Directory

202 CE

Some 400,000 slaves perform the menial work of Rome, with middle-class citizens often owning eight; the rich from 500 to 1,000; an emperor as many as 20,000. Free urban workers enjoy 17 to 18 hours of leisure each day, with free admission to baths, sport events and gladiatorial games. Battle of Bowang: Warlord Liu Bei defeats Cao Cao's forces under Xiahou Dun. Rome is a city of about 1.5 million citizens, its people housed mostly in 46,600 insulae or apartment blocks, each three to eight stories high, flimsily made of wood, brick or rubble.

Conflict & Security

  • Battle of Bowang: Warlord Liu Bei defeats Cao Cao's forces under Xiahou Dun.source
  • Severus launches a campaign in Africa; Legio III Augusta under Quintus Anicius Faustus fights a guerrilla war against the Garamantes along the Limes Tripolitanus. They capture several settlements such as Cydamus, Gholaia and their capital Garama, 600 km south of Lepcis Magna. The province of Numidia is enlarged: the Romans annex Castellum Dimmidi, Gemellae and Vescera.source
  • A Roman law bans female gladiators.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • In order to avoid Septimus Severus' persecution of Christians, Clement of Alexandria seeks refuge with Alexander in Cappadocia.source

Religion & Belief

  • An edict bans conversions to Christianity and all Christian propaganda.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Rome is a city of about 1.5 million citizens, its people housed mostly in 46,600 insulae or apartment blocks, each three to eight stories high, flimsily made of wood, brick or rubble.source

Crime & Justice

  • Some 400,000 slaves perform the menial work of Rome, with middle-class citizens often owning eight; the rich from 500 to 1,000; an emperor as many as 20,000. Free urban workers enjoy 17 to 18 hours of leisure each day, with free admission to baths, sport events and gladiatorial games.source

Culture & Society

  • Emperor Septimius Severus returns to Rome after a five-year absence. Festivals are held to celebrate his six-year reign. Severus undertakes changes in the imperial government, giving the Roman army a dominant role, raising pay in the legions and permitting legionaries to marry in order to secure their loyalty.source

Births

  • Jiang Wei, Chinese general and regent (d. 264)source

Deaths

  • June 28 – Yuan Shao, Chinese warlord (b. 154)source
  • Pang Ji (or Yangtu), Chinese official and advisersource
  • Lady Wu, wife of Sun Jian and mother of Sun Cesource
  • Irenaeus, Greek bishop and theologian (b. 130)source