving the Seleucid empire to his nine-year-old son, [[Antiochus V]].
*[[163 BC]]: 
**(May 20) Chinese mathematicians observe and record the passage of the [[Halley's Comet]].
**Ptolemy VI regains Alexandria. Ptolemy VIII takes [[Cyrenaica]].
**[[Timarchus]] rebels against the Seleucid empire and seizes control of [[Medes|Media]] and [[Babylonia]].
*[[161 BC]]: 
**[[Battle of Vijithapura]]: [[Dutthagamani]] defeats the [[Tamil people|Tamil]] King [[Ellalan]].
**[[Demetrius I Soter]] seizes the [[Seleucid]] throne, beginning a succession war that would consume the Seleucid realm for almost a century.
*[[160 BC]]: The [[Wusun]] drive the [[Yuezhi]] out of the [[Ili valley]].

===[[150s BC]]===
[[File:Mural painting of four animals in clouds.jpg|thumb|upright|Mural from the tomb of [[Liu Wu, Prince of Chu|Liu Wu]] whose principality was at the heart of the [[Rebellion of the Seven States]]]]
*[[158 BC]]: The [[Xiongnu]] attack northern China.
*[[157 BC]]: (July 6) [[Emperor Wen of Han]] dies and is succeeded by his son [[Emperor Jing of Han|Prince Liu Qi]] who takes the regnal name of the Emperor Jing.
*[[155 BC]]: The [[Lusitanians]] begin the [[Lusitanian War]] against [[Roman Republic|Rome]].
*[[154 BC]]
**The [[Celtiberians]] of [[Numantia]] begin the [[Numantine War]] against [[Roman Republic|Rome]].
**[[Liu Pi (prince)|Liu Pi]] leads the [[Rebellion of the Seven States]] against [[Emperor Jing of Han|Emperor Jing]] of [[Han dynasty|Han China]] and is defeated.
*[[152 BC]]: [[Alexander Balas]] starts a revolt against [[Demetrius I Soter]] with the support of [[Jonathan Maccabaeus]]

===[[140s BC]]===
*[[148 BC]]: 
**[[Mithradates I of Parthia]] takes [[Ecbatana]] from the [[Seleucids]].
**[[Rome]] conquers [[Macedon]]ia ([[Fourth Macedonian War]]).
*[[147 BC]]: [[Hasmonean]] victories restore autonomy to [[Judea]].
*[[146 BC]]: [[Roman Republic|Rome]] destroys and razes the city of [[Carthage]] ([[Third Punic War]]) and destroys the [[Achaean League]] and razes [[Ancient Corinth|Corinth]] ([[Achaean War]]).
*[[145 BC]]: 
**[[Battle of Antioch (145 BC)|Battle of Antioch]]: [[Alexander Balas]] of the [[Seleucid empire]] loses his throne and [[Ptolemy VI]] of [[Ptolemaic Egypt|Egypt]] loses his life.
**[[Ptolemy VIII]] takes control of [[Alexandria]].
**Greco-Bactrian city of [[Ai-Khanoum]] is sacked (possibly by the [[Yuezhi]]).
*[[141 BC]] (March 9): [[Emperor Jing of Han]] dies and is succeeded by his son [[Emperor Wu of Han|Prince Liu Che]], who is enthroned as the Emperor Wu and begins a 54-year reign.  The new emperor's attempts at reform are immediately stymied by [[Empress Dou (Wen)|his grandmother]].

