Rome bans female gladiators
World
- Human population reaches about 257 million.
Roman Empire
- Emperor Septimius Severus visits the provinces of Syria, Palestine, and Arabia.
- The province of Numidia is taken from the African proconsul, and made an Imperial province.
- 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.
- 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.
- An edict bans conversions to Christianity and all Christian propaganda.
- A Roman law bans female gladiators.
- The Pantheon is restored.
- Rome establishes medical licenses, awarded only to trained physicians who have passed examinations. Medical societies and civic hospitals are set up, and laws are passed to govern the behavior of medical students. They are prohibited from visiting brothels.
- Hadrian’s Wall is restored, after heavy raids by Caledonian tribes had overrun much of northern Britain.
India
- Rudrasena I, Saka ruler of the Western Satrap dynasty, becomes king of Malwa in Classical India.
China
- September–November – Battle of Guandu: Chinese warlord Cao Cao defeats his rival Yuan Shao.
Japan
- In Japan, Himiko, whose capital is situated in Yamatai, extends her authority over a number of clans.
America
- The Classic Age of Maya civilization begins
- The Paracas culture in the Andes ends
Religion
- Jewish Eretz Yisraeli scholar Judah ha-Nasi compiles tracts of the Mishnah, creating Talmudic law.
- Clement of Alexandria denounces the use of musical instruments instead of human voices in Christian music.
- Brahmanism evolves into Hinduism