Millennium: 1st millennium
Centuries: 1st century BC · 1st century · 2nd century
Decades: 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s
50s 60s 70s 80s 90s
Categories: BirthsDeaths

The 1st century was that century that lasted from 1 to 100 according the Gregorian calendar. It is considered part of the Classical era, epoch, or historical period

During this period Europe, North Africa and the Near East fell under increasing domination by the Roman Empire, which continued expanding, most notably conquering Britain under the emperor Claudius (43). The reforms introduced by Augustus during his long reign stabilized the empire after the turmoil of the previous century's civil wars. Later in the century the Julio-Claudian Dynasty, which had been foundered by Augustus came to an end with the death of Nero in 68. There followed the famous Year of Four Emperors, a brief period of civil war and instability, which was finally brought to an end by Vespasian, 9th Roman emperor, and founder of the Flavian Dynasty.

China continued to be dominated by the Han Dynasty, depite a 14 year interruption by the Xin dynasty under Wang Mang. Han rule was restored in 23, thereby giving rise to the Western/Former Han and the Eastern/Later Han. The capital was also moved from Chang'an to Luoyang.


During the reign of Tiberius, Jesus, a religious teacher from Galilee, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God, was crucified in Judea. Over the next few decades his followers carried his message far and wide, eventually introducing it to Rome itself. The Roman state began to persecute the new sect almost immediately, and would continue to do so for centuries, sometimes vigorously, and other times passively, until Christianity was eventually taken up by the emperor Constantine, and later established as the official religion of the Roman state.


The skeleton called the "Ring Lady" unearthed in Herculaneum. One of the victims of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79

Significant persons[]

Bronze statue of Augustus, Archaeological Museum, Athens.

Bust of Caligula.

Inventions, discoveries, introductions[]

Decades and Years[]

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