1st century BC

The 1st century BC started the first day of and ended the last day of. It is considered part of the, , or historical. An alternative name for this century is the last century BC. The AD/BC notation does not use a ; however, does use a minus sign, so '2 BC' is equal to 'year -1'.

In the course of the century all the remaining independent lands surrounding the Mediterranean were steadily brought under Roman control, being ruled either directly under governors or through puppet kings appointed by Rome. The Roman state itself was plunged into civil war several times, finally resulting in the marginalization of its 500 year old republic, and the embodiment of total state power in a single man - the emperor. The internal turbulence which plagued Rome at this time can be seen as the last death throes of the Roman Republic, as it finally gave way to the autocratic ambitions of powerful men like, and. Octavian's ascension to total power as the emperor is considered to mark the point in history where the  ends and the  begins. Some scholars refer to this event as the. It is generally concluded that the birth of, the central figure of took place at the close of this century.

Events



 * invades, setting off the centuries long Roman vs Persian Wars.
 * is appointed dictator of the Roman state, and brings about major reforms.
 * A slave rebellion lead by the escaped gladiator leads to the.
 * captures, and establishes Roman annexation of as a client kingdom. King Judah Aristobulus II removed from power, while his brother John Hyrcanus II becomes king under Roman.
 * is founded in southeastern Korea (traditional date according to , a 12th century AD historical document).
 * The defeat the  under  in the
 * : crossed the  river, precipitating war with
 * Julius Caesar murdered
 * is founded in southern (traditional date according to Samguk Sagi)
 * : - Off the western coast of, forces of  defeat troops under  and.
 * The Roman Senate votes Octavian the title of . Augustus eventually assumes all authority formerly held by the Roman senate becoming the first emperor. The Roman state is henceforth known as the, and the period from 27 BC to AD as the.
 * is founded in midwestern (traditional date according to Samguk Sagi)
 * c. to  Birth of  (see  and  for further details)

Significant persons





 * , greatest king of Dacia
 * , attempted to overthrow Roman Republic
 * , Roman politician and writer
 * , Egyptian ruler
 * , Jewish rabbi
 * , Roman poet
 * , central figure of Christianity
 * , Chinese mathematician and music theorist
 * , Roman politician
 * , Roman historian
 * , Roman philosopher
 * , Roman politician
 * , Caesar's adopted son, supposedly killed him
 * , Roman statesman and general
 * Roman writer, and
 * , Roman general
 * , drowned in Nile
 * , Roman poet
 * , Roman poet
 * , gladiator
 * , Chinese historian, father of
 * , king of
 * , Chinese historian, father of
 * , king of

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

 * , first recorded by Chinese
 * The is made
 * The first was built by the Romans
 * is invented in
 * The Chinese Ji Jiu Pian dictionary published in during the  is the earliest known reference to the -powered  device.