4th century BC

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Alexander the Great of Macedon created one of the largest empires of the ancient world. Alexander the Great mosaic.jpg
Alexander the Great of Macedon created one of the largest empires of the ancient world.

The 4th century BC started the first day of 400 BC and ended the last day of 301 BC. It is considered part of the Classical era, epoch, or historical period.

Contents

This century marked the height of Classical Greek civilization in all of its aspects. By the year 400 BC Greek philosophy, art, literature and architecture had spread far and wide, with the numerous independent Greek colonies that had sprung up throughout the lands of the eastern Mediterranean.

Arguably the most important series of political events in this period were the conquests of Alexander, bringing about the collapse of the once formidable Persian Empire and spreading Greek culture far into the east. Alexander dreamt of an east/west union, but when his short life ended in 323 BC, his vast empire was plunged into civil war as his generals each carved out their own separate kingdoms. Thus began the Hellenistic age, a period characterized by a more absolute approach to rule, with Greek kings taking on royal trappings and setting up hereditary successions. While a degree of democracy still existed in some of the remaining independent Greek cities, many scholars see this age as marking the end of classical Greece.

In India, the Maurya Empire was founded in 322 BC by Chandragupta Maurya who rapidly expanded his power westwards across central and western India, taking advantage of the disruptions of local powers in the wake of the withdrawal westward by the armies of Alexander.

China in the 4th century BCE entered an era of constant warfare known as the Warring States period. The period saw the rapid rise of large states (such as Chu) over smaller ones thanks to technological advancement. Though the period has usually been characterized by historians as being excessively violent compared to the Spring and Autumn period, it was also punctuated by several cultural and social growths through the expansion of several different sects of Confucianism and Taoism, and the formulation of Legalist thought.

The world in the 4th century BC

Map of the world in 400 BC, the beginning of the fourth century BCE. World in 400 BCE.png
Map of the world in 400 BC, the beginning of the fourth century BCE.
Map of the world in 323 BC. East-Hem 323bc.jpg
Map of the world in 323 BC.
Map of the world in 300 BC, the end of the fourth century BCE. World in 300 BCE.PNG
Map of the world in 300 BC, the end of the fourth century BCE.

Events

390s BC

380s BCE

370s BCE

360s BCE

350s BCE

340s BCE

330s BCE

320s BCE

310s BCE

300s BCE

Significant people

Philip II Philip-ii-of-macedon.jpg
Philip II
Demosthenes Demosthenes orator Louvre.jpg
Demosthenes
Xenophon Xenophon.jpg
Xenophon
Plato Plato Pio-Clementino Inv305 n2.jpg
Plato
Antisthenes Antisthenes Pio-Clementino Inv288.jpg
Antisthenes
Aristotle Aristotle Altemps Inv8575.jpg
Aristotle
Diogenes Diogenes Mosaic Romisch-Germanisches Museum.jpg
Diogenes
Epicurus Epikouros BM 1843.jpg
Epicurus

Politics

Military leaders

Visual arts

Literature

Science and philosophy

Health professionals

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

A Han dynasty Chinese crossbow from the 2nd century BCE. ChineseCrossbow.JPG
A Han dynasty Chinese crossbow from the 2nd century BCE.

Sovereign states

See: List of political entities in the 4th century BC.

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References

  1. ↑ Shi Ji, chapter 4
  2. 1 2 3 Siculus, Diodorus. "37". Library. Vol. XX.
  3. ↑ Watts, Sue. "Pompeiian Mill (Animal Powered)". Mills Archive Catalogue. The Mills Archive Trust. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
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