The Histories by Polybius (40 vol.) — released 146 BCE
The Histories by Polybius (40 vol.) reached audiences in 146 BCE, during the Ancient World (2nd century BCE), and became one of the defining works of its moment.
Context
Ancient World — Empires, philosophers, and the first great cities. That's around 2116 years ago — deep history, roughly 21 centuries in the past. Around the same time, the world was also seeing Viriatus (147 BCE) and Septuagint (150 BCE).
Why it matters
The Histories by Polybius (40 vol.) shaped taste and conversation in its moment, then kept influencing later creators long after its debut in 146 BCE.
Did you know?
Just 1 year before, Viriatus (147 BCE) was also making headlines — a reminder how much history can compress into a single decade.
Era
Ancient World
Empires, philosophers, and the first great cities.
Category
Arts
Arts are the paintings, novels, films, songs and performances that captured the spirit of their age and still move us today.
Contemporary events
What else was happening in the world around this time.
Sources & further reading7 verified references · tap to open
About this lesson. Overview, context, and “Why it matters” are generated summaries written for study and gameplay. Dates and category placement come from the Timeline question bank[1]; era descriptions are adapted from standard historical periodisation[2]. For primary sources and in-depth reading, use the references below.
- Timeline question bank — © the game's original author, used with permission.
- Era framework based on Wikipedia's Human history overview, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikipedia
Community-maintained encyclopedia entry with citations.
Encyclopædia Britannica
Editorially reviewed reference articles.
Library of Congress
Primary sources, photographs, and archival records.
National Archives
Original U.S. government documents and records.
Smithsonian
Museum collections and curator-written explainers.
BBC History
Long-form explainers and documentaries.
History.com
Timelines and topic overviews from HISTORY.
Educational content notice
Lessons are for general historical education, not professional advice. Some entries touch on wars, violence, or other sensitive events — appropriate for ages 9+. External links open in your browser and are not controlled by Timeline.
Quick check
Which of these happened in 146 BCE?
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1 yrs before · 147 BCE
Viriatus
4 yrs before · 150 BCE
Septuagint