The First Millenium

[Vince]

It’s 115, and very bad year.

Still leading his troops in person, the Emperor Trajan is cut off from Rome in Mesopotamia.

A revolt breaks out in Britain, and a Roman garrison at York is massacred.

Taking advantage of Rome’s new wars, Jews begin a series of rebellions known as the Kitos wars. The Jews slaughter small Roman garrisons in several cities and begin massacring Roman citizens as well. The revolt spreads throughout the eastern areas of the Empire., including Judea and even Mesopotamia. Civil war between the Greeks and Jews breaks out in Alexandria. General Quietus (after whom the Kitos Wars are named), races from one area to another, defeating the Jews everywhere he turns.

Sixtus 1 becomes bishop of Rome. It seems that the large church at Rome was being led by a group of elders, and the aged Sixtus was one of them. He dealt with a problem about Christians being required to fast before the Jewish Passover, and thus his name survives. Centuries later, the Catholic Church would claim that he insisted that only the Pope could authorize a bishop, but there is no historical record of this. Since only Ireneus records anything about him, it is possible that he didn't exist.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 116.

Having invaded Parthia, Trajan conquers Babylon and reaches the city of Susa, which he sacks. Located in modern Iran, Susa was home to Daniel, Nehemiah, and Queen Esther. Although Trajan doesn’t know it, he has extended Roman boundaries to their greatest extent.

The Jewish revolt is now so widespread that it spreads into Rome's recently conquered territories, as the Jews massacre the small Roman garrisons left behind, and then massacre the Greeks and Romans. Roman troops abandon Alexandria, and the Jews burn the city. They massacre so many citizens that new colonies have to be established in some provinces. In Africa, they kill so many Libyans that the province is in danger of dying out. They seize Judea, and Zacchaeus, bishop of Jerusalem, dies, but there is no record of how.

Trajan turns back to battle the revolt and restore order, and throughout the eastern Empire Roman armies are waging full-scale war against the revolt.

Quirinus. a Roman tribune who had converted to Christianity, is beheaded for refusing to execute Christian prisoners in Rome.

 

[Vince]

117 is another bad year.

Quietus, the Roman military hero, is appointed governor of Judea. Here, survivors of the Kitos Wars have seized the city of Lydda, and Quietus besieges them. He takes the city and his slaughter of the Jews of Lydda is still mourned by Jews today. Quietus is made governor of Judea.

The Romans re-take the island of Cyprus from the Jews, who had massacred an estimated quarter of a million Greeks. Romans also re-take Alexandria, where the Jews had destroyed all the pagan temples and a monument to Pompey. The revolt is now over. To this day, the wide-spread massacre of the Gentiles during the Kitos Wars is used to justify persecution of Jews.

Persecution of Christians increases, as Rome fears their connection with the Jews. A small number of leaders are executed, but most of the accused simply offer sacrifices to the gods, are released, and return to their Christianity.

Stricken ill in Mesopotamia, Trajan heads towards Rome, leaving Hadrian in charge of the eastern part of the Empire. Realizing that he won't make it back, Trajan then appoints Hadrian as the new Emperor and dies.

A cultured, well-educated Spaniard, the new Emperor Hadrian faces reality: Rome has conquered more territory than it can control. He gives Mesopotamia back to Parthia as part of a peace settlement and withdraws troops from both.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 118!

Quietus, whose brilliant leadership and ruthless massacres had ended the Kitos Wars is murdered, perhaps by order of his jealous Emperor. To this day, Jews regard his death as a punishment from God. Meanwhile, the Romans are forced to station an entire legion in Judea.

Third of the "Five Good Emperors," Hadrian had been a competent political figure before taking control. Leading military forces in the east when he was declared Emperor by the Senate, he remained there, straightening out problems and gaining support from the army. He put his former guardian in control in Rome, and the guardian quickly executed competitors to the throne.

Hadrian followed a policy of "peace through strength." His unpopular decision to give up much of Trajan's eastern conquests is regarded today as a good move: Rome didn't have the resources to hold them. Osroene was given its independence back, and it served as a buffer state between Rome and eastern enemies.

