Editing 4th century BC

{{Short description|One hundred years, from 400 BC to 301 BC}}
{{Redirect|300s BC|the decade|300s BC (decade)}}
{{Centurybox|-4}}
[[File:Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg|thumb|Alexander the Great of Macedon created one of the largest empires of the ancient world.]]

The '''4th century BC''' started the first day of [[400 BC]] and ended the last day of [[301 BC]]. It is considered part of the [[Classical antiquity|Classical]] [[era]], [[Epoch (reference date)|epoch]], or [[historical period]].

This century marked the height of [[Classical Greece|Classical Greek civilization]] in all of its aspects. By the year 400 BC Greek [[philosophy]], [[art]], [[literature]] and [[architecture]] had spread far and wide, with the numerous independent [[Greek colonisation|Greek colonies]] that had sprung up throughout the lands of the [[eastern Mediterranean]].

Arguably the most important series of political events in this period were the conquests of [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]], bringing about the collapse of the once formidable [[Achaemenid Empire|Persian Empire]] and spreading Greek culture far into the east. Alexander dreamt of an east/west union, but when his short life ended in 323 BC, his vast empire was plunged into [[Wars of the Diadochi|civil war]] as his generals each carved out their own separate kingdoms. Thus began the [[Hellenistic civilization|Hellenistic age]], a period characterized by a more absolute approach to rule, with Greek kings taking on royal trappings and setting up hereditary successions. While a degree of democracy still existed in some of the remaining independent Greek cities, many scholars see this age as marking the end of classical Greece.

In [[India]], the [[Maurya Empire]] was founded in 322 BC by [[Chandragupta Maurya]] who rapidly expanded his power westwards across central and western [[India]], taking advantage of the disruptions of [[Mahajanapadas|local powers]] in the wake of the withdrawal westward by the armies of Alexander.

[[China]] in the 4th century BCE entered an era of constant warfare known as the [[Warring States period]]. The period saw the rapid rise of large states (such as [[Chu (state)|Chu]]) over smaller ones thanks to technological advancement. Though the period has usually been characterized by historians as being excessively violent compared to the [[Spring and Autumn period]], it was also punctuated by several cultural and social growths through the expansion of several different sects of [[Confucianism]] and [[Taoism]], and the formulation of [[Legalism (Chinese philosophy)|Legalist]] thought.

==The world in the 4th century BC==

[[File:World in 400 BCE.png|thumb|550px|centre|Map of the world in 400 BC, the beginning of the fourth century BCE.]]

[[File:East-Hem 323bc.jpg|thumb|550px|centre|Map of the world in 323 BC.]]

[[File:World in 300 BCE.PNG|thumb|550px|centre|Map of the world in 300 BC, the end of the fourth century BCE.]]

==Events==
===[[390s BCE|390s BC]]===
* [[399 BCE|399 BC]]: The [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[philosopher]] [[Socrates]] is sentenced to death by [[Athens|Athenian]] authorities, condemned for [[impiety]] and the [[corruption]] of youth. He refuses to flee into exile and dies by drinking [[Conium|hemlock]].
* [[396 BCE|396 BC]]: [[Marcus Furius Camillus]] is made [[dictator]] by the [[Roman Republic|Romans]]. Camillus finally destroys the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] city of [[Veii]] in southern [[Etruria]].
* [[395 BCE|395 BC]]: [[Kalashoka]] succeeds his father [[Shishunaga]] to become king of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]]. [[Second Buddhist council|Second Buddhist Council]] is held during his reign.
*
* [[395 BCE|395 BC]]: The "[[Corinthian War]]" begins, with [[Athens]], [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]], [[Corinth]] and [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]] (with the backing of [[Achaemenid Empire|Persia]]) against [[Sparta]].
* [[392 BCE|392 BC]]: A peace conference between the Greek city-states is held in Sparta. Andocides, Athenian orator and politician, goes with three colleagues to negotiate peace with Sparta. The conference is unsuccessful and Athens rejects the terms and exiles the ambassadors.
* [[391 BCE|391 BC]]: [[Dionysius I of Syracuse|Dionysius I]], [[tyrant]] of [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]], begins an attempt to extend his rule to the Greek cities of southern [[Italy]]. He unsuccessfully besieges [[Rhegium]].
* [[390 BCE|390 BC]]: The [[Pharaoh]] of [[Egypt]], [[Hakor]] (Akoris), concludes a tripartite alliance with [[Evagoras I|Evagoras]], king of [[Cyprus]], and [[Athens]].

