Syria

856 BCE

Manbog annexed to the Assyrians.

738 BCE

The Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III conquers Manbog. Byblos becomes a tributary.

331 BCE

Alexander the Great sends an exploratory mission to the Arabian Peninsula while preparing for his campaign in Mesopotamia.

323 BCE

Alexander plans an expedition to Arabia to explore and possibly conquer parts of the peninsula, but dies before they leave.

320 BCE

Apamea on the Axios founded as a Macedonian military camp with a name of Pella.

311 BCE

Demetrios Poliorketes leads a campaign against the Nabataeans in Arabia, but is forced to withdraw.

307 BCE

Antigonos Monophthalmos founds Antigoneia in Syria.

300 BCE
May

Antioch founded by Seleukos I Nikator of the Seleukid dynasty.

300 BCE

The Macedonian camp of Pella is fortified by Seleukos I Nikator and renamed Apameia in honor of his wife Apama.

300 BCE

Seleukos I Nikator founds the city of Charax Spasinu (near modern-day Basra, Iraq) as a port city to facilitate trade between Mesopotamia and Arabia.

240 BCE

Antioch becomes the capital of the Seleukid Empire.

148 BCE

A major earthquake strikes Antioch. Alexander Balas aids in the rebuilding.

142 BCE

Apamea on the Axios becomes the primary base for the usurper Diodotus Tryphon.

64 BCE

Pompey winters at Antioch and destroys Apamea.

56 BCE

The hippodrome is completed in Antioch and fits 80,000 fans.

53 BCE

The Roman general Crassus sacks the temple at Manbog on his way to the Parthians.

49 BCE-
46 BCE

Apameia on the Axios remains under siege by Julius Caesar until Cassius’ arrival.

47 BCE

Julius Caesar visits Aigai during his campaign in the east. He also visits Antioch and declares its freedom.

40 BCE

An army under the Pompeian general Quintus Labienus and Partians briefly occupy Apameia on the Axios.

19 CE

Germanicus dies in Antioch.

37 CE

An earthquake destroys much of Antioch. The city is rebuilt by Caligula.

66 CE

Citizens of Apameia on the Axios spare the Jews living among them despite orders for their execution.

115 CE

While being visited by the Emperor Trajan, Antioch is severely damaged in an earthquake. The same earthquake heavily damages Apameia on the Axios.

180 CE-
192 CE

The Emperor Commodus choose to hold the Olympic Games in Antioch.

256 CE

Antioch is attacked by Shapur I. Roughly 100,000 inhabitants are slaughtered, many of them at the theater.

351 CE
March 15

Constantius II raises Constantius Gallus to Caesar and marries him to his sister Constantina. Constantius Gallus takes up residence in Antioch.

458 CE

A significant earthquake causes much damage in Antioch.

526 CE

One of the worst earthquakes in history kills roughly 250,000 people in Antioch.

528 CE

Before Antioch can fully recover from a devastating earthquake two years earlier, another hits.

540 CE

The Sassanian Persian King Khosrow I captures and sacks Antioch. The city is extensively plundered and many of its inhabitants are deported.

588 CE

Yet another earthquake causes major damage in Antioch.