405Bc to 204BC

Literature

405BC. Iphigenia in Aulis. Euripides. Greek. Play. Seer Calchas predicts that only the sacrifice of Iphigenia will save Greeks from being trapped in the harbor of Aulis. In spite of many changes of mind, she is sacrificed. Was a deer substituted?

Society

404BC. Athens capitulates to Sparta, April 25, after being starved into submission; first Peloponnesian War ends.

Literature

401BC. Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. Greek. Play. Banished and shunned by sons Etiocles and Polynices. Wanders as outcast. Daughter Antigone leads him to grove at Colonus. Creon tries to force him to return to Thebes in order to protect it by being buried outside its walls. Theseus of Athens defends him. Buried outside Athens where he has promised to protect the city at the time of war.

Society

400BC. London has its origins at a point where the Walbrook joins the Thames River.

390BC. Socrates is condemned for flouting conventional ideas and for allegedly corrupting youth.

Literature

372BC. The Mencius. Chinese. Philosophy. Unsystematic collection of sayings and dialogues. Model of classical Chinese prose. Lived in time of great social change and constant warfare. Goodness of man and necessity of virtuous, benevolent king to bring order to the world.

Society

347BC. The Academy is founded by Plato.

Literature

347BC? The Republic. Plato. Greek. Dialogue. Attempt at definition of justice. Justice must exist in the state before the individual. Three classes of citizens: Guardians, soldiers, workers and producers. Rejects democracy and tyranny. Temperance, restraint required of all classes.

Society

342BC. Aristotle begins seven years of teaching in Macedon; his pupils include Alexander the Great.

336BC. Philip of Macedon is assassinated. He is succeeded by his son Alexander, now 20 years of age.

Literature

335BC. Poetics. Aristotle. Greek. Treatise. All arts originate in imitation and instinct for harmony and rhythm. Poetry more philosophical than history; deals with universals vs. particulars. Objects of imitation are men of action. Better than life: tragedy; worse than life: comedy. Epic = no limits of time; tragedy: single revolution of sun. Tragedy: emotions of pity, fear are released, catharsis. Fortunes fall from good to bad because of tragic flaw. Disapproves of the use of deus ex machina. First treatise devoted wholly to literary criticism.

Society

332BC. Alexander of Macedon takes over Egypt and founds a city that will be called Alexandria.

323BC. Alexander the Great dies at age 32 after unparalleled military victories.

300BC. Carthage in North Africa gains economic ascendancy in the Mediterranean.

Literature

300BC. Hsun Tzu, Hsun Ch'ing. Chinese. Nonfiction. First expository Confucian text. Man by nature evil. Attacks superstition, extols reason. Emphasizes need for education. Contradicts Mencius who believed in the goodness of man's nature.

Society

270BC. Rome's subjugation of Italy is completed.

264BC. A Punic War embroils Rome in a conflict with Carthage that will continue for 23 years.

264BC. Gladiatorial combat gains huge popularity in Rome.

218BC. Second Punic War begins; Carthaginian army under Hannibal attacks Rome's Hispanic allies.

216BC. The Battle of Cannae, August 2, ends in victory for Hannibal.

Literature

205BC. Miles Gloriosus. Plautus. Roman. Play. Prototype of a long line of military braggarts.

Society

204BC. Roman forces besiege Carthage.