Modu Chanyu builds the Xiongnu empire
The first great nomad empire of the steppe challenges China
Modu killed his father Touman and became chanyu of the Xiongnu. He crushed the Donghu and the Yuezhi and built an empire from Manchuria to the Tarim Basin. In 200 BC he surrounded the Han emperor Gaozu at Baideng, after which China paid off the Xiongnu for decades with tribute and princess brides.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 3rd century BC
Meanwhile around the world (±25 years)
Europe
- 218 BC Hannibal crosses the Alps — 9 years earlier
- 216 BC Battle of Cannae — 7 years earlier
Africa
- 196 BC The Memphis decree of the Rosetta Stone — 13 years later
Alive at the time
- Hannibal (aged 38)
- Eratosthenes (aged 67)
- Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu of Han) (aged 47)
- Scipio Africanus (aged 27)
- Empress Lü (Lü Zhi) (aged 32)
- Cato the Elder (aged 25)
- Modu Chanyu (aged 25)