===[[130s BC]]===
[[File:漢武帝.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Emperor Wu of Han]] was probably the most powerful man in the world at the end of the century]]
*[[139 BC]]: 
**The assassination of [[Viriathus]] marks the end of the [[Lusitanian War]].
**[[Mithradates I of Parthia]] defeats the [[Seleucid]] king [[Demetrius II Nicator]] and captures [[Babylonia]].
*[[138 BC]]: [[Minyue]]'s invasion of Eastern Ou sparks off the [[Han campaigns against Minyue]]
*[[135 BC]]
**[[Minyue]]'s invasion of [[Nanyue]] leads to [[Han campaigns against Minyue#Second intervention|conquest]] of its western half by [[Han dynasty|China]]. The eastern half survives as Dongyue.
**[[Eunus]] begins the [[First Servile War]].
*[[133 BC]]: 
**[[Attalus III]] of [[Pergamon]] dies, bequeathing his kingdom to the [[Roman Republic]].
**[[Emperor Wu of Han|Emperor Wu]] sets [[Battle of Mayi|an ambush]] for the [[Xiongnu]], beginning the [[Han–Xiongnu War]]
**Assassination of [[Tiberius Gracchus]].
**[[Scipio Aemilianus]] wins the [[Siege of Numantia]] and conquers the [[Celtiberians]].
*[[132 BC]]: Rioting on the streets of [[Alexandria]] leads to civil war between [[Ptolemy VIII]] and [[Cleopatra II]].
*[[130 BC]]:
**Greek astronomer [[Hipparchus]] continues lifelong studies, becoming the first to calculate the precession of moon and sun and to create a sizable catalog of stars.
**[[Heliocles I]], the last Greek king of Bactria, dies.

===[[120s BC]]===
[[File:Coin of Mithridates II of Parthia, Ray mint.jpg|thumb|[[Ancient drachma|Drachm]] of [[Mithradates II of Parthia|Mithridates II]] of [[Parthian Empire|Parthia]], wearing a bejeweled [[tiara]].]]
*[[129 BC]]: [[Battle of Ecbatana]]: [[Antiochus VII Sidetes]] of the [[Seleucid empire]] attempt to reclaim the [[Iranian Plateau]] from [[Parthia]] ends in failure.
*[[127 BC]]: [[Hyspaosines]] of [[Characene]] takes control of [[Babylonia]].
*[[126 BC]]: [[Ptolemy VIII]] regains control of [[Alexandria]].
*[[125 BC]]: [[Zhang Qian]] returns to China after a protracted journey through the west.
*[[124 BC]]: [[Artabanus II of Parthia]] is killed in battle with the [[Yuezhi]] and succeeded by his son [[Mithridates II of Parthia|Mithridates II]]
*[[122 BC]]: [[Mithradates II of Parthia]] regains control of [[Babylonia]] and [[Characene]]
*[[121 BC]]: Assassination of [[Gaius Gracchus]]

===[[110s BC]]===
*[[116 BC]]: (June 28) [[Ptolemy VIII Physcon|Ptolemy VIII of Egypt]] dies and is succeeded by his wife [[Cleopatra III]] and son [[Ptolemy IX Soter]].<ref name=Bowman/>
*[[113 BC]]: The [[Cimbri]] and [[Teutones]] arrive on the banks of the [[Danube]] in [[Noricum]], clashing with Roman allies, beginning the [[Cimbrian War]].
*[[112 BC]]: [[Jugurtha]] of [[Numidia]]'s elimination of his co-regents sparks the [[Jugurthine War]] with [[Roman Republic|Rome]].
*[[111 BC]]: A power struggle in [[Nanyue|Nam Viet]] leads to its [[Han–Nanyue War|conquest]] by [[Han dynasty|China]], ending the [[Triệu dynasty]] and beginning the [[First Chinese domination of Vietnam]].

===[[109–100 BC|100s BC]]===
*[[109 BC]]
**[[Han dynasty|China]] [[Han campaigns against Dian|conquers]] [[Dian Kingdom|Dian]].
**King [[Ugeo of Gojoseon]] kills a [[Han dynasty|Chinese]] envoy, sparking the [[Han conquest of Gojoseon|Gojoseon–Han War]].
*[[108 BC]]: [[Han dynasty|Chinese]] troops destroy [[Wanggeom seong]], capital of [[Wiman Joseon]], establishing the [[Four Commanderies of Han]] to govern the northern part of [[Korea]].
*[[107 BC]]: [[Gaius Marius]] attains his first [[Roman consul|consulship]].
*[[106 BC]]: Gaius Marius and [[Sulla]] bring an end to the [[Jugurthine War]].
*[[105 BC]]: [[Battle of Arausio]]: [[Cimbri]] and [[Teutones]] annihilate a Roman army.
*[[104 BC|104]] – [[101 BC]]: [[War of the Heavenly Horses]], [[Han dynasty|China]] defeats [[Dayuan]] at great cost.
*[[104 BC]]: A mass-[[manumission]] leads to the [[Second Servile War]] in [[Sicily]]
*[[102 BC]]: Gaius Marius defeats the [[Teutones]] at the [[Battle of Aquae Sextiae]]
*[[101 BC]]: Gaius Marius defeats the [[Cimbri]] at the [[Battle of Vercellae]], ending the [[Cimbrian War]].