===[[380s BCE]]===
* [[389 BCE|389 BC]]: Early in the [[Warring States period]], [[Chu (state)|Chu]] is one of the strongest states in China. The state rose to a new level of power when [[King Dao of Chu]] ({{lang|zh|楚悼王}}) names the famous reformer [[Wu Qi]] as his chancellor.
* [[389 BCE|389 BC]]: [[Wu Qi]], the [[prime minister]] of the [[State of Chu]], enacts his first series of political, municipal, and martial reforms. Wu Qi gains the ire and distrust of Chu officials and aristocratic elite who are against his crusades to sweep up corruption in the state and limit their power. 
* [[388 BCE|388 BC]]: [[Plato]], having left [[Athens]] on [[Socrates]]' death to visit [[Megara]] and possibly [[Egypt]], travels to [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]] at the invitation of [[Dionysius I of Syracuse|Dionysius I's]] brother-in-law [[Dion (tyrant of Syracuse)|Dion]].
* [[387 BCE|387 BC]]: Under the threat of Spartan intervention, [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]] disbands its league, and [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]] and [[Corinth]] end their shared government. Corinth, deprived of its strong ally, is incorporated back into Sparta's [[Peloponnesian League]]. After eight years of fighting, the [[Corinthian War]] is at an end.
* [[387 BCE|387 BC]]: [[Plato]] founds the [[Platonic Academy]] in [[Athens]], where he teaches [[Aristotle]] until [[347 BCE|347 BC]].
* [[387 BCE|387 BC]]: Romans are defeated by the [[Gauls]] under [[Brennus (4th century BC)|Brennus]] in the [[Battle of the Allia]] who then go on to occupy the city of [[Rome]]. After the Gauls leave again the Romans begin the rebuilding of their city.
* [[386 BCE|386 BC]]: Freed from [[Sparta]]n attacks by the [[Peace of Antalcidas]] of the previous year, [[Achaemenid Empire|Persia]] turns to quieting [[Cyprus]] and [[Egypt]]. Owing to the skill of King [[Evagoras I|Evagoras]] of Cyprus and of Egypt's Greek [[mercenary]] general [[Chabrias]], these wars drag on for the rest of the decade.
* [[386 BCE|386 BC]]: The [[History of China#Ancient China|Chinese]] city of [[Handan]] is founded by the [[Zhao (state)|State of Zhao]].
</onlyinclude>
* [[385 BCE|385 BC]]: [[Plato]] forms his [[Academy]], teaching [[mathematics]], [[astronomy]] and other [[science]]s as well as [[philosophy]]. It is dedicated to the Attic hero [[Akademos|Academus]]. Philanthropists bear all costs; students pay no fees.
* [[384 BCE|384 BC]]: [[Lysias]], the [[Athens|Athenian]] orator, on the occasion of the [[Olympiad]], [[rebuke]]s the Greeks for allowing themselves to be dominated by the [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracusan]] tyrant [[Dionysius I of Syracuse|Dionysius I]] and by the barbarian [[Achaemenid Empire|Persians]].
* [[384 BCE|384 BC]]: The Greeks found the colony of Pharos at the site of today's [[Stari Grad, Croatia|Stari Grad]] on the island of [[Hvar]], defeating [[Zadar|Iadasinoi]] warriors brought in for its defense.
* [[383 BCE|383 BC]]: The 19 year [[lunar cycle]] is introduced into the [[Babylonia]]n calendar.
* [[383 BCE|383 BC]]: The [[second Buddhist council]] is convened by king [[Kalasoka]] and held at [[Vaisali]].
* [[381 BCE|381 BC]]: [[Sparta]] increases its hold on central [[Greece]] by reestablishing the city of [[Plataea]], which Sparta formerly destroyed in [[427 BCE|427 BC]].
* [[381 BCE|381 BC]]: [[Wu Qi]] is assassinated at the funeral of King Diao of Chu, although his assassins are executed shortly after by the newly enthroned King Su of Chu.
* [[380 BCE|380 BC]]: [[Iran|Persia]] forces the [[Athens|Athenians]] to withdraw their general [[Chabrias]] from [[Egypt]]. Chabrias has been successfully supporting the Egyptian Pharaohs in maintaining their independence from the [[Achaemenid Empire|Persian Empire]].
* [[380 BCE|380 BC]]: [[Cleombrotus I]] succeeds his brother [[Agesipolis I]] as king of [[Sparta]].

