The Nok culture flourished in present-day central Nigeria, known for its terracotta sculptures and as one of the earliest iron-smelting cultures in sub-Saharan Africa.
A Bronze Age and early Iron Age culture of the Red River valley and north-central Vietnam, famous for its bronze drums.
In the desert of southern Peru, the Nazca and earlier cultures create enormous geoglyphs on the ground, best seen in full from above.
Seven major states vie for supremacy for over two centuries, an era that also sees the flourishing of the Hundred Schools of Thought.
In Alexandria, Euclid systematises geometry and number theory in the thirteen books of the Elements, one of the most influential mathematics textbooks ever written.
Rome and Carthage fight for control of Sicily; Rome wins and gains its first overseas province.
Emperor Ashoka conquers Kalinga; the war's devastation leads him to embrace Buddhism.
Emperor Ashoka has edicts inscribed on rocks and pillars across his empire, promoting Buddhist ethics and tolerance.
Thục Phán (An Dương Vương) unites the Âu Việt and Lạc Việt into the kingdom of Âu Lạc, with its capital at Cổ Loa; 257 BCE is the traditional date.
According to tradition, the monk Mahinda, son of Ashoka, brings Buddhism to Anuradhapura and converts King Devanampiya Tissa.
Eratosthenes estimates the Earth's circumference by comparing the angle of the Sun's rays at Syene and Alexandria, with a remarkably close result.
The state of Qin conquers its rivals, ending the Warring States period; Ying Zheng proclaims himself the First Emperor.
Hannibal crosses the Alps to invade Italy, but Rome ultimately prevails and Carthage loses its status as a great power.
Hannibal encircles and destroys a much larger Roman army in southern Italy, one of Rome's worst defeats.
Under Qin Shi Huang, general Meng Tian connects and extends northern walls as a defence against the Xiongnu.
The mathematician and engineer Archimedes is killed by a Roman soldier during the fall of Syracuse.
The first emperor of unified China dies while on tour; the Qin dynasty collapses within a few years.
Scipio Africanus defeats Hannibal in North Africa, forcing Carthage to sue for peace and ending the Second Punic War.
After defeating Xiang Yu, Liu Bang becomes Emperor Gaozu of Han, opening a dynasty that lasts over four centuries.