250

Events

By place

Roman Empire

• A group of Franks penetrate as far as Tarragona in Spain (approximate date).
• The Goths invade Moesia.
• The Alamanni drive the Romans from the modern area of Donau-Ries.
• An epidemic of the Plague begins in Egypt and spreads through the Roman Empire.

Africa

• The Kingdom of Aksum (Axum) takes control of commerce on the Red Sea.

Asia

• The Kofun Period begins in Japan.
• The Kushan Empire collapses.

The Americas

• Teotihuacán is rebuilt as a four-quartered cosmogram by Zapotec architects brought from Monte Albán in Oaxaca.

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Diophantus writes Arithmetica, the first systematic treatise on algebra.
• Family Group, traditionally called the Family of Vunnerius Keramus, is made. It was later placed in Brescia Cross. It is now kept at Museo Civico dell'Etá Cristiana, Brescia (approximate date).
• Battle between the Romans and the Barbarians, detail of the Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus, found near Rome, is made. It is now kept at Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome (approximate date).

Births

• Maximian, Roman emperor (approximate date)
• Galerius, Roman emperor, (approximate date)
• Constantius Chlorus, Roman emperor and father of Constantine the Great (approximate date)
• Licinius, Roman emperor (approximate date)
• Arius, Christian priest and founder of Arianism (approximate date)
• Zuo Si

Deaths

• January 20—Pope Fabian
• Ambrose of Alexandria, Christian writer (approximate date)
• Mercurius, a Christian saint and martyr
• Saint Denise
• Nagarjuna, founder of Mahayana ("Great Vehicle") Buddhism
• Zhu Ju, general of Wu
• Wang Ling, general of Wei

Map of the world in 250.