===[[370s BCE]]===
* [[376 BCE]]: The states of [[Han (Warring States)|Han]], [[Wei (state)|Wei]] and [[Zhao (state)|Zhao]] deposed [[Duke Jing of Jin (Jujiu)|Duke Jing of Jin]] and divided the last remaining [[Jin (Chinese state)|Jin]] territory between themselves, which marked the final end of the Jin state.
===[[360s BCE]]===
* [[361 BCE]]: [[Duke Xiao of Qin|Duke Xiao]] became ruler of [[Qin (state)|Qin]].

===[[350s BCE]]===
* [[356 BCE]]: [[Shang Yang]] implemented his first set of reforms in [[Qin (state)|Qin]].

===[[340s BCE]]===
* [[344 BCE]]: [[King Hui of Wei|Duke Hui]] of [[Wei (state)|Wei]] is the first to claim the royal title of king (Chinese: 王) for himself, proclaiming themselves fully independent kingdoms.
* [[344 BCE]]: The rulers of [[Qi (state)|Qi]] and [[Wei (state)|Wei]] mutually recognized each other as "kings": [[King Wei of Qi]] and [[King Hui of Wei]], in effect declaring their independence from the [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou]] court.
* [[343 BCE]]: State of [[Qi (state)|Qi]] wins the [[Battle of Maling]] over [[Wei (state)|Wei]] that takes place in Maling, currently Dazhangjia Town, [[Shen County]], [[Henan]] Province, during the [[Warring States period]]. After the death of Pang Juan, Prince Shen was captured by Qi. The power of the state of Wei decreased considerably after this battle.

===[[330s BCE]]===
* [[338 BCE]]: [[Huiwen of Qin|King Huiwen]] becomes ruler of [[Qin (state)|Qin]].
* [[331 BCE]]: [[Alexander the Great]] Wins the Battle of Gaugamela, effectively ending Persian hegemony. He would spend much of the 330s conquering the remnants of the [[Achaemenid Empire]]. 
* [[331 BCE]]: [[Chu (state)|Chu]] rises to its peak in 334 BCE, when it conquers [[Yue (state)|Yue]] to its east on the Pacific coast.

===[[320s BCE]]===
* [[326 BCE]]: [[Battle of the Hydaspes]] is fought between [[Alexander the Great]] and King [[Porus]] on the banks of [[Jhelum River|Jhelum river]]. The battle resulted in [[Poris (North Indian kingdom)|Porus]] victory.
* [[323 BCE]]: In [[Babylon]], [[Alexander the Great]] [[Death of Alexander the Great|dies]], ten days after being taken ill after a prolonged banquet and drinking bout.
* [[323 BCE]]: The [[Partition of Babylon]] sets out the division of the territories conquered by Alexander the Great between his generals. The partition is a result of a compromise, essentially brokered by [[Eumenes]], following a conflict of opinion between the party of [[Meleager (general)|Meleager]], who wishes to give full power to [[Philip III of Macedon|Philip III]], and the party of [[Perdiccas]], who wishes to wait for the birth of the heir of Alexander and his wife, [[Roxana]] to give him the throne under the control of a regent.
* [[322 BCE]]: [[Chandragupta Maurya]] overthrows [[Dhana Nanda]] and becomes King of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]]. Establishment of the [[Maurya Empire|Maurya dynasty]].

