3rd century

◍ Open on the globe

201 – 300 · 9 events

What happened around the world

Middle East

224 Rise of the Sasanian Empire — Ardashir topples Parthia and gives Rome a new rival
260 Battle of Edessa: a Roman emperor taken captive — For the first time, a Roman emperor is taken captive
272 Fall of Zenobia's Palmyrene Empire — A desert queen defied Rome and seized half its East

Africa

249–262 Plague of Cyprian — A mystery disease ravages Rome through a decade of crisis

Asia

220 Fall of the Han and the Three Kingdoms — Cao Pi ends the Han and China splits into three
239 Queen Himiko's embassy to China — The first ruler of Japan known to us by name

Americas

c. 250 Rise of the Classic Maya cities — Pyramid city-states rise in the Petén jungle
c. 280 Xitle eruption buries Cuicuilco — Lava buries an early city and clears the way for Teotihuacan

Oceania

c. 232 Hatepe eruption of Taupō — New Zealand's biggest blast in 20,000 years, and no one saw it

Who ruled

China: dynasties: Han 202 BC – 220, Three Kingdoms 220 – 280, Jin 266 – 420
Rome and Byzantium: Severans 193 – 235, Crisis of the 3rd century 235 – 284, Constantine the Great 284 – 395

Largest states