Hadrian would build "limes," walls and/or fortifications in easily-defended areas that would become the boundaries of the Empire, although Rome would often have an uneasy control of areas beyond the limes. One of these limes is still the boundary between England and Scotland.

 

[Vince]

And now it is 119.

The Emperor Hadrian sends an extra Roman legion to Britain to put down a rebellion.

Nahapana becomes king of northern India. He rapidly expands into central, western, and southern India, spreading Buddhism into his conquered lands.

Secundus of Asti, an Italian military leader, is tortured and beheaded for refusing to renounce Christianity.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 120.

Lucius Cossonius Gallus, an experienced governor and politician, is named governor of Judea.

Zhang Heng (CE 78–139) was an astronomer, mathematician, inventor, geographer, cartographer, artist, poet, statesman, and literary scholar, and an all-around Chinese genius. About this time, he finishes his star catalogue describing 2500 stars in 100 constellations. During his lifetime, he corrects the Chinese calendar, correctly describes the causes of eclipses, and invents the seismograph, which measures the strength of earthquakes.

The Emperor Hadrian visits Britain. There, the Romans construct the Foss Dyke, the oldest canal still in use anywhere in the world. Actually, it fell into dis-use and had to be re-dug 1,000 years later, but you get the picture.

Suetonius, a Roman historian, becomes Hadrian's secretary.

An ambassador from India arrives in Rome.

Scythia, a gigantic kingdom that extends across Iran, Turkey, and Russia, expands into western and central India.

Various prominent Christians are being executed, partly in response to the Kitos Wars. Matthias, bishop of Jerusalem, dies (reason unknown) after having to deal with the Kitos Wars and some persecution of Christians in Judea by the Romans. Very sparce historical records show no persecution of Christians by the Jews.

 

[Vince]

Not much happens in 121.

Over a century after establishing a fort there, the Romans now have a settlement at Wiesbaden, Germany. Located north of the Rhine River, its hot springs were used for horses and people. A bridge over the Rhine connects it with the rest of the Empire, and Rome clearly intends to make all of Germany a controlled-part of the Empire.

Ptolemy is busy with both geography and astronomy, and his works will become important sources of knowledge for centuries to come.

The Emperor Hadrian begins construction of the Temple of Venus and of Rome, the largest pagan temple ever built in Rome. Designing the building himself, Hadrian has seated statues, sitting on thrones, who would bang their heads if they stood up. When an architect scornfully points this out, he is banished and later executed.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 122.

Northern Britain is marked by firths (Inlets from the ocean that extend far inland). Choosing an area where a firth extended 72 miles from the opposite coast, the Emperor Hadrian orders a wall built all the way across Britain. Built of stone, timber, and turf, much of Hadrian's Wall still stands. Although the actual border is nine miles north of the wall, it formed the boundary between England and Scotland.

Heavily-fortified, the wall could be climbed, but it provided security and stability to the south. Gates in the wall were used for collecting customs and tribute. There were also ditches and forts in various areas. Although he doesn't make it official, Hadrian has given up Scotland.

China now has a stabilized coinage system and has discovered negative numbers. Although it sounds funny, the use of negative numbers in mathematics allows advanced scientific calculations.

 

[Vince]

Good Heavens, it's 123 AD!

When Trajan had invaded and defeated Parthia, he had deposed King Osroes I and replaced him with a puppet, taking Osroes' daughter to Rome as a hostage. Now, Osroes re-seizes his throne and prepares for war with Rome. But Hadrian calmly congratulates him, returns his daughter, and averts a war.

Homesteads Fort is added to Hadrian's Wall in Britain. Its northern wall has a tendency to collapse, but it allows a large settlement to be built just south of it.

Mug Nuadat, legendary Irish king (who might not have existed) defeats Conn of the Hundred Battles, and they divide Ireland between them. Mug had been helped by a famine, because he had stored food in advance. He invents a food bar for his troops consisting of egg whites, nuts, and honey, and that's how nougat was invented. Later, Conn kills Mug and regains control of all of Ireland.