===[[310s BCE]]===
* [[316 BCE]]: [[Qin (state)|Qin]] conquers [[Shu (state)|Shu]] and [[Ba (state)|Ba]].
* [[314 BCE]]: Upon the ascension of [[King Nan of Zhou|King Nan]], [[Eastern Zhou (state)|East Zhou]] becomes an independent state. The king comes to reside in what becomes known as West Zhou.<ref name="Shi Ji, chapter 4">Shi Ji, chapter 4</ref>
* [[311 BCE]]: [[King Hui of Qin]] dies, follows by prime minister Zhang Yi one year later. The new monarch, [[King Wu of Qin|King Wu]], reigns only four years before dying without legitimate heirs.
===[[300s BC (decade)|300s BCE]]===
* [[309 BCE]]: [[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy]] personally commands a fleet that captures the coastal regions of [[Lycia]] and [[Caria]] from Antigonus.
* [[309 BCE]]: [[Cassander]], who has held [[Roxana]], widow of [[Alexander the Great]], in prison for a number of years, has her put to death along with her young son Alexander, the nominal King [[Alexander IV of Macedon]].
* [[309 BCE]]: Soon after the [[Qin (state)|State of Qin]] has conquered the [[Shu (state)|State of Shu]] (in modern-day [[Sichuan]] province), they employ the Shu engineer Bi Ling to create the Guanxian [[irrigation]] system, which will eventually provide for over five million people in an area of 40 to {{convert|50|sqmi|km2}}, still in use today.
* [[308 BCE]]: [[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy]] crosses from [[Asia Minor]] into [[Ancient Greece|Greece]], where he takes possession of [[Corinth]], [[Sicyon]] and [[Megara]].<ref name="Diodorus37">{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#37|volume=XX|chapter=37}}</ref>
* [[308 BCE]]: [[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy]] makes peace with [[Cassander]]<ref name="Diodorus37" />
* [[308 BCE]]: [[Cleopatra of Macedon]] is assassinated by the order of [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]]<ref name="Diodorus37" />
* [[307 BCE]]: [[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy]] founds the [[Musaeum|Museum]] and [[Library of Alexandria]] with the help of Demetrius Phalereus. Like [[Alexander the Great]], Ptolemy has studied under [[Aristotle]] and staffs the museum with some 100 professors paid by the state.
* [[307 BCE]]: The city of [[Segesta]] in Sicily is destroyed by Agathocles.
* [[307 BCE]]: The Chinese [[King Wuling of Zhao]] reforms the military of the [[Zhao (state)|State of Zhao]] by putting more emphasis on [[cavalry]] over [[chariot]]eers.
* [[304 BCE]]: The tyrant [[Agathocles]] takes on the title of King of [[Sicily]]. He extends his influence into southern [[Italy]] and the [[Adriatic]].
* [[304 BCE]]: The [[Maurya]]n emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]] defeats [[Seleucus I Nicator|Seleucos I]] as he tries to invade [[India]]. [[Seleucid Empire]]'s Eastern [[Satrap|Satrapies]] ceded to [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan]] Empire.
*
* [[301 BCE]]: The southern part of Syria is occupied by [[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy]].
* [[300 BC|300 BCE]]: The end of the [[4th century BC]], and the start of the [[3rd century BC]].

