What happened in the 1st century BC

100–1 BC

85 events　World 16, Europe 34, Asia 23, Middle East 9, Latin America 2, Africa 1

Highlights of the 1st century BC

63 BCAsiaMithridates VI commits suicide, ending the Third Mithridatic War.
61 BCWorldOrgetorix and the Helvetii's attempt to migrate into southwestern France leads Julius Caesar to take military action, beginning the Gallic Wars
49 BCEuropeJulius Caesar crosses the Rubicon river and takes the city of Rome, beginning Caesar's Civil War.
44 BCWorldJulius Caesar named Dictator perpetuo
31 BCEuropeBattle of Actium: Octavian defeats troops under Mark Antony and Cleopatra, becoming de facto ruler of the Roman empire.
30 BCMiddle EastOctavian annexes Egypt.

69 BCLucullus invades Armenia (Battle of Tigranocerta) and reestablishes the Seleucids in Syria.
63 BCCicero denounces and defeats the Catilinarian conspiracy.
63 BCPompey captures Jerusalem, and establishes Roman annexation of Judea as a client kingdom. He also permanently abolishes Seleucid Syria. Aristobulus II of Judea removed from power & John Hyrcanus II restored as Roman vassal.
61 BCOrgetorix and the Helvetii's attempt to migrate into southwestern France leads Julius Caesar to take military action, beginning the Gallic Wars
60 BCJulius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus form the First Triumvirate
57 BCCicero recalled from exile through the machinations of Milo and his mob.
53 BCthe Parthians defeat the Romans under Crassus in the Battle of Carrhae, ending the First Triumvirate.
44 BCJulius Caesar named Dictator perpetuo
44 BCJulius Caesar re-founds Carthage and Corinth as Roman colonies.
44 BCAssassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March.
44 BCBurebista death, Dacian empire collapses into four then five smaller kingdoms.
38 BCVentidius defeats the Parthians at the Battle of Mount Gindarus, reclaiming Roman Syria.
38 BCOctavian divorces Scribonia and marries Livia Drusilla on January 17th.
34 BCCleopatra and Mark Antony perform the Donations of Alexandria.
33 BCEmperor Yuan of Han dies and is succeeded by his son Cheng. Empress Wang Zhengjun becomes Empress Dowager and her brother is placed in command of the armed forces and administration.

73 BCa slave rebellion led by the escaped gladiator Spartacus leads to the Third Servile War.
71 BCPompey the Great ends the Sertorian War (restoring Roman control of Hispania) and the Third Servile War (restoring Roman control of southern Italy).
55 BCCaesar's invasions of Britain.
54 BCAmbiorix's revolt against Julius Caesar in Gaul.
53 BCClodius dies during mob violence in Rome. His followers burn down the Senate house.
52 BCPompey joins the Optimates and becomes sole Consul in Rome.
52 BCVercingetorix's revolt in Gaul (Battle of Gergovia, Battle of Alesia).
51 BCSiege of Uxellodunum marks the end of the Gallic Wars and the final Roman conquest of Gaul.
49 BCJulius Caesar crosses the Rubicon river and takes the city of Rome, beginning Caesar's Civil War.
48 BCJulius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus.
45 BCJulius Caesar wins the Battle of Munda, regaining control of Hispania and ending the Roman Civil War.
43 BCOctavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus form the Second Triumvirate and take control of Rome.
42 BCSecond Triumvirate defeats Julius Caesar's assassins at the Battle of Philippi
40 BCPacorus I conquers Roman Syria.
31 BCBattle of Actium: Octavian defeats troops under Mark Antony and Cleopatra, becoming de facto ruler of the Roman empire.

95 BCTigranes the Great becomes king of Armenia
91 BCCrown Prince Ju Revolt in China.
87 BCEmperor Wu of Han dies and is succeeded by his eight-year-old son Zhao, with Jin Midi, Shangguang Jie and Huo Guang as regents.
63 BCMithridates VI commits suicide, ending the Third Mithridatic War.
c. 60 BCthe Sakas conquer Mathura.
58 BCHuhanye rebels against his distant cousin Woyanqudi Chanyu of the Xiongyu, beginning the Xiongnu civil war.
57 BCSilla is founded in southeastern Korea (traditional date according to Samguk Sagi, a 12th-century historical document).
53 BCHuhanye Chanyu of the Xiongnu become a Chinese vassal.
The Chinese Ji Jiu Pian dictionary published in 40 BC during the Han dynasty is the earliest known reference to the hydraulic-powered trip hammer device.
48 BCEmperor Xuan of Han dies and is succeeded by his son Yuan. Wang Zhengjun is made Empress, as a result of which her clan would eventually topple the Han dynasty.
47 BCyear of six kings in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka
46 BCChina abandons control of Hainan as a cost-cutting measure.
37 BCGoguryeo is founded in southern Manchuria (traditional date according to Samguk Sagi).
36 BCBattle of Zhizhi: Gan Yanshou and Chen Tang launch an unauthorised expedition which prevents the Xiongnu from extending their power into Central Asia.
c. 30 BCSatavahana dynasty replaces the Kanva dynasty in Magadha.

97 BCAriarathes VIII is forced out of Cappadocia by Mithridates VI of Pontus, and dies soon afterwards.
96 BCKing Alexander Jannaeus of Judea wins the Siege of Gaza.
85 BCAretas III of the Nabataeans conquers Damascus.
73 BCLucullus defeats Mithridates at Tenedos, Cyzicus, and the Rhyndacus and he flees east to Armenia
48 BCPtolemy XIII deposes his co-regent Cleopatra, beginning the Ptolemaic civil war in Egypt
47 BCCleopatra restored to the Ptolemaic throne after the Battle of the Nile (47 BC)
37 BCHerod the Great becomes king of Judea.
37 BCMark Antony invades Parthia.
30 BCOctavian annexes Egypt.

41 BCLucius Antonius and Octavian fight the Perusine War
36 BCMaya numeral for Zero was written in Chiapa; it is the oldest zero in The Americas.