270 BC – 260 BCs

Events in 270 BC – 260 BC 2

• 268 BC – 232 BC Ashoka the Great Maurya emperor who embraced Buddhism After the bloody Kalinga War filled him with remorse, Emperor Ashoka renounced violence and embraced Buddhism, spreading its teachings across Asia and inscribing edicts of tolerance and welfare on pillars throughout his empire. He is remembered as one of history's most enlightened rulers; the Ashoka Chakra adorns India's flag.
• 264 BC – 241 BC First Punic War Rome's first conflict with Carthage — the great maritime empire of North Africa — begins over Sicily in 264 BC. Rome, a land power with no naval tradition, builds a fleet from scratch, reportedly copying a captured Carthaginian warship. The Romans add the "corvus" — a boarding bridge — to turn sea battles into land fights. After 23 years and enormous losses on both sides, Rome wins Sicily (241 BC), its first overseas province.