==Significant people==<!-- PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->
[[File:Philip-ii-of-macedon.jpg|120px|thumb|upright|[[Philip II of Macedon|Philip II]]]]
[[File:Demosthenes orator Louvre.jpg|120px|thumb|upright|[[Demosthenes]]]]
[[File:Xenophon.jpg|120px|thumb|upright|[[Xenophon]]]]
[[File:Plato Pio-Clementino Inv305 n2.jpg|120px|thumb|upright|[[Plato]]]]
[[File:Antisthenes Pio-Clementino Inv288.jpg|120px|thumb|upright|[[Antisthenes]]]]
[[File:Aristotle Altemps Inv8575.jpg|120px|thumb|upright|[[Aristotle]]]]
[[File:Diogenes Mosaic Römisch-Germanisches Museum.jpg|120px|thumb|upright|[[Diogenes]]]]
[[File:Epikouros BM 1843.jpg|120px|thumb|upright|[[Epicurus]]]]

===Politics===
*[[Alexander the Great]], king of Macedon
*[[Antigonus I Monophthalmus]], Macedonian [[diadochi|diadoch]]
*[[Antipater]], Macedonian statesman
*[[Appius Claudius Caecus]], Roman statesman
*[[Atropates]], Persian nobleman that founded an independent kingdom
*[[Bessus]], [[Persia]]n [[satrap]] of [[Bactria]]
*[[Cassander]], King of Macedon
*[[Chandragupta Maurya]], Founder of the [[Maurya Empire]]
*[[Craterus]], Macedonian diadoch
*[[Darius III]], king of the [[Achaemenid Empire]]
*[[Demetrius I of Macedon|Demetrius Poliocretes]], King of Macedon
*[[Demosthenes]], Athenian statesman and orator
*[[Dhana Nanda]], last emperor of the [[Nanda Empire|Nanda dynasty]]
*[[Duke Xiao of Qin]], ruler of [[Qin (state)|Qin]]
*[[Epaminondas]], [[Thebes, Greece|Theban]] statesman
*[[King Wuling of Zhao]], ruler of [[Zhao (state)|Zhao]]
*[[Lysimachus]], Macedonian diadoch and king of [[Thrace]]
*[[Mahapadma Nanda]], founding emperor of the [[Nanda Empire|Nanda dynasty]]
*[[Manius Curius Dentatus]], Roman statesman
*[[Nectanebo II|Nakhthorheb]], last native Pharaoh of Egypt
*[[Pelopidas]], Theban statesman
*[[Perdiccas]], Macedonian diadoch
*[[Philip II of Macedon|Philip II]], King of Macedon
*[[Ptolemy I Soter]], Macedonian diadoch and king of Egypt
*[[Porus the Elder|Porus]], King of the [[Pauravas]], in the Indian Subcontinent
*[[Seleucus I Nicator]], Macedonian diadoh and founder of the [[Seleucid Empire]]
*[[Shang Yang]], Chinese statesman
*[[Su Qin]], Chinese politician and strategist

===Military leaders===
*[[Hephaestion]], Macedonian general
*[[Pang Juan]], Chinese general
*[[Parmenion]], Macedonian general
*[[Tian Ji]], Chinese general
*[[Zhang Yi (Warring States period)|Zhang Yi]], Chinese strategist

===Visual arts===
*[[Apelles]], Greek painter
*[[Cephisodotus the Elder]], Greek sculptor
*[[Leochares]], Greek sculptor
*[[Lysippos]], Greek sculptor
*[[Praxiteles]], Greek sculptor
*[[Scopas]], Greek sculptor and architect

===Literature===
*[[Demetrius of Phalerum]], Greek rhetorician
*[[Isocrates]], Greek rhetorician and writer
*[[Menander]], Greek playwright
*[[Onesicritus]], Greek historical writer
*[[Qu Yuan]], Chinese poet
*[[Simonides of Ceos]], Greek [[Lyric poetry|lyric]] poet
*[[Xenophon]], Greek historian and writer

