140s BC

Millennium:	1st millennium BC
Centuries:	3rd century BC – 2nd century BC – 1st century BC
Decades:	170s BC 160s BC 150s BC – 140s BC – 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC
Years:	149 BC 148 BC 147 BC 146 BC 145 BC 144 BC 143 BC 142 BC 141 BC 140 BC
Categories:	Births – Deaths – Architecture Establishments – Disestablishments

140s BC: events by year

Contents: 149 BC 148 BC 147 BC 146 BC 145 BC 144 BC 143 BC 142 BC 141 BC 140 BC

149 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• The Third Punic War begins. 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.
• 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.

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

Roman Republic

• Scipio Aemilianus takes command in the Battle of Carthage. He built a mole across the gulf into the harbour, the Carthaginians dug a canal from their inner harbour basin to the coast and put to sea with a full fleet, but they are defeated in a naval engagement.
• Carthage recalled from exile an able general, named Hasdrubal, who organized their solid defences. Against the 45-foot (13.7 m) city walls, the Romans made slow progress.
• 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 distinction it will continue to hold for approximately the next 600 years.

Africa

• Carthage falls to Roman forces under Scipio Aemilianus. The walls are finally breached and the city is completely destroyed by order of the Roman Senate, despite Scipio's protests. End of the Third Punic War.

Greece

• Battle of Corinth – The Romans under Lucius Mummius defeat the Achaean League under Critolaus near Corinth. Corinth is destroyed, and the Achaean League dissolved. Greece becomes a Roman province. The Romans strip Corinth of its art treasures and ship them back to Rome.

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.

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

Bactria

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

China

• Emperor Wu of Han ("Martial Emperor") starts to rule the Han Dynasty.

Syria and Judea

• The Seleucid garrison negotiates the surrender of Jerusalem. Simon Maccabaeus assumes control of that 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.

140 BC

By place

Egypt

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

Judea

• Simon Maccabaeus crowned king of Judea.

Asia

• Han Wudi becomes emperor of China.