Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC

Decades: 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC - 210s BC - 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC

Years: 217 BC 216 BC 215 BC 214 BC 213 BC - 212 BC - 211 BC 210 BC 209 BC 208 BC 207 BC

Events

• Second Punic War:
  • In the First Battle of Capua, Hannibal defeats the consuls Q. Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius, but the Roman army escapes.
  • Hannibal destroys the army of the Roman praetor M. Centenius Penula in the Battle of the Silarus, then destroys the Roman army of the praetor Gnaeus Fulvius in the Battle of Herdonia.
  • The Romans take Syracuse.
  • Hannibal takes the Greek colony of Tarentum.
• In Rome, Publius Licinius Crassus is elected pontifex maximus over more distinguished candidates, despite never having held any major offices.

Births

Deaths

• Archimedes, scientist