This article concerns the period 149 BC – 140 BC.

Events

149 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• The Third Punic War begins.^[1] The Romans land an army in Africa to begin the Battle of Carthage.
• Servius Sulpicius Galba is prosecuted for corruption while serving in Spain, but is acquitted after he parades his weeping family members before the tribunal.
• Lucius Calpurnius Piso passes the lex Calpurnia de repetundis which establishes the first permanent criminal court in Rome.
• The turmoil in Spain escalates again with the renewal of the Lusitanian War, under the leadership of Viriathus, and the Celtiberian War.

Macedon

• Andriscus, the last king of Macedon, ascends to the throne.^[2]

Bithynia

• With Roman help, Nicomedes II overthrows his father Prusias II as king of Bithynia.

148 BC

By place

Ireland

• Corlea Trackway built in County Longford

Roman Republic

• With the defeat of Andriscus in the Battle of Pydna by Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus, Macedon is reorganized as a Roman province by 146 BC.
• Construction of the Via Postumia, linking Aquileia and Genua.
• Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus divides Numidia among the three sons of the recently deceased Masinissa.

147 BC

By place

Ireland

• Corlea Trackway completed.

Roman Republic

• Scipio Aemilianus takes command of the Siege of Carthage.
• In Lusitania, Hispania, the Celtic king Viriathus, rallies Lusitanian resistance to Rome.

Syria

• Demetrius II of Syria returns to Syria (approximate date).
• Jonathan Maccabaeus conquers Joppa.

Greece

• Macedonia becomes a part of the Roman empire.

146 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• With Carthage and Greece conquered, Rome becomes the sole superpower in the Mediterranean world, a position it would hold for the next five hundred years.

Africa

• Spring – Carthage falls to Roman forces under Scipio Aemilianus and the city is completely destroyed. End of the Third Punic War.

Greece

• Achaean War: The Romans conquer the Achaean League and southern Greece becomes a Roman province.

• Battle of Scarpheia: The Romans led by Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus defeat an Achaean League force under Critolaus
• Battle of Corinth: The Romans under Lucius Mummius defeat the Achaean League near Corinth. Corinth is destroyed, and the Achaean League dissolved.

By topic

Astronomy

• Hipparchus determines the equinoctial point.

145 BC

By place

Syria

• In the Battle of Antioch, Ptolemy VI Philometor defeats the Seleucid usurper Alexander Balas, but dies in the battle.

Egypt

• Ptolemy VII becomes king of Egypt briefly, then is assassinated by Ptolemy VIII the following year.^[3]

By topic

Astronomy

• Hipparchus determines the length of the tropical year.

144 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• The Aqua Marcia aqueduct is built in Rome.

Parthia

• Parthians take Babylonia.

143 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• The Celtiberian War ends when Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus crushes the rebels.

142 BC

By place

Syria

• Diodotus Tryphon seizes the throne of the Seleucid Empire.

Roman Republic

• The first stone bridge over the Tiber river is completed.

Judea

• Simon Maccabaeus succeeds his brother Jonathan as High Priest of Judea until 135 BC.

141 BC

By place

Syria and Judea

• The Seleucid garrison negotiates the surrender of Jerusalem. Simon Maccabaeus assumes control of the city. He becomes prince (ruler) of Judea until 135 BC.
• Demetrius II of Syria made prisoner of Mithridates, king of the Parthians. Antiochus VII Sidetes becomes king of the Seleucid Empire in his absence.

Bactria

• Yuezhi refugees appear on the borders of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom.

China

• March 9 – Emperor Wu of Han ("Martial Emperor") starts to rule the Han dynasty.

140 BC

By place

Africa

• Scipio Aemilianus leads a group of Roman ambassadors to Alexandria, where they meet with King Ptolemy VIII.

Judea

• Simon Maccabaeus crowned king of Judea.

Births

145 BC

• Sima Qian, Chinese historian (or 135 BC) (d. 86 BC)^[4]

143 BC

• Marcus Antonius, Roman politician and orator (d. 87 BC)

142 BC

• Ptolemy IX, Egyptian pharaoh (d. 81 BC)

141 BC

• Salome Alexandra, queen and regent of Judea (d. 67 BC)

140 BC

• Huo Qubing, Chinese general of the Han dynasty (d. 117 BC)
• Lucius Licinius Crassus, Roman consul and statesman (d. 91 BC)
• Su Wu, Chinese diplomat and statesman (d. 60 BC)^[5]
• Tigranes the Great, king of Armenia (d. 55 BC)

Deaths

149 BC

• Cato the Elder, Roman statesman (b. 234 BC)^[6]
• Prusias II, Greek king of Bithynia (b. c. 220 BC)

148 BC

• Liu Rong, Chinese crown prince of the Han dynasty
• Masinissa, king of Numidia (b. c. 238 BC)
• Yuan Ang, Chinese statesman of the Han dynasty

147 BC

• Bo, Chinese empress of the Western Han Dynasty

146 BC

• Critolaus, general of the Achaean League
• Gentius, the last king of Illyria (approximate date)

145 BC

• Alexander Balas (assassinated)
• Ptolemy VI of Egypt (killed in battle) (b. c. 186 BC)

144 BC

• Liu Wu, Chinese prince of the Han Dynasty

143 BC

• Jonathan Maccabaeus, Jewish leader of the Maccabees
• Zhou Yafu, Chinese general of the Han Dynasty

141 BC

• Jing of Han, Chinese emperor of the Han dynasty (b. 188 BC)^[7]
• Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum, Roman statesman