The Partition of Babylon saw Alexander the Great's empire divided among his generals after his death, a compromise reached largely due to disagreement...

Tags: Ancient greece, Alexander the Great, Empire, Partition, Power Struggle, Military

Ptolemy makes peace with Cassander

Tags: Ancient greece, Diadochi, Ptolemaic Kingdom, Macedonian Empire, Political Alliances, Conflict Resolution, Diplomacy

Cleopatra of Macedon is assassinated by the order of Antigonus

Tags: Ancient greece, Antigonid Dynasty, Macedonian Empire, Assassination, Political Intrigue, Power Struggle, Diadochi

Ptolemy founds the Museum and Library of Alexandria with the help of Demetrius Phalereus. Like Alexander the Great, Ptolemy has studied under Aristotl...

Tags: Ancient greece, Ptolemaic Dynasty, Education, Aristotle

The end of the 4th century BC, and the start of the 3rd century BC.

Tags: Ancient greece, Diadochi, Alexander the Great, Monarchy, Ptolemaic Dynasty, Seleucid Empire, Political Instability, Empire Building

Hipparchus discovers precession of Earth's equinoxes and compiles first trigonometric tables.

Tags: Astronomy, Mathematics, Ancient greece, Trigonometry, Measurement

In 116 BC, Ptolemy VIII of Egypt died, leaving his throne to Cleopatra III and Ptolemy IX. This period also saw the beginnings of the Cimbrian War, th...

Tags: Ptolemaic Dynasty, Succession, Monarchy, Pharaoh, Ancient greece

Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus form the First Triumvirate

Tags: Ancient rome, Julius Caesar, Political Alliance, Power Struggle

Canopus stele of Ptolemy III implements the leap year in Egypt. Leap year not formally recognized until Caesar in 55 BC.

Tags: Astronomy, Calendar Reform, Ptolemaic Dynasty, Timekeeping, Ancient greece

Ptolemy XIII deposes his co-regent Cleopatra, beginning the Ptolemaic civil war in Egypt

Tags: Ptolemaic Kingdom, Civil War, Political Intrigue, Cleopatra, Ancient greece, Monarchy, Succession

Cleopatra restored to the Ptolemaic throne after the Battle of the Nile (47 BC)

Tags: Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ancient rome, Civil War, Monarchy, Succession

Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus form the Second Triumvirate and take control of Rome.

Tags: Ancient rome, Roman Empire, Octavian, Mark Antony, Civil War, Power Struggle, Political Alliance

Cleopatra and Mark Antony perform the Donations of Alexandria.

Tags: Ancient rome, Ancient greece, Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Succession, Civil War, Dynasty

Octavian annexes Egypt.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Ptolemaic Kingdom, Octavian, Political Transition, Imperialism, Expansionism, Ancient greece, Annexation

the Roman Senate votes Octavian the title of Augustus. Augustus eventually assumes all authority formerly held by the Roman senate becoming the first ...

Tags: Roman Empire, Principate, Augustus, Ancient rome, Republic, Emperor, Political Transition, Imperialism, Governance

Amanishakheto, queen of Kush (Nubia)

Tags: Kush, Queen, Monarchy, African History, Governance

Cleopatra Selene II, Egyptian ruler of Cyrenaica and Libya (b. 40 BC)

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient greece, Succession, Political Control

Emperor Augustus initiates his third census of the Roman Empire after 20 years.

Tags: Roman Empire, Augustus, Census, Governance, Administration, Taxation, Population, Ancient rome, Political History

Augustus' third (and final) 20-year census of the Roman Empire reports a total of 4,973,000 citizens.

Tags: Roman Empire, Census, Augustus, Governance, Population, Ancient rome, Administration, Citizenship

September 18 – Tiberius succeeds his stepfather Augustus as Roman emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Emperor, Tiberius, Augustus, Succession

August 19 – Augustus, the first Roman emperor, dies and is declared to be a god.

Tags: Roman Empire, Augustus, Emperor, Religion, Imperial Cult, Ancient rome, Death, Hellenistic World

Mark the Evangelist, Christian evangelist, martyr, known for The Gospel of Mark (approximate date) (d. 68 AD)

Tags: Christianity, Evangelism, Apostles, Roman Empire, Religious Figures, Religious History

March 18 – The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius's will, and proclaims Caligula as Roman Emperor, nullifying the joint claim of Tiberius Gemellus. Caligula...

