page_title: 2nd century BC
section_title: Events
hierarchical_section_title: 2nd century BC / Events
caption_attribution_description: English: Bust of a Lagid queen as Isis: Cleopatra II or III. The braids are characteristic of Isis and the headband of royal status. Français&#160;: Buste d'une reine lagide représentée en Isis, Cléopâtre II ou III. Les longues tresses sont caractéristiques de la coiffure d'Isis et le bandeau du statut royal. Marbre, IIe siècle av. J.-C. (?), hauteur 37 cm.
context_page_description: The 2nd century BC started the first day of 200 BC and ended the last day of 101 BC. It is considered part of the Classical era, although depending on the region being studied, other terms may be more suitable. It also considered to be the end of the Axial Age. In the context of the Eastern Mediterranean, it is referred to as the Hellenistic period.
  Fresh from its victories in the Second Punic War, the Roman Republic continued its expansion into neighboring territories, eventually annexing Greece and the North African coast, after destroying the city of Carthage at the end of the Third Punic War. Rome's influence was also felt in the Near East, as crumbling Hellenistic states like the Seleucid Empire were forced to make treaties on Roman terms to avoid confrontation with the new masters of the western Mediterranean. The end of the century witnessed the reform of the Roman Army from a citizen army into a voluntary professional force, under the guidance of the noted general and statesman Gaius Marius.
  In South Asia, the Mauryan Empire in India collapsed when Brihadnatha, the last emperor, was killed by Pushyamitra Shunga, a Mauryan general and the founder of the Shunga Empire.
caption: Cleopatra II ruled Egypt in co-operation and competition with her brothers Ptolemy VI and VIII for most of the century.
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