==Significant people==
[[File:Bronze statue of a Hellenistic prince, 1st half of 2nd century BC, found on the Quirinal in Rome, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Rome (31479801364).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Scipio Aemilianus]]]]
[[File:Antiochos III.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Antiochus the Great]]]]
[[File:Marius Glyptothek Munich 319.jpg|thumb|upright|A bust purported to be of [[Gaius Marius]]]]
[[File:Stele des Polybios.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Polybius]]]]
[[File:Portrait of Terence from Vaticana, Vat. lat.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Terence]]]]
[[File:MenandrosCoin.jpg|thumb|upright|Coin of [[Menander I]], the [[Indo-Greek kingdom|Greek]] king who ruled most of Northern India ({{Circa|150-130}}) and converted to [[Buddhism]].]]
[[File:Posidonio, replica augustea (23 ac.-14 dc ca) da originale del 100-50 ac. ca. 6142.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Posidonius]] was acclaimed as the greatest polymath of his age.]]

===Politics===
*[[Andriscus]], last independent ruler of Macedon
*[[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]], the last effective ruler of the [[Seleucid Empire]]
*[[Antiochus VII Sidetes]], last King of a United [[Seleucid Empire]]
*[[Eucratides I|Eucratides I Megas]], the most powerful [[Greco-Bactrian Kingdom|Greco-Bactrian]] king
*[[Mithridates I of Parthia|Mithridates I]], great king of the [[Parthian Empire|Parthian empire]]
*[[Appius Claudius Pulcher (consul 143 BC)]], Roman consul and censor
*[[Boiorix]], king of the [[Cimbri]]
*[[Cato the Elder]], Roman politician, writer and historian
*[[Gaius Gracchus]], Roman politician
*[[Gaius Marius]], Roman general and politician
*[[Jonathan Maccabaeus]], leader of the [[Hasmonean]] rebellion and first autonomous ruler of [[Judea]]
*[[Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus]], Roman general and politician
*[[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]], Roman general and politician
*[[Lucius Mummius Achaicus]], conqueror of [[Ancient Corinth|Corinth]]
*[[Marcus Claudius Marcellus (consul 166 BC)]], Roman politician
*[[Perseus of Macedon]], last King of the [[Antigonid dynasty]]
*[[Publius Mucius Scaevola (triumphator)]], Roman politician
*[[Publius Mucius Scaevola (pontifex maximus)]], Roman politician
*[[Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus]], Roman general and politician
*[[Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus]], Roman general and politician
*[[Teutobod]], King of the [[Teutons]]
*[[Tiberius Gracchus]] Roman politician and statesman
*[[Emperor Wu of Han]] (漢武帝,劉徹), seventh [[Han dynasty]] emperor, who consolidated and expanded imperial power in China
*[[Zhang Qian]] (張騫), Chinese diplomat and explorer
*[[Zhao Tuo]], Chinese military commander who founded the [[Trieu dynasty]]

===Military===
*[[Huo Qubing]], Chinese general
*[[Judas Maccabeus]], leader of the [[Hasmonean]] rebellion and its first successful general
*[[Li Guang]], Chinese general
*[[Lucius Caecilius Metellus Calvus]], Roman general
*[[Lucius Caecilius Metellus Dalmaticus]], Roman general
*[[Quintus Lutatius Catulus]], Roman general
*[[Scipio Aemilianus Africanus]], Roman general that conquered [[Carthage]]
*[[Wei Qing]], Chinese general

