By place Roman Empire • A group of
Franks penetrate as far as
Tarragona in
Spain (approximate date). • The
Goths under King
Cniva invade
Moesia. They cross the
Danube and lay siege to
Novae and
Marcianopolis. •
Battle of Augusta Traiana: The Romans lose the battle against the Goths. • Cniva lays siege to
Philippopolis (modern
Plovdiv). After a long resistance, Cniva conquers the city and slays its one hundred thousand inhabitants. • The
Alamanni drive the Romans from the modern area of
Donau-Ries. • An epidemic begins in
Ethiopia, moves into
Egypt and the
Roman colonies in North Africa, and spreads through the
Roman Empire (named the
Plague of Cyprian, after
St. Cyprian, bishop of
Carthage).
Africa • The Kingdom of
Aksum (
Axum) takes control of commerce on the
Red Sea.
Asia • The earliest Chinese references to a device known as "emperor's south-pointing
carriage" date to this period.
Mesomerica •
Teotihuacán is rebuilt as a four-quartered cosmogram by
Zapotec architects brought from
Monte Albán in
Oaxaca. • Classic period of
Mesoamerican civilization begins.
By topic Art and science •
Diophantus writes
Arithmetica, the first systematic treatise on algebra. • Approximate date • The family portrait medallion, traditionally called the
Family of Vunnerius Keramus, is made (it is later placed in the Brescia Cross, and then in the Museo Civico dell'Etá Cristiana,
Brescia). • The
Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus, depicting battle between the Romans and the Barbarians, is made for use in
Rome (it is later moved to the collection of the
National Roman Museum). • The
Igel Column is erected at
Trier in Germany.
Religion •
January 3 –
Decian persecution of
Christians is initiated when Emperor
Decius orders everyone in the
Roman Empire (except Jews) to perform a sacrifice to the gods of
religion in ancient Rome. On
January 20, Pope
Fabian becomes one of the first martyrs of this
persecution. • Possible date –
Denis, a bishop of
Paris, is martyred by beheading. == Births ==