The 220s decade ran from January 1, 220, to December 31, 229.

Events

220

By place

Roman Empire
Parthian Empire
China

By topic

Religion
  • The Wei dynasty gives official recognition to Taoism as its religious sect, and the sect’s celestial masters reciprocate, by giving spiritual approbation to the Wei as successors to the Han. By the end of the century, most powerful families in northern China have subscribed to Daoist principles.

221

By place

Roman Empire
Asia

222

By place

Roman Empire
China

By topic

Commerce
  • The silver content of the Roman denarius falls to 35 percent under emperor Alexander Severus, down from 43 percent under Elagabalus.[2]
Religion
  • October 14Pope Callixtus I is killed by a mob in Rome's Trastevere after a 5-year reign in which he has stabilized the Saturday fast three times per year, with no food, oil, or wine to be consumed on those days. Callixtus is succeeded by Cardinal Urban I.

223

By place

Asia

224

By place

Parthia

225

By place

Roman Empire

By topic

Art and Science
  • The first Christian paintings appear in Rome, decorating the Catacombs.

226

By place

China
  • A merchant from the Roman Empire, called "Qin Lun" by the Chinese, arrives in Jiaozhi (modern Hanoi), and is taken to see King Sun Quan of Eastern Wu, who requests him to make a report on his native country and people. He is given an escort for the return trip, including a present of ten male and ten female "blackish-colored dwarfs." However, the officer in charge of the Chinese escort dies, and Qin Lun has to continue his journey home alone.[4]
Persian Empire
  • Ctesiphon, until now capital of the Parthian Empire, falls into the hands of the Sasanian Empire, who also make it their capital, after putting an end to the Parthian Dynasty in Iran.

227

By place

Roman Empire
Ireland
Persian Empire
Asia

228

By place

Roman Empire
Persian Empire
China

229

By place

Roman Empire
China

By topic

Art and Science

Significant people

Births

220

  • Wei Guan, Chinese official of the Cao Wei state and the Western Jin dynasty (d. 291)

221

222

223

224

225

226

227

228

Deaths

220

  • March 15Cao Cao, Chinese warlord of the Eastern Han dynasty (b. 155)
  • June 13Xiahou Dun, Chinese general serving under the Eastern Han dynasty warlord Cao Cao
  • DecemberCheng Yu, Chinese official serving under the Eastern Han dynasty warlord Cao Cao (b. 141)
  • Fa Zheng, Chinese official serving under the Eastern Han dynasty warlord Liu Bei (b. 176)[8]
  • Guan Yu, Chinese general serving under the Eastern Han dynasty warlord Liu Bei
  • Guan Ping, son of Guan Yu
  • Huang Zhong, Chinese general serving under the Eastern Han dynasty warlord Liu Bei
  • Lü Meng, Chinese general serving under the Eastern Han dynasty warlord Sun Quan (b. 178)
  • Bassilla, Roman actress, dancer and singer (approximate year)
  • Tertullian, first Christian author to produce an extensive corpus of Latin Christian literature (b. 155)

221

222

223

224

225

226

227

228

229

References