===Literature===
*[[Apollodorus of Athens]], Greek writer, grammarian, and historian
*[[Bion of Smyrna]], Greek poet
*[[Gaius Lucilius]], Roman satirist
*[[Quintus Lutatius Catulus (consul 102 BC)|Lutatius Catulus]], Roman poet, orator and historian
*[[Lucius Accius]], Roman poet
*[[Moschus]], Greek poet
*[[Pacuvius]], Roman poet
*[[Quintus Ennius]], Roman poet
*[[Sima Xiangru]] (司馬相如), Chinese musician, poet and writer
*[[Titus Maccius Plautus]], Roman playwright
*[[Terence]], Roman playwright
*[[Sangam literature]], corpus of ancient Tamil literature
*[[Kaniyan Pungundranar]], one of the poets of the Tamil Sangam work [[Purananuru]]

===Science and philosophy===
*[[Apollonius of Perga]], Greek [[geometer]]
*[[Carneades]], Greek philosopher
*[[Crates of Mallus]], Greek grammarian and philosopher
*[[Diogenes of Babylon]], Greek philosopher
*[[Eight Immortals of Huainan]] (淮南八仙), Chinese philosophers
*[[Hipparchus]], Greek astronomer
*[[Hypsicles]], Greek mathematician and astronomer
*[[Liu An]] (劉安), Chinese geographer
*[[Panaetius]], Greek philosopher
*[[Polybius]], Greek historian
*[[Posidonius]], Greek philosopher, geographer, astronomer and historian
*[[Seleucus of Seleucia]], Hellenistic astronomer
*[[Sima Qian]] (司馬遷), Chinese historian
*[[Zenodorus (mathematician)|Zenodorus]], Greek mathematician

==Inventions, discoveries, introductions==
[[Image:equatorial ring.png|thumb|right|150px|Hipparchus' [[equatorial ring]].]]
*The [[China|Chinese]] first produce [[paper]].
*[[Silk Road]] between [[Europe]] and [[Asia]].
*[[Hipparchus]] discovers [[precession]] of [[Earth]]'s [[equinox]]es and compiles first [[Trigonometry|trigonometric]] tables.<ref>{{Cite web |last1= O'Connor |first1=J.J. |last2=Robertson |first2=E F |title=Hipparchus |website=Maths History |publisher=St Andrews University |date=April 1999 |url=https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Hipparchus/|access-date=March 15, 2024}}</ref>
*According to legend, [[Liu An]] invents [[tofu]].
*The [[Fibonacci numbers]] and their sequence first appear in Indian mathematics as mātrāmeru, mentioned by [[Pingala]] in connection with the Sanskrit tradition of prosody.<ref>{{Cite web|title=15 Significant Science and Tech Discoveries Ancient India Gave the World – Arise Arjuna Foundation|url=https://ancientindia.info/15-significant-science-and-tech-discoveries-ancient-india-gave-the-world/|access-date=2021-06-12|language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*[[Pingala]] was the first who accidentally discovered binary numbers in which he used laghu(light) and guru(heavy) rather than 0 and 1. 
*[[Tube drawn]] technology: [[Indian people|Indians]] used tube drawn technology for glass bead manufacturing which was first developed in the 2nd century BCE
*The [[Roman concrete]] (pozzolana) first used.
*A system for sending signs to communicate quickly over a long distance is described by [[Polybios]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Polybius • Histories — Book 10|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Polybius/10*.html#45.6|access-date=2020-06-22|website=penelope.uchicago.edu}}</ref>
*The earliest known [[winnowing machine]] is depicted in a [[Han dynasty]] [[Technology of the Song dynasty#Wind power|Chinese tomb model]].<ref>Joseph Needham, ''Science and Civilization in China: Volume 4, Physics and Physical Technology, Part 2, Mechanical Engineering'' (Cambridge University Press, 1985) p118</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of sovereign states in the 2nd century BC]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Decades and years}} 
{{Centuries}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2nd century BC}}
[[Category:2nd century BC| ]]
[[Category:1st millennium BC|-8]]
[[Category:Centuries|-98]]