220 BC Facts for Kids

Europe in 220 BC.

Millennium:	1st millennium BC
Centuries:	4th century BC – 3rd century BC – 2nd century BC
Decades:	250s BC 240s BC 230s BC – 220s BC – 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC
Years:	223 BC 222 BC 221 BC – 220 BC – 219 BC 218 BC 217 BC

220 BC by topic
Politics
State leaders – Sovereign states
Birth and death categories
Births – Deaths
Establishments and disestablishments categories
Establishments – Disestablishments

220 BC in various calendars
Gregorian calendar	220 BC CCXIX BC
Ab urbe condita	534
Ancient Egypt era	XXXIII dynasty, 104
- Pharaoh	Ptolemy IV Philopator, 2
Ancient Greek era	140th Olympiad (victor)¹
Assyrian calendar	4531
Balinese saka calendar	N/A
Bengali calendar	−812
Berber calendar	731
Buddhist calendar	325
Burmese calendar	−857
Byzantine calendar	5289–5290
Chinese calendar	庚辰年 (Metal Dragon) 2477 or 2417 — to — 辛巳年 (Metal Snake) 2478 or 2418
Coptic calendar	−503 – −502
Discordian calendar	947
Ethiopian calendar	−227 – −226
Hebrew calendar	3541–3542
Hindu calendars
- Vikram Samvat	−163 – −162
- Shaka Samvat	N/A
- Kali Yuga	2881–2882
Holocene calendar	9781
Iranian calendar	841 BP – 840 BP
Islamic calendar	867 BH – 866 BH
Javanese calendar	N/A
Julian calendar	N/A
Korean calendar	2114
Minguo calendar	2131 before ROC 民前2131年
Nanakshahi calendar	−1687
Seleucid era	92/93 AG
Thai solar calendar	323–324
Tibetan calendar	阳金龙年 (male Iron-Dragon) −93 or −474 or −1246 — to — 阴金蛇年 (female Iron-Snake) −92 or −473 or −1245

The year 220 BC was a time long ago, over 2,200 years from now! It was a busy year with many important events happening across the world. People in different empires and kingdoms made big changes.

Key Events of 220 BC

What Happened in Greece?

Illyrian Pirates and Roman Actions

Two leaders from Illyria, Demetrius of Pharos and Scerdilaidas, attacked cities that the Romans were protecting.
They also sailed their pirate ships into Greek waters.
They tried to attack Pylos, a town on the coast of Peloponnesus, but they did not succeed.
Scerdilaidas and the Aetolians then invaded Achaea.
With help from some people in Cynaetha, they attacked and burned that town in Arcadia.
Because of these pirate attacks, Rome started the Second Illyrian War.
Demetrius of Pharos went to Philip V of Macedon for safety. Philip V was not happy about Rome getting involved in Greek affairs.
Rome took over Demetrius's main forts, Pharos and Dimillos.

Greek States Unite

Aratus of Sicyon asked Philip V of Macedon for help against the Aetolians.
This led to the creation of the Hellenic League, a group of Greek states, in Corinth.
This league fought in a conflict called the Social War.
Also, the people of Gortyn took over Matala on the island of Crete.

Changes in the Seleucid Empire

Molon's Rebellion and Antiochus III

A general named Molon rebelled against Antiochus III. Molon even called himself king in much of the Seleucid Empire.
Antiochus III stopped his plans to conquer southern Syria from Egypt.
Instead, Antiochus III marched against Molon. He defeated and killed Molon and his brother Alexander near the Tigris River.
Antiochus then went on to conquer Atropatene, a region in Media.

A Plot Against the King

Antiochus III and his wife Laodice III had a son.
Hermeias, a chief minister, thought about getting rid of Antiochus III. He wanted to rule the kingdom in the name of the new baby son.
But Antiochus found out about the plan and had Hermeias killed.

Events in Anatolia

Achaeus, who was Antiochus III's commander in Anatolia, won back all the areas from Attalus of Pergamum.
Hermeias had told Antiochus III that Achaeus was planning to rebel.
Achaeus then took the title of king and ruled the Anatolian parts of the Seleucid Empire.

Royal Marriage in Egypt

Arsinoe III married her brother, King Ptolemy IV of Egypt. This was a common practice in ancient Egyptian royal families.

Roman Republic Developments

Gaius Flaminius, a Roman political leader, was a censor during this year.
He built the Circus Flaminius, a large public space, on the Campus Martius in Rome.
He also built the Via Flaminia, an important road that connected Rome to Ariminum (modern-day Rimini).

China's Great Projects

The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, started a system of tree-lined roads to connect all parts of China.
He also began joining together different regional walls. This was the start of what would become the famous Great Wall (Wan li chang cheng).

Art and Sculpture

A bronze statue called Gallic Chieftain killing his wife and himself was created around this time. A Roman copy of this statue can be seen today in the Museo Nazionale Romano in Rome.
Another bronze statue, Dying Gallic trumpeter, was also made (possibly by Epigonos). A marble Roman copy of this statue is now kept at the Museo Capitolino in Rome.

Notable Deaths

Conon of Samos: A Greek mathematician and astronomer. His work on conic sections (shapes made when a cone is cut by a flat surface) was very important.
Molon: A general who rebelled against the Seleucid king Antiochus III.
Hermeias: The chief minister to King Seleucus III and later to Antiochus III. He was killed after plotting against Antiochus III.

Images for kids

220 BC.

220 BC facts for kids