China re-conquers the Tarim Basin. This 150,000 square mile desert is north of India, and today is China's western-most area.

 

[Vince]

Not much happens in 124.

The Scythians suffer a major defeat in northern India, ending their dynasty there.

650 years ago, the Greeks had started building a gigantic temple to Zeus. The Emperor Hadrian travels to Athens and finishes it. Parts of it still stand.

 

[Vince]

And now it’s 125 AD.

Telesphorus (125-136) becomes bishop of Rome. He took a demotion in 1954 when the Catholic Church decided that his feast day was actually in honor of an unknown African martyr of the same name. The tradition of Christmas Midnight Masses, the celebration of Easter on Sundays, the keeping of a seven-week Lent before Easter and the singing of the Gloria are usually attributed to his pontificate, but some historians doubt that such attributions are accurate.

The Emperor Hadrian organizes the Panhellenion, a religious organization of Greek cities. He hopes to restore the glory Greece had 600 years ago. The organization collapses shortly after his death, however.

Hadrian also begins constructing "Hadrian's Villa," a 30-building site that contained a theater, temples, baths, and governmental buildings. In his later years, he ruled Rome from the villa and had a permanent court that lived there.

After destroying a rival kingdom, Gautamiputra Satakarni rules central India from coast-to-coast.

Tharnal, a pagan priest who had converted to Christianity, is martyred.

Hadrian finishes re-building the Pantheon, which had been destroyed by a fire. He does such a good job that it is the best-preserved ancient Roman building.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 126. It's a slow year.

Nicomedia, Caesarea, and Niceae were overturned by earthquake.

Emperor An Ti of Han China died. He was succeeded by Shun Ti.

 

[Vince]

Things pick up in 127.

The Emperor Hadrian returns to Rome after a seven-year absence.

Influenced by the writings of Justin Martyr, Minucius Fundanus, the pro-consul, persuades Hadrian not to execute Christians without a trial.

The great king Kanishka becomes ruler of the Kushan Empire. Centered in Iran, his empire eventually extends into northern India and to the border of China.

Carpocrates, a Gnostic leader, teaches that it is wrong for Christians to own private property. His group teaches immorality and vice as being virtuous.

The great historian Plutarch dies.

 

[Vince]

It's 128, and Hadrian is on the move again. He heads for Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, and the province of North Africa.

King Gaeru of Baekje succeeds to the throne of Baekje, one of three kingdoms in the Korean peninsula.

Justin Martyr is becoming important. A philosopher who converted to Christianity, he strongly believes the Word of God but has a hard time understanding it. He holds "true" paganism as almost equal to Christianity. He records that Christians generally believe the same things, but there is controversy about the millenium, which he believes to be true. He teaches toleration to the Jews, but Jewish Christians must not be allowed to interfere with the liberty of Gentile Christians. Settling in Rome as a teacher, he decreases persecution by reasoning with the pagans.

The proud parents of Herennia Gemella are so happy when she is born on March 11, that they buy two high-quality wooden tablets coated with wax to record her birth. The tablets are now on display at the University of Michigan.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 129 AD!

Eleutherius (129-136) becomes bishop of Constantinople.

Lambaesa, is town in the province of Numidea in modern Algeria, is heavily-fortified. Its ruins contain hundreds of projectiles, and are an interesting tourist site today.

Stopping to inspect Sicily, the Emperor Hadrian continues east to inspect that part of the Empire.

Galen, the greatest of all Roman doctors, is born. His works would be the chief medical authority for over a millenium.

Pope Justus of Alexandria, head of what would become the Coptic Orthodox Church, dies. It is possible that he had been baptized by Mark the Evangelist (author of the Gospel of Mark, who founded the church at Alexandria, Egypt).

 

[Vince]

It is now 130 AD.

Quintus Tineius Rufus becomes governor of Judea. He had served a previous term as a Roman governor before being elected as a consul (the highest elected office in the Empire). He doesn' t know it, but he's about to have his hands full.

Romew bans the execution of slaves without a trial.