Tags: Roman Empire, Caligula, Ancient rome, Emperor, Succession, Imperialism

Apion heads a deputation to Emperor Caligula, to complain about the Jews in Alexandria.

Tags: Roman Empire, Judaism, Caligula, Religious Conflict, Antisemitism, Religious Violence

An anti-Jewish riot breaks out in Alexandria, during a visit by King Herod Agrippa I; the mob wants to place statues of Caligula in every synagogue.

Tags: Jewish History, Roman Empire, Religious Violence, Antisemitism, Caligula, Riots

Thrasyllus of Mendes, Greek grammarian and astronomer

Tags: Ancient greece, Roman Empire, Astronomy, Grammar, Scholar, Mathematics

Philo leads a Jewish delegation to Rome to protest the anti-Jewish conditions in Alexandria.

Tags: Ancient rome, Ancient greece, Judaism, Philo of Alexandria, Jewish Diaspora, Religious Violence, Roman Empire, Diplomacy

Christianity comes to Egypt as a church is founded in Alexandria. Mark the Evangelist founds the Church of Alexandria as the first Patriarch (traditio...

Tags: Christianity, Patriarchate, Religion, Roman Empire, Religious History

Claudius restores religious freedom to Jews throughout the empire, but prohibits Jews in Rome from proselytising.

Tags: Roman Empire, Judaism, Religious Freedom, Claudius, Antiquity, Jewish Diaspora, Imperial Decree, Legal History

Traditional date of foundation of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria by the apostle Mark the Evangelist.

Tags: Christianity, Coptic Orthodox Church, Apostles, Religion, Religious History, Ancient World

In Coptic Orthodox Christianity, Mark the Evangelist becomes the first Pope of Alexandria, thus establishing the Christian Church in Africa.

Tags: Christianity, Coptic Orthodox Church, Religion, Evangelism, Church History

Pedanius Dioscorides describes the medical applications of plants in De Materia Medica.

Tags: Ancient rome, Medicine, Pharmacology, Botany, Natural History, Scientific Literature, Dioscorides, Classical Antiquity, Herbalism

Christianity is introduced throughout Nubia by a high official of Queen Judith.

Tags: Christianity, Religious Conversion, Spread of Religion, Roman Empire

Decimus Junius Silanus Torquatus and Quintus Haterius Antoninus become Roman consuls.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Political Office, Governance

Emperor Nero becomes a Roman Consul.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Nero, Political Career

Emperor Nero and Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus become Roman consuls.

Tags: Roman Empire, Nero, Ancient rome, Imperial Era

An eclipse on 30 April over North Africa is recorded by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History.

Tags: Ancient rome, Natural History, Astronomy, Scientific Observation, Pliny the Elder, Roman Empire, Eclipse

Hero of Alexandria writes Metrica, Mechanics, and Pneumatics.

Tags: Ancient greece, Mechanical Devices

The first Christian community in Africa is founded by Mark, a disciple of Peter.

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Roman Empire, Ancient greece, Spread of Religion

Dioscorides writes his De Materia Medica, a treatise on the methodical treatment of disease by use of medicine (approximate date).

Tags: Ancient rome, Medicine, Pharmacology, Botany, Dioscorides, Scientific Literature, Herbalism

July 1 – two legions in Egypt, a legion in Syria, and a legion in Judea declare Vespasian emperor

Tags: Roman Empire, Vespasian, Emperor, Civil War, Ancient rome, Military, Succession

July 1 – Tiberius Julius Alexander orders his legions in Alexandria to swear allegiance to Vespasian as emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Civil War, Vespasian, Ancient rome, Succession, Military

Servius Sulpicius Galba, Roman emperor (b. 3 BC)

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Civil War, Assassination, Ancient rome, Galba, Military

Mark the Evangelist (traditional date) (see AD 61)

Tags: Christianity, Apostle, Evangelism, Religious Figures, Roman Empire, Martyrdom

