The world in 218 BC — what happened that year

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

What happened

While touring the east, he was attacked by bandits at Bolangsha in Yangwu, and ordered a ten-day search across the empire. (Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Annals 史記卷006 秦始皇本紀)
The First Emperor climbed Zhifu and set up stone inscriptions, then went to Langya and entered by way of Shangdang. (Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror) 資治通鑑卷007 (원문 단락 #533, -218년))

He camps under the walls of Sidon (the assault is abandoned) (Polybius, Histories 5.70)
Achaeus' general Garsyeris marches on Selge (Polybius, Histories 5.74)

Told to stop the dispute over Saguntum and the Ebro, the Roman envoy gathers up the fold of his toga and declares that he brings war (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 21.18)

So that his army would not grow slack, Hannibal crosses the Pyrenees and camps at an Iliberri town (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 21.24)
When the bridge was finished the Romans crossed in the territory of the Insubres and camped five miles from Hannibal's camp (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 21.45)
Sempronius sends out all his cavalry against the Numidian attack (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 21.54)
Some of the fugitives, making for the river, were swept away by the current or captured while hesitating (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 21.56)
Before learning exactly of the defeat, Hasdrubal crosses the Ebro with 8,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry to meet the Romans landing (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 21.61)
Hannibal invades Italy and wins first at the river Trebia (Plutarch's Parallel Lives Plut. Fabius 2.2)
Hannibal leaves his winter quarters and crosses the Pyrenees (218 BC) (Polybius, Histories 3.35)
The crossing begins — an advance party strikes the barbarians' rear at dawn (Polybius, Histories 3.43)
After resting his men at the foot of the Alps, he attacks the Taurini (Polybius, Histories 3.60)
Scipio bridges and crosses the Ticinus (Polybius, Histories 3.64)

Hannibal does not go straight to the Alps but turns left toward the Tricastini (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 21.31)
Scipio arrived in battle order at the empty enemy camp, ready to engage at once (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 21.32)
Hannibal prepares a crossing of the Rhône upstream, four days' march from the sea (Polybius, Histories 3.42)
After a 10-day march of 800 stades along the Rhône, the ascent of the Alps begins (Polybius, Histories 3.50)
Around the setting of the Pleiades (c. 9 November), the descent begins from the snow-covered heights (Polybius, Histories 3.54)

Places where the world territory data shows a change of borders in this year.