270s BC

This article concerns the period 279 BC – 270 BC.

Births

279 BC

• Chrysippus, Greek Stoic philosopher (approximate date)

277 BC

• Fan Zeng, Chinese adviser during the Chu-Han Contention (d. 204 BC)

276 BC

• Eratosthenes, Greek mathematician, geographer and astronomer (d. 194 BC)

275 BC

• Hamilcar Barca, Carthaginian general, statesman and father of Hannibal (approximate date)
• Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, Roman dictator, politician and leader (approximate date)

273 BC

• Kōgen, emperor of Japan (d. 158 BC)

271 BC

• Aratus of Sicyon, Greek general (strategos) and statesman (d. 213 BC)

270 BC

• Hamilcar Barca, founder of Barcid Spain and leading Carthaginian general who will fight against Rome in Sicily and Italy, against the Libyans and the mercenary revolt in Africa, and against the Iberians and Celti-Iberians in Spain (d. 228 BC)
• Gnaeus Naevius, was a Roman epic poet and dramatist of the Old Latin period. (d.201 BC)

Deaths

279 BC

• Brennus, leader of the army of Gauls who in 279 BC invaded Macedonia and northern Greece
• Ptolemy Keraunos, king of Macedonia from 281 to 279 BC

278 BC

• Polyaenus of Lampsacus, Greek mathematician and philosopher and friend of Epicurus (b. c. 340 BC)
• Qu Yuan, Chinese poet from southern Chu who lived during the Warring States period. His works are mostly found in an anthology of poetry known as Chu Ci (b. c. 340 BC)

277 BC

• Sosthenes, Macedonian general and king of the Antipatrid Dynasty

275 BC

• Shen Dao, Chinese philosopher from Zhao who also served at the Jixia academy in Qi. He is known for his blend of Legalism and Taoism (approximate date)

273 BC

• Appius Claudius Caecus, Roman politician and consul
• Simeon The Just, Jewish High Priest and one of the last members of the Great Assembly
• Xi of Han, Chinese king of Han (Warring States Period)

272 BC

• Aristotimus, Greek tyrant of Elis (approximate date)
• Bindusara, emperor of the Mauryan Empire (b. c. 320 BC)
• Ptolemy, son of Pyrrhus of Epirus (b. 295 BC)
• Pyrrhus of Epirus, king of the Molossians (from c. 297 BC), Epirus (306–301 and 297–272 BC) and Macedon (288–284 and 273–272 BC); involved in disputes in southern Italy against Rome and in Sicily (b. 318 BC)

270 BC

• Arsinoe II, queen to Lysimachus, the king of Thrace, and later wife of her brother, King Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt (b. c. 316 BC)
• Epicurus, Greek philosopher, author of an ethical philosophy of simple pleasure, friendship, and retirement (b. 341 BC)
• Marcus Valerius Corvus, Roman hero (b. c. 370 BC)
• Manius Curius Dentatus, Roman general, conqueror of the Samnites and victor against Pyrrhus, King of Epirus
• Pyrrho, Greek philosopher from Elis, credited as being the first skeptic philosopher and inspiration for the school known as Pyrrhonism (b. c. 360 BC)
• Euclid of Alexandria, Mathematician, considered the "father of geometry", chiefly known for the Elements treatise, which established the foundations of geometry, has been estimated to die in 270 BC