===Science and philosophy===
*[[Anaximenes of Lampsacus]], [[Greeks|Greek]] [[rhetorician]] and historian.
*[[Antisthenes]], Greek philosopher 
*[[Archytas]], Greek philosopher 
*[[Aristippus]], Greek philosopher
*[[Aristotle]], Greek philosopher
*[[Callisthenes]], Greek historian
*[[Chanakya]], Indian economist and political advisor
*[[Crates of Thebes]], Greek philosopher
*[[Diogenes of Sinope]], Greek philosopher
*[[Epicurus]], Greek philosopher
*[[Mencius]], Chinese philosopher
*[[Pāṇini|Panini]], Indian philosopher and writer
*[[Plato]], Greek philosopher
*[[Pyrrho]], Greek philosopher
*[[Socrates]], Greek Philosopher
*[[Speusippus]], Greek philosopher
*[[Sun Bin]], Chinese author and military strategist
*[[Theophrastus]], Greek philosopher
*[[Wu Qi]], Chinese military strategist and philosopher
*[[Xenocrates]], Greek philosopher
*[[Xenophon]], Greek philosopher, writer and historian
*[[Zeno of Citium]], Greek philosopher
*[[Zhuang Zhou|Zhuangzi]], Chinese philosopher

===Health professionals===
*[[Agnodice]], female Athenian physician and midwife

==Inventions, discoveries, introductions==
{{see also|Timeline of historic inventions#4th century BC}}
[[Image:ChineseCrossbow.JPG|thumb|right|200px|A [[Han dynasty]] Chinese [[crossbow]] from the 2nd century BCE.]]
* Oldest [[Brahmi script]] dates from this period. Brāhmī is the ancestor of [[Brahmic scripts]], used in much of [[India]] and [[Southeast Asia]].
* [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] build their first [[aqueduct (Roman)|aqueduct]].
* [[History of China|Chinese]] use the handheld trigger [[crossbow]] for the first time.
* The first crossbow, the [[gastraphetes]], is invented at [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]]. (pre-421 BCE)
* Donkey-powered mills or 'Pompeiian Mills' were first used in Greece and Italy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Watts |first1=Sue |title=Pompeiian Mill (Animal Powered) |url=https://catalogue.millsarchive.org/animal-powered-mills-in-a-bakery-in-pompeii |website=Mills Archive Catalogue |publisher=The Mills Archive Trust |access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
* In Greece, Aristotle proposes the division of the known sciences.
* [[Torc|Torque]] with lion's-head terminals, from [[Susa]] (modern [[Shush, Iran]]) was made. It is now in [[Musée du Louvre]], Paris.
* [[Persian daric|Daric]], a [[coin]] first minted under [[Darius I]] of [[Persia]] is made. It is now kept in [[Charles Buller Heberden|Heberden]] Coin Room, [[Ashmolean Museum]], [[Oxford]].
* Second half of the 4th century BCE – Tomb II, so called Tomb of [[Philip II of Macedon]], [[Vergina]], [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]] is made.
* Starting in the year [[309 BCE]], the later Chinese historian [[Sima Qian]] (145 BCE–90 BCE) wrote that the Qin-employed engineer Bi Ling of the newly conquered [[Shu (state)|State of Shu]] in [[Sichuan]] had the shoulder of a mountain cut through, making the [[Dujiangyan|'Separated Hill']] that abated the Mo River, and excavated two canals in the plain of [[Chengdu]]. The significance of this was phenomenal, as it allowed the new Guardian [[irrigation]] system to populate an area of some 40 by 50 miles (60 × 80&nbsp;km) with over five million people, still in use today (Needham, ''Science and Civilization in China'', Volume 4, Part 3, 288).
* The Chinese astronomer [[Gan De]] divides the [[celestial sphere]] into 365¼ degrees, and the tropical year into 365¼ days at a time when most astronomers used the [[Babylon]] division of the celestial sphere as 360 degrees (Deng, Yinke. [2005] (2005). ''Chinese Ancient Inventions''. {{ISBN|7-5085-0837-8}}).
* First [[formal system]] by [[Pāṇini]] in [[Mahajanapada]], [[History of India|ancient India]] and written in [[Sanskrit]].

==Sovereign states==
See: [[List of political entities in the 4th century BC]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:4th century Bc}}
[[Category:4th century BC| ]]
[[Category:1st millennium BC|-6]]
[[Category:Centuries|-96]]