Chronology of the Scythians
c. 3200 BC-3rd
century AD
Chronology taken from "The World of the Scythians (by
> Renate Rolle) and "The Scythians 700-300
BC" (by Dr. E.V. Cernenko)
See also http://www.silk-road.com/artl/scythian.shtml
>
> c. 3200 BC - Horse domesticated in southern
>
> c. 1500 BC- Steppes inhabited by semi-nomadic horse-breeding tribes
>
> 8th century BC- Land acquisition in region north of the
> Scythians invading from the east drive out Cimmerians who had settled
> there.
>
> Early 7th century BC- Cimmerian and Scythian conquest of Urartu; Scythian
> activity in Middle East recorded in Assyrian texts
>
> 670's BC- Scythian king Partatua fights Assyria,
marries daughter of
> Assyrian ruler Esarhaddon
>
> 7th-6th century BC- The Caucasus becomes the 'Scythian route' to the
> south.
>
> Mid-7th century BC- King Madyes leads Scythian
expedition to borders of
> Egypt
>
> c. 652- 626 BC- period of Scythian influence in Media
>
> 612 BC- Medes and Scythians capture Nineveh and destroy Assyrian Empire
>
> Late 7th century BC- Medes drive Scythians north of Caucasus into north
> Pontic area
>
> c. 592 BC- The Scythian philosopher Anacharsis
in Athens (as Solon's
> contemporary and debating partner). He is later chosen as one of the
> Seven Sages of
>
> c. 585 BC- Scythians play a decisive part in the destruction of the
> ancient Artaic empire in
>
> 520/19 BC- the Persian king Darius's campaign against the Asiatic
> Scythians. Skuka, king of the Sakas 'of the pointed helmets', is
> defeated and taken prisoner
>
> c. 514-512 BC- European Scythians repel Persians in Darius's invasion of
> south
> Taxakis and Skopasis
put the Persian army to flight
>
> End of 6th-5th century BC- Scythians recruited as police troops in
>
> Cleomenes, King of Sparta, against the Persians
>
> c. 496 BC- Scythian expedition to Chersonesus in
>
> mid-5th century BC- Reign of King Scyles
>
> c. 450 BC- Herodotus visits Olbia and its
environs. His Book 4 describes
> the Scythians and their neighbors
>
> Second half of the 5th cenury
> today as the Kamenskoe gorodisce.
During the ensuing period it develops
> into a complex resembling a town, with a metal-working centre and a royal
> residence
>
> 4th century BC-
> landscape near the
> Dobruja ('
>
> c. 350 BC- beginning of Sarmatian expansion into
Scythian territory.
> They gradually drive the Scythians back to the coastal areas and the
> Crimea
>
> 339 BC- Scytho-Macedonian war: King Ateas, aged 90, is killed in battle
> with forces of Philip II of Macedonia, in Rumania near the Danube
>
> 331 or 330 BC- campaign of Zopyrion (Alexander's
general and governor in
> Thrace) and unsuccessful siege of Olbia,
followed by complete
> annihilation of the army by the Scythians