The Emperor Hadrian inspects the provinces in the mid-East, including Jordan.

India continues to be swept by wars. Huviska becomes king of the Kushan Empire in India. The Scythian king Rudradaman I reconquers from the Andhra the lands annexed by Gautamiputra.

Ptolemy calculates the angles of reflection of light passing through air, water, and other media.

Antinous was a beloved member of the Emperor Hadrian's entourage, although they probably did not have a romantic relationship. He drowns, and the grief-stricken Hadrian has him deified, builds temples for him, and has large numbers of statues made of him. Many of the statues survive in museums today.

 

[Vince]

It's 131, and trouble is brewing.

Hadrian was a pretty smart Emperor, so it's hard to figure out what he was thinking. Most of Jerusalem was still in ruins from the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. Arriving at Jerusalem, Hadrian promises the Jews that he will re-build their city and give it to them as a gift. He actually constructs a small city on the ruins, but he gives it to legionnaires to colonize. He also builds a temple to Jupiter on the site of the former Temple. He bans circumcision anywhere in the Empire, and he forbids Jews to re-enter Jerusalem. He plans to build temples to local deities as well as to various Roman gods.

Additionally, Hadrian prohibits public reading of the Torah under penalty of death, as well as observance of festivals and the Sabbath, the teaching of Judaic Law and the ordination of rabbis.

Although he stays in Jerusalem, Hadrian also divides Italy into districts ruled by consuls, which lowers the Senate's power, restores the monarchy, and re-organizes the central government so that the Senate has virtually no power left.

 

[Vince]

132 is the beginning of the end.

Shimeon Bar-Kokhba and Rabbi Akiba Ben-Joseph lead Jews in a revolt against Roman rule. They capture Jerusalem and create an independent state of Israel. Why?

The Emperor Hadrian had encouraged Jews to return to Israel and rebuild their Temple, but then began deporting them to northern Africa. He changed the name of Jerusalem and began constructing a temple to Jupiter near the Temple Mount. Supervising the changes personally, he leaves Judea in 132, and the Jews re-act quickly.

Having stored weapons and supplies for decades, the rebels seize most of the nation with the enthusiastic support of the Jewish population. The Tenth Legion evacuates Jerusalem and falls back to Caesarea. The 22nd Legion, advancing on Jerusalem from Egypt, is destroyed.

The new Jewish government re-institutes the animal sacrifices and issues coins.

Hadrian begins construction of his family mausoleum. A magnificent cylindrical structure, it still stands and is now a museum.

Using a series of complex gears around a central swinging pendulum, the great Chinese scientist Zhang Heng invents the seismometer. This device tracks the direction of earthquakes, helping scientists to study the earth's interior.

 

[Vince]

It is now 133, and things aren't getting any better.

Julius Severus, governor of Britain, had put down some small revolts. He is dispatched to Judea as the new governor for the purpose of ending the revolt there. Severus is smart. He besieges Jewish forts and villages until they are weak from starvation, and then he launches all-out attacks. With twelve legions in Judea, the Romans still suffer heavy losses, but far less than they would have if they had tried open warfare.

Athenagoras of Athens is born. This almost-unknown Christian apologist wrote extensively and had a wider influence on the Romans than many of the better-known apologists. Almost nothing is known about him, but he successfully used the logic of the pagan philosophers to persuade the government to ease off in their various persecutions.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 134!

The Romans retake Jerusalem with great losses on both sides. Jewish Christians had opposed the revolt, but they are banned from the city as well as regular Jews. This widens the split between Judaism and Christianity. Jewish soldiers fall back to the fortress of Betar, southwest of Jerusalem.

Arrian is governor of Cappodocia in central Turkey. He is short of troops, due to the Jewish war, when the Allans, a nomadic tribe of Russians, invades. He writes a brilliant treatise on how he arranged his troops in order to defeat them. The problem is, there is no other record of this battle.

Jima of Silla dies. Ruler of one of the three kingdoms of Korea, he had managed to keep peace most of the time, and had established diplomatic relations with one of the Japanese kingdoms.