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94 BCE

This year falls in the Classical antiquity (c. 500 BCE–500 CE). Large empires rule much of Eurasia, among them Persia, the Maurya and Gupta states of India, Han China and Rome. Classical Greece, the spread of Buddhism and the rise of Christianity belong to this era, which ends as the western Roman Empire falls in the fifth century CE.

Within fifteen years

Ruler · Classical antiquity · ItalyJulius Caesar100–44 BCRoman general and statesman, 100 to 44 BC, who ended the Roman Republic in practice. His conquest of Gaul made him rich and famous, and his crossing of the Rubicon in 49 BC began a civil war he won. Made dictator for life, he was stabbed to death by senators on the Ides of March, 44 BC.

Philosopher · Classical antiquity · ItalyCicero106–43 BCRoman statesman, orator, and writer from Arpinum who carried Greek philosophy into Latin. As consul in 63 BC he put down the conspiracy of Catiline. Proscribed by the Second Triumvirate, he was killed in 43 BC.