The world in 73 AD — what happened that year

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

What happened

Dou Gu crushed the Huyan King at Tianshan and left troops stationed at Yiwulu city. (Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Annals 後漢書卷2 顯宗孝明帝紀永平16年)
Dou Gu wished to send Ban Chao as an envoy to Yutian, but Ban Chao said he would go with only thirty-six men. King Guangde of Yutian was powerful in the south, and the Xiongnu had sent envoys there to supervise. (Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror) 資治通鑑卷045 (원문 단락 #3476, 73년))

After Bassus's death Flavius Silva leads an army against the Sicarii of Masada and builds a wall around the city (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 7.275–279)
The Roman timber wall catches fire and burns, and Eleazar appeals for a last resolve instead of flight (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 7.320–336)
After Eleazar's speech the people of Masada kill one another, and only two women and five children survive (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 7.389–401)

The prefect of Alexandria, Lupus, reports the unrest and closes the temple built by Onias (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 7.433–436)
At Cyrene the Sicarius Jonathan stirs up unrest and falsely accuses people to the governor Catullus (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 7.437–442)