Third Century Before the Common Era

The third century before the Common Era (B.C.E.) covers the period from 300 to 201 B.C.E., according to the proleptic Julian/Gregorian calendar. It was a century in which the Mediterranean and Near East were dominated by Hellenistic kingdoms that emerged from the partition of Alexander the Great's territories, while Rome was advancing as a regional power from Italy toward broader influence.

During the same period, eastern Asia underwent significant structural change: the warring states of China were unified through military campaigns and administrative reorganization, which established a centralized imperial system. India had extensive administration and spread Buddhism through various regions, while North Africa saw Carthage as a center of commerce and naval power.

Hellenistic Kingdoms

Following Alexander's death in 323 B.C.E., his commanders—known as the Diadochi—partitioned his territories among themselves. The third century is marked by three main powers: the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt (centered at Alexandria), the Seleucid Kingdom in Syria and Mesopotamia, and the Antigonid Kingdom in Macedonia. They waged continuous conflicts over Syria and the Aegean coasts. Alexandria became a center of learning, with a great library and institutes of mathematics and astronomy, among whose scholars were Euclid and Eratosthenes. Archimedes, who lived in Syracuse, was also a prominent scholar of this era.

Rome and Carthage

Rome in the third century began by fighting Italian tribes and Greek cities in the south. The First Punic War (beginning in 264 B.C.E.) brought Rome and Carthage into competition for Sicily and naval control, forcing Rome to build a fleet. The Second Punic War (beginning in 218 B.C.E.) is remembered for Hannibal's invasion of Italy and the great battles across Italian territory; it concluded in the early next century with Roman dominance established.

Asia

In China, the Qin dynasty ended the period of Warring States in 221 B.C.E., establishing a centralized administrative system, uniform weights and measures and script, and defensive fortifications along the northern borders. Following the Qin's collapse, the Han dynasty came to power in the late third century and continued some of the earlier administrative developments. In India, Mauryan administration reached its height in the early third century and promoted the spread of Buddhism toward Sri Lanka and central Asia; by the late century its power was waning.