54.
Syrians:*
The Seleucid Empire (312 -63 BC) was a Hellenistic state ruled by the Seleucid dynasty; founded after Alexanders death; initially based in Babylonia it then expanded to include much of Alexander's near eastern territories (central Anatolia, Persia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, parts of Pakistan & Turkmenistan); a centre of Hellenistic culture that maintained the pre-eminence of Greek customs with a Greek political elite which dominated the cities.
The Roman–Seleucid War (192–188 BC), also known as the Syrian War, was a military conflict between two coalitions led by the Roman Republic and the Seleucid Empire. The fighting took place in Greece, the Aegean Sea and Asia Minor. The war was the consequence of a "cold war" between both powers, which had started in 196 BC. In this period Romans and Seleucids had tried to settle spheres of influence by making alliances with the Greek minor powers. The fighting ended with a clear Roman victory. In the Treaty of Apamea the Seleucids were forced to give up Asia Minor, which fell to Roman allies.
55.
Celts: *
The Romans arrived in the Rhone valley in the 2nd century BC and encountered mostly Celtic speaking Gauls. Rome wanted land communications with its Iberian provinces which led to conflict with these tribes, who were defeated in 123 BC. Gradually Roman control extended, and the Roman Province of Gallia Transalpina developed along the Mediterranean coast. In 58 BC the Helvetii planned to migrate westward but Julius Caesar stopped them and became involved in fighting the various tribes in Gaul. By 55 BC he had overrun most of Gaul. In 52 BC Vercingetorix led a revolt but was defeated at the siege of Alesia and surrendered. Following the Gallic Wars of 58–51 BC, Caesar's Celtica formed the main part of Roman Gaul.
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56.
Periclean Age: *
(461-429 BC) Pericles was the foremost statesman of Athens, repeatedly elected to be one of the 10 strategoi or general. After peace with Persia Athens abandoned parity among its allies; Pericles relocated the Delian League treasury from Delos to Athens (454 BC) & used it to fund the building of the Acropolis, place half its population on the public payroll & maintain the dominance of the Athenian navy in the Greek world. Athens under Pericles produced some of the most influential cultural artifacts & writing of the Classical age. The great playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles & Euripides lived & worked in 5th century BC Athens, as did the historians Herodotus & Thucydides, the physician Hippocrates, and the philosopher Socrates.