The world in 215 BC — what happened that year

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

What happened

China (2)

• The First Emperor went to Jieshi and had Lu Sheng, a man of Yan, seek immortals; receiving the prophecy 'The one who will destroy Qin is Hu,' he had Meng Tian lead three hundred thousand men against the Hu and took the lands of the Henan. (Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Annals 史記卷006 秦始皇本紀)
• The First Emperor went to Jieshi and asked the Yan native Lu Sheng for secrets of immortality, carved the Jieshi gate inscription, toured the northern frontier and entered by Shangjun. Following Lu Sheng's chart ('the one who will ruin Qin is Hu'), he had Meng Tian lead three hundred thousand against the Xiongnu. (Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror) 資治通鑑 卷007 (원문 단락 #535, -215년))

West Asia (1)

• The long siege of Sardis continues (Polybius, Histories 7.15)

Egypt & North Africa (1)

• Hieronymus negotiates an alliance with Hannibal and Carthage (Polybius, Histories 7.4)

Southern Europe (9)

• Petelia in Bruttium falls after a siege of several months to Hannibal's lieutenant Himilco (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 23.30)
• Hannibal concludes a treaty of friendship with Philip: on condition that the king invade Italy with a fleet (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 23.33)
• At the Campanians' entreaty Hannibal returns to Cumae with siege equipment and thoroughly devastates the neighborhood (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 23.36)
• Hostus, with youthful rashness, engaged and was routed, and 3,000 Sardinians were killed (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 23.40)
• At the cheering shouts of the people of Nola, Roman morale rises and the enemy withdraw from all sides (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 23.46)
• Hannibal persuades the people of Croton to surrender on condition that they accept Bruttian colonists (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 24.3)
• Despite protests from Roman envoys, Hieronymus decides on war (Polybius, Histories 7.5)
• Text of the treaty of alliance between Hannibal and Philip V of Macedon (Polybius, Histories 7.9)
• Philip tries to seize Messene but is persuaded to give up (215 BC) (Polybius, Histories 7.11)

Same events recorded in this year

• Hannibal concludes a treaty of… (215 BC) — the same event in Livy, History of Rome and…
• Jieshi (215 BC) — the same event in Records of the Grand Historian and Zizhi Tongjian

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