200CE

The year 200 CE marked a significant period in global history, characterized by ongoing developments in major civilizations and nascent shifts in political and cultural landscapes. In the Roman Empire, the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus continued, a period often seen as a transition towards a more militarized state. Severus, who had risen to power through military might, was focused on strengthening the empire's defenses and administration, laying groundwork that would influence Roman policy for decades to come.

Across the East, the Han Dynasty in China was in its final decades, its authority steadily eroding under internal strife and the rise of powerful regional warlords. The seeds of the Three Kingdoms period, which would soon engulf China in prolonged conflict, were being sown. Meanwhile, in India, the Kushan Empire, a significant power bridging Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, was at its zenith or nearing it, fostering trade and the spread of Hellenistic and Buddhist influences. Further afield, in Mesoamerica, the Classic Maya civilization was developing its sophisticated calendar systems and monumental architecture, though many of its most iconic cities would reach their peak later. The year 200 CE, therefore, represents a snapshot of established empires facing internal pressures and nascent civilizations on the cusp of their golden ages.