210 BC

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Events

By place

Roman Republic

* Following the death of his father, Publius Cornelius Scipio, and his uncle, Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus, at the hands of the Carthaginians, the young Publius Cornelius Scipio takes over command of the Roman troops in Spain. His appointment reflects the Roman Senate's dissatisfaction with the cautious strategy of the propraetor, Gaius Claudius Nero, then commander in Spain north of the Ebro.
* The famine and inflation facing Rome is eased with the pacification by the Romans of Sicily.
* The Carthaginian general, Hannibal, proves his superiority in tactics by inflicting a severe defeat at Herdonia in Apulia upon a proconsular army and slaying the consul Gnaeus Fulvius Centumalus Maximus.
* The Roman general, Marcus Claudius Marcellus is elected consul for the fourth time and takes Salapia in Apulia, which has revolted and joined forces with Hannibal.

Egypt

* Arsinoe III, wife and sister of King Ptolemy IV gives birth to the future Ptolemy V Epiphanes. Thereafter, she is sequestered in the palace, while Ptolemy's depraved male and female favourites ruin both the king and his government of Egypt. Although Arsinoe III disapproves of the sordid state of the court, she is unable to exert any influence.

Greece

* After allying with Hannibal, Philip V of Macedon attacks the Roman positions in Illyria, but fails to take Corcyra or Apollonia, which are protected by the Roman fleet. Rome's command of the sea prevents his lending any effective aid to his Carthaginian ally in Italy. The Aetolians, Sparta and King Attalus of Pergamum join the Romans in the war against Philip V. This coalition is so strong that Philip V has to stop attacking Roman territory.

China

* Qin Er Shi becomes Emperor of the Qin Dynasty of China.

Births

* Hui, the second emperor of the Han Dynasty of China (d. 188 BC)

Deaths

* September 10 — Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China (b. 260 BC)
* Fusu, first son and heir apparent of Qin Shi Huang
* Meng Tian, general of the Qin Dynasty of China