The world in 168 BC — what happened that year

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

What happened

Antiochus Epiphanes captures Jerusalem and plunders the Temple, amid the Syrian disputes over Egypt (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 1.31–33)

When the truce expired, Antiochus crossed the Arabian desert while the fleet went up the Nile mouth to Pelusium (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 45.12)
The Senate sends Popillius Laenas to Alexandria (Polybius, Histories 29.2)
Near Alexandria, Popillius demands that Antiochus withdraw (Polybius, Histories 29.27)

Anicius marched on Scodra, the most important place in the war (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 44.31)
Nasica and Fabius Maximus with 5,000 picked men carried out the flanking plan, pretending to go to the fleet at Heracleum (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 44.35)
All agreed that never before had so many Macedonians been killed in a single battle at Roman hands (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 44.42)
When Perseus returned to the palace at Pella, not one of his surviving friends came to console him (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 44.43)
Paullus placed Roman officers in each surrendered city so the defeated would not be mistreated (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 44.46)
Octavius tried to make Perseus surrender by appealing to hope and fear with the might of his fleet (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 45.5)
After railing against fate and the gods, Perseus handed himself and his son over to Octavius (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 45.6)
Aemilius Paullus stands for the consulship and is elected (Plutarch's Parallel Lives Plut. Aemilius Paulus 10.4)
He discovers the detour by Pythium and Petra on the Perrhaebian side, the only pass Perseus's forces do not guard (Plutarch's Parallel Lives Plut. Aemilius Paulus 15.2)
After joining Nasica, Aemilius forms up and approaches the enemy (Plutarch's Parallel Lives Plut. Aemilius Paulus 17.1)