80s

Summary

The 80s was a decade that ran from January 1, AD 80, to December 31, AD 89.

A view of the Colosseum, which held its inaugural games in AD 80.

As the decade began, the Parthian Empire was in a phase of division until Pacorus II managed to consolidate his rule, eliminating the two rival contenders for his throne: Vologases II in AD 80 and Artabanus III in AD 81. Domitian became Roman emperor in AD 81: The military campaigns undertaken during his reign were generally defensive in nature, as the Emperor rejected the idea of expansionist warfare. His most significant military contribution was the development of the Limes Germanicus, which encompassed a vast network of roads, forts and watchtowers constructed along the Rhine river to defend the Empire. Nevertheless, several important wars were fought in Gaul, against the Chatti, and across the Danube frontier against the Suebi, the Sarmatians, and the Dacians (see Domitian's Dacian War). In northern Britain, the Romans defeated local tribes in the Battle of Mons Graupius (AD 83). In China, the Han–Xiongnu War continued, with the Battle of the Altai Mountains (AD 89) bringing the Northern Xiongnu to the brink of collapse. The death of Emperor Zhang of Han ended a golden age.

In spring of AD 80, a fire broke out in Rome and burned large parts of the city for three days and three nights. Although the extent of the damage was not as disastrous as during the Great Fire of 64 and crucially spared the many districts of insulae, Cassius Dio records a long list of important public buildings that were destroyed, including Agrippa's Pantheon, the Temple of Jupiter, the Diribitorium, parts of the Theatre of Pompey, and the Saepta Julia among others. Emperor Titus personally compensated for the damaged regions. According to Suetonius, a plague also broke out during the fire. The nature of the disease, however, and the death toll are unknown.

Having been under construction since AD 70–72, the Colosseum was finally completed in AD 80, and its inaugural games were held that same year. Also in AD 80, the Eifel Aqueduct and Stadium of Domitian were constructed. Literary works that were composed around this time include Punica (a Latin epic poem themed around the Second Punic War), Thebaid (which recounts the clash of two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, over the throne of the Greek city of Thebes) and the Gospel of Matthew (the first book of the New Testament of the Bible).

Manning (2008) tentatively estimates the world population in AD 80 to have been 250 million.[1]

Events

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  • September 14Domitian succeeds his brother Titus as emperor. Domitian is not a soldier like his two predecessors, and his administration is directed towards the reinforcement of a monarchy. By taking the title of Dominus ("lord"), he scandalizes the senatorial aristocracy. Romanisation progresses in the provinces, and life in the cities is greatly improved. Many provincials – Spanish, Gallic, and African – become Senators.
  • The Arch of Titus is constructed.
  • Pliny the Younger is flamen Divi Augusti (priest in the cult of the Emperor).

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  • The silver content of the Roman denarius rises to 92% under emperor Domitian, up from 81% in the reign of Vitellius.
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  • Possible date of the Battle of Mons Graupius (AD 83 or 84), in which Gnaeus Julius Agricola defeats the Caledonians.[6][7]
  • Emperor Domitian recalls Agricola back to Rome, where he is rewarded with a triumph and the governorship of the Roman province Africa, but he declines it.[citation needed]
  • Pliny the Younger is sevir equitum Romanorum (commander of a cavalry squadron).[citation needed]
  • The construction of the limes, a line of Roman fortifications from the Rhine to the Danube, is begun.[8]
  • Through his election as consul for ten years and censor for life, Domitian openly subordinates the republican aspect of the state to the monarchical.[citation needed]
  • Domitian increases the troops' pay by one third, thus securing their loyalty.[9]
Asia edit
  • Change from Jianchu to Yuanhe era of the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty.[citation needed]

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  • Emperor Han Zhangdi dies at age 31 after a 13-year reign in which Chinese military forces have become powerful enough to march against tribes who threaten their northern and western borders. Having used intrigue as well as armed might to achieve his ends, Zhangdi and his General Ban Chao have reestablished Chinese influence in Inner Asia, but court eunuchs have increased their power during the emperor's reign. Zhangdi is succeeded by his 9-year-old son Zhao, who will reign until 105 as emperor Han Hedi, but he will be a virtual pawn of Empress Dou (adoptive mother) and scheming courtiers who will effectively rule the Chinese Empire.
  • Last year (4th) of yuanhe era and start of zhanghe era of the Chinese Eastern Han dynasty.

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Births

AD 80

AD 81

AD 82

  • Wang Fu, Chinese historian and philosopher (d. 167)

AD 83

AD 85

AD 86

AD 87

AD 89

Deaths

AD 80

AD 81

AD 82

AD 83

AD 84

AD 85

AD 86

AD 88

AD 89

References edit

  1. ^ Manning, Scott (2008-01-12). "Year-by-Year World Population Estimates: 10,000 B.C. to 2007 A.D." Historian on the Warpath. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  2. ^ Ronald Syme, Some Arval brethren (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1980), pp. 20f
  3. ^ Martial (1919). Epigrams. Loeb Classics. Vol. 1. Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. London: William Heinemann. p. ix. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "List of Rulers of Korea". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  5. ^ Jones, Brian W. (1993). The Emperor Domitian. London: Routledge. p. 128. ISBN 0-203-03625-5. OCLC 51074387.
  6. ^ "Mons Graupius UChicago.edu".
  7. ^ "Mons Graupius Omni Atlas".
  8. ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Serbia)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  9. ^ Brunt, P. A. (1950). "Pay and Superannuation in the Roman Army". Papers of the British School at Rome. 18: 50–71. ISSN 0068-2462.
  10. ^ Zeiner, Noelle K. (2005). Nothing Ordinary Here: Statius as Creator of Distinction in the Silvae. Psychology Press. p. 67. ISBN 9780415970983.
  11. ^ Huxley, Herbert Henry. "Martial". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  12. ^ Shen, Raphael (1997). The Restructuring of Romania's Economy: A Paradigm of Flexibility and Adaptability. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 2. ISBN 9780275956943.
  13. ^ "Domitian | Roman emperor". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  14. ^ "Ashvaghosha - Indian philosopher and poet". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  15. ^ "Antoninus Pius | Roman emperor". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  16. ^ "BBC - History - Historic Figures: Titus (39 AD - 81 AD)". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2019.