April 25 – Mark the Evangelist, pope of Alexandria

Tags: Christianity, Religious Violence, Saints, Roman Empire, Martyrdom

Emperor Vespasian and his son Caesar Vespasian (the future Emperor Titus) become Roman consuls.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Vespasian, Titus, Political Office, 70s AD

Emperors Vespasian and Marcus Cocceius Nerva are Roman Consuls.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Vespasian, Nerva, Government

Vespasian and Titus are Roman Consuls.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Vespasian, Titus, Imperial Administration, 70s AD, Roman Government

Menelaus of Alexandria, Greek mathematician (d. AD 140)

Tags: Mathematics, Geometry, Ancient greece, Ancient World, Trigonometry

Malichus II, Roman client king of Nabatea

Tags: Nabataea, Roman Empire, Client Kingdom, Trade, Ancient greece, Arabia

Two Egyptian obelisks are erected in Benevento in front of the Temple of Isis, in honour of Emperor Domitian.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Architecture, Art, Religion, Imperial Cult, Domitian

Anianus, Patriarch of Alexandria

Tags: Christianity, Early Church, Patriarchate, Religious Leadership, Roman Empire

Upon Nerva's death in January 98 AD, Trajan, the first non-Italian emperor, ascended the throne, immediately restoring the Senate's power, establishin...

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Succession, Governance, Expansion, Ancient rome, Trajan

Nerva, Roman Emperor (AD 96–98)

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Nerva, Ancient rome, Imperialism, Governance, Roman Emperors, Pax Romana

Avilius of Alexandria, patriarch of Alexandria

Tags: Christianity, Early Church, Religious Leadership, Roman Empire

– 192: Reign of Commodus, Roman emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Ancient rome, Imperial Rule, Antiquity, Roman Emperors

217: Caracalla, Roman Emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Ancient rome, Succession, Military, Government

Valerian's massacre of Christians.

Tags: Christianity, Roman Empire, Persecution, Religious Conflict, Martyrdom, Early Church, Imperial Decree

305: Diocletian, Roman Emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Tetrarchy, Imperial Rule, Governance

395: Theodosius I, Roman emperor, bans pagan worship, Christianity is made the official religion of the Empire.

Tags: Roman Empire, Christianity, Paganism, Religious Law, Emperor, Religious Violence, Imperial Decree

Roman emperor Theodosius I dies, causing the Roman Empire to split permanently.

Tags: Roman Empire, Succession, Western Roman Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Emperor, Governance

Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council which taught of Jesus Christ as one divine person in two natures.

Tags: Christianity, Ecumenical Council, Byzantine Empire, Theology, Heresy, Church History, Roman Empire

Justinian I succeeds Justin I as Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Tags: Byzantine Empire, Roman Empire, Emperor, Eastern Roman Empire, Justinian I, Succession, Imperial Rule

Heraclius arrives by ship from Roman Carthage at Constantinople, overthrows Eastern Roman Emperor Phocas and becomes Emperor. His first major act is ...

Tags: Byzantine Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Emperor, Coup, Political Transition, 600s

The Coptic period, in its more specific definition, ends when Islam is introduced into Egypt.

Tags: Islam, Coptic Christianity, Religious Conversion, Early Islamic Period, Byzantine Empire, Arab Conquests, Religious History, Cultural Change

661: The First Fitna occurs.

Tags: Islamic History, Caliphate, Civil War, Rashidun Caliphate, Umayyad Dynasty, Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Political Instability

685: The Second Fitna.

Tags: Islam, Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Civil War, Political Instability, Religious Conflict, Sunni Islam, Shia Islam

Death of Arab caliph Abd al-Malik, his succession by his nominated heir and elder son al-Walid.

Tags: Umayyad Caliphate, Caliph, Succession, Dynasty, Political History, Middle Ages, Early Islam

Death of al-Walid I and he was succeeded by his brother Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik.

Tags: Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Islamic History, Caliph, Political Transition

Death of caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik and his succession by his cousin and nominated heir Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz.

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Islamic History, Political Leadership, Middle Ages, Religious Law

Death of caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz and succession of his cousin Yazid II on 4 February 720.

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Dynasty, Succession, Islamic History, Political Transition, Religious Leadership, Governance

Death of caliph Yazid II and he was succeeded by his brother and nominated heir Hisham.

