The world in 70 AD — what happened that year

53 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.

What happened

China (1)

King Ying of Chu plotted rebellion, was deposed and moved to Jingxian; thousands of people were implicated and killed or relocated. (Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Annals 後漢書卷2 顯宗孝明帝紀永平13年)

West Asia (36)

Titus crosses the desert between Egypt and Syria and assembles his forces at Caesarea (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 5.1–4)
Eleazar's faction in the Temple, angered by John's tyranny, splits off, and Jerusalem divides into three factions (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 5.5–10)
Simon, invited in by the citizens, controls the Upper City and most of the city (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 5.11–20)
Titus, scouting with a few cavalry, strays toward the Tower of Psephinus and narrowly escapes being suddenly surrounded (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 5.54–66)
Once the legion from Emmaus joins him, Titus reaches Scopus and camps within sight of the city (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 5.67–70)
The Jews mistake the Roman march for a retreat and pour out of the gates to attack (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 5.85–97)
Titus puts picked cavalry and infantry in front to camp closer than Scopus (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 5.106–108)
A ruse in which the rebels pretend to be driven from the Women's Tower gate to deceive the Romans (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 5.109–119)
Touring the walls, Titus sees Nicanor wounded by an arrow and steps up the siege pressure (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 5.258–265)
One of the Roman siege towers collapses by itself and the first wall falls into Roman hands (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 5.291–295)

Egypt & North Africa (3)

Lucius Piso, governor of Africa, is killed (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.48)
While waiting for summer winds at Alexandria, Vespasian performs a miracle (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.81)
Wishing to worship at the Serapeum, he consults the oracle (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.82)

Southern Europe (2)

On January 1, the Senate passes a resolution thanking the commanders (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.39)
The equestrian Lucius Vestinus takes charge of rebuilding the Capitol (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.53)

Western Europe (11)

Civilis removes his mask, and Hordeonius Flaccus is killed (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.54)
The surrendered Sixteenth Legion moves from Novaesium to the colony of the Treveri (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.62)
The Tencteri across the Rhine send a message to the colonists of Cologne (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.64)
Petilius Cerialis arrives at Mogontiacum (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.71)
The next day, Cerialis enters the Treveran colony (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.72)
Civilis's army is deployed: Ubii and Lingones in the center, Batavians on the right, Bructeri and Tencteri on the left (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.77)
The Agrippinenses ask for help and offer to hand over Civilis's wife and children (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.79)
Domitian and his party cross the Alps and arrive at Lugdunum (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.86)
Civilis reinforces his forces from Germania and camps at the Old Camp (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 5.14)
The Battle of Vetera — the enemy, with long spears and tall stature, counterattacks fiercely (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 5.18)