290s BC

During the 290s BC, Hellenistic civilization begins its emergence throughout the successor states of the former Argead Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great, resulting in the diffusion of Greek culture throughout the Levant and advances in science, mathematics, philosophy, etc. Meanwhile, the Roman Republic is embroiled in war against the Samnites, the Mauryan Empire continues to thrive in Ancient India, and the Kingdom of Qin in Ancient China, the one which in the future will conquer its adversaries and unite China, begins to emerge as a significant power during the Warring States period.

Significant people

• Nan, Zhou dynasty king of China, r. 314–256 BC
• Mencius, Chinese Confucian philosopher
• Perunar killi, King of the Chola Empire, r. 316-286 BC
• Huai, King of Chu, r. 328–299 BC
• Qingxiang, King of Chu, r. 299–263 BC
• Qu Yuan, poet, scholar, and minister from Chu
• Ptolemy I, Pharaoh of Egypt, r. 305–285 BC
• Euclid of Alexandria, mathematician and "Father of Geometry"
• Onias I High-Priest of Israel, held position 320–280 BC
• Neoptolemus II, King of Epirus, r. 302–297 BC
• Pyrrhus I, King of Epirus, r. 307–302, 297–272 BC
• Pharnavaz I, King of Caucasian Iberia r. 302-237
• Énna Aignech, Legendary High-King of Ireland, r. 313-293 BC
• Crimthann Coscrach, Legendary High-King of Ireland, r. 293-289 BC
• Kōan, Legendary Emperor of Japan, r. 392–291 BC
• Kōrei, Legendary Emperor of Japan, r. 291–215 BC
• Aktisanes, King of Kush, r. c. 300-290 BC
• Cassander, King of Macedon, r. 305–297 BC
• Philip IV, King of Macedon, r. 297 BC
• Alexander V and Antipater II, co-kings of Macedon r. 297–294 BC
• Demetrius I, King of Macedon, r. 294–288 BC
• Epicurus, Greek philosopher (founder of Epicureanism)
• Chandragupta Maurya, Mauryan dynasty Emperor of India, r. 322–298 BC
• Bindusara, Mauryan dynasty Emperor of India, r. 298–272 BC
• Chanakya, Mauryan Prime Minister
• Zhaoxiang, King of Qin, r. 307–251 BC
• Bai Qi, Qin general
• Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus, Roman Consul and general, in office 298 BC
• Publius Decius Mus, Roman Consul, in office 312, 308, 297, 295 BC
• Fabius Maximus Rullianus, Roman Consul and general, in office 322, 315, 310, 308, 297, 295 BC
• Lucius Volumnius Flamma Violens, Roman Consul and general, in office 307, 296 BC
• Appius Claudius Caecus, Roman Consul and Censor, in office 312-308, 307, 296, 285 BC
• Lucius Postumius Megellus, in office 305, 294, 291 BC
• Spurius Carvilius Maximus, Roman Consul, in office 293, 272 BC
• Lucius Papirius Cursor, Roman Consul, in office 293, 272 BC
• Manius Curius Dentatus, Roman Consul and general, in office 290, 284, 275, 274 BC
• Gellius Egnatius, Samnite general during the Third Samnite War
• Gavius Pontius, Samnite general during the Second and Third Samnite Wars
• Seleucus I, King of the Seleucid Empire, r. 305–281 BC
• Antiochus, Prince, commander of western territories, and future king of the Seleucid Empire
• Berossus of Babylon, astronomer and writer
• Megasthenes, traveller, geographer, and Seleucid ambassador to the Mauryan Empire
• Areus I (Agaid king) r. 309–265 and Archidamus IV (Eurypontid king) r. 305–275 BC, Co-kings of Sparta
• Agathocles, Tyrant of Syracuse, in office 317–289 BC
• Lysimachus, King of Thrace and Asia Minor, r. 306-281 BC (Thrace), 301-281 BC (Asia Minor)
• Cotys II, King of Odrysian Thrace, r. 300-280 BC
• Wuling, King of Zhao, r. 326–299 BC
• Huiwen, King of Zhao, r. 299–266 BC

Births

295 BC

• Apollonius of Rhodes, Greek poet and librarian (approximate date)
• Ptolemy, son of Pyrrhus of Epirus (d. 272 BC)

291 BC

• Lü Buwei, Chinese politician and chancellor of the Qin State (d. 235 BC)

290 BC

• Lucius Caecilius Metellus, Roman consul and Pontifex Maximus (approximate date) (d. 221 BC)

Deaths

299 BC

• Titus Manlius Torquatus, Roman consul

297 BC

• King Cassander of Macedon, one of the diadochoi ("successors"), the Macedonian generals who have fought over the empire of Alexander the Great after his death (b. c. 358 BC)
• Chandragupta Maurya, Emperor of the Maurya Empire in India, r. 322–297 BC (approximate date)

295 BC

• Gellius Egnatius, Roman military leader of the Samnites
• Publius Decius Mus, Roman consul (killed in the Battle of Sentinum)
• Thessalonike of Macedon, daughter of king Philip II of Macedon and wife of Cassander (b. 352 BC)
• Wuling of Zhao, Chinese king of Zhao (b. 340 BC)
• Zhuang Zhou, Chinese philosopher (approximate date)

291 BC

• Menander, Athenian dramatist, considered to be a master of Greek New Comedy (b. c. 342 BC)
• Dinarchus, Athenian speech writer whose work is generally thought to reflect the gradual decline of Attic oratory (b. c. 361 BC)
• Gavius Pontius, Samnite general
• Emperor Kōan of Japan, according to legend.

290 BC

• Megasthenes, Greek historian, diplomat and Indian ethnographer (approximate date) (b. c. 350 BC)