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Islamic History, Political Transition, Early Islam, Middle Ages

Death of Arab caliph Hisham and succession of his nephew and heir Al-Walid II.

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Political Transition, Islamic History, Middle Ages, Dynastic Politics

Death of Yazid III and his succession by his brother and nominated heir Ibrahim ibn al-Walid. On 4 December Ibrahim was forced to Abdicate in favour M...

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Civil War, Islamic History, Political Instability, Middle Ages

Death of Abbasid caliph al-Saffah and ascension of caliph al-Mansur to Arab Caliphate.

Tags: Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate, Islamic History, Succession, Political Transition, Middle Ages, Islam, Dynastic Change

Ahmad ibn Tulun breaks away from the Abbasid Caliphate and establishes the independent Tulunid dynasty.

Tags: Dynasty, Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate, Independence, Military, Political Fragmentation, Middle Ages, Islamic World

c. 909: The Fatimid Caliphate arises in Kabylie, Kutama Tribe.

Tags: Caliphate, Islam, Political History, Shia Islam

Cairo is founded near Fustat by the Fatimid dynasty.

Tags: Fatimid Caliphate, Islamic History, Middle Ages, City Founding, Political History, Dynasties

c. 980: Al-Azhar University is established in Cairo by the Fatimid dynasty.

Tags: Islam, Islamic World, University, Education, Fatimid Caliphate, Sunni Islam, Middle Ages

The Fatimid Egyptian sea captain Domiyat travels to the Buddhist pilgrimage site in Shandong, China, to seek out the Chinese Emperor Zhenzong of Song ...

Tags: Diplomacy, Trade, Middle Ages, Fatimid Caliphate, Song Dynasty, Embassies, International Relations, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah

– The Leningrad Codex, one of the oldest full manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, is completed.

Tags: Middle Ages, Hebrew Bible, Manuscript, Jewish History, Religious Texts, Rabbinic Judaism

1021: Ibn al-Haytham (Alhacen), a famous Iraqi scientist working in Egypt, feigns madness in fear of angering the Egyptian caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Alla...

Tags: Optics, Physics, Mathematics, Islam, Ibn al-Haytham, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, House Arrest, Scientific Method

– Ibn al-Haytham (Alhacen) of Basra, Iraq writes his influential Book of Optics from 1011 to 1021 (while he was under house arrest in Egypt),

Tags: Optics, Physics, Mathematics, Scientific Method, Ibn al-Haytham, Islam, Islamic Golden Age

the ruling Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah disappears suddenly, possibly assassinated by his own sister Sitt al-Mulk, which leads to the open per...

Tags: Islam, Shia Islam, Fatimid Caliphate, Religious Violence, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, Political Intrigue, Middle Ages

The Zirids, a Berber dynasty of North Africa, break their allegiance with the Fatimid court of Egypt and recognize the Abbasids of Baghdad as the true...

Tags: Berber, Dynasty, Caliphate, Islam, Religious Authority

a succession crisis following the reign of the Fatimid Caliph Ma'ad al-Mustansir Billah sparks a rebellion which leads to the split of Ismaili Shia in...

Tags: Islam, Shia Islam, Fatimid Caliphate, Succession, Religious Schism, Religious History, Middle Ages

Saladin deposes the last Fatimid Caliph Al-'Āḍid and establishes the Ayyubid dynasty.

Tags: Saladin, Ayyubid Dynasty, Fatimid Caliphate, Caliphate, Political Transition, Islamic History, Middle Ages

In June, the Treaty of Ramla is signed by Saladin and Richard Lionheart. Under the terms of the agreement, Jerusalem will remain under Muslim control....

Tags: Crusades, Treaty, Diplomacy, Saladin, Christianity, Political Settlement

Introduction of Liber Abaci by Fibonacci.

Tags: Mathematics, Arithmetic, Middle Ages, Algebra, Renaissance, Numbers, Trade

The Mamluk dynasty is founded in Egypt.

Tags: Mamluks, Dynasty, Islamic World, Military, Slavery, Ayyubid Dynasty

Barquq rise to power to start the Burji dynasty, the Circassian Mamuluk Dynasty in Egypt.

Tags: Mamluks, Dynasty, Sultanate, Political Power, Middle Ages, Military