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

Decades: 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC - 260s BC - 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC

Years: 265 BC 264 BC 263 BC 262 BC 261 BC - 260 BC - 259 BC 258 BC 257 BC 256 BC 255 BC

Events

• Battle of Changping: the army of the Qin state routs the army of Zhao, establishing its military superiority over all other Chinese states.
• First Punic War:
  • Battle of the Lipara Islands: A Roman naval force is defeated by the Carthaginians.
  • Battle of Mylae: A Roman naval force under Gaius Duillius defeats the Carthaginian fleet, giving Rome control of the sea.

Births

• Zheng, who will later become King of the State of Qin, and then later the First Emperor of China.

Deaths

• Alexander II, king of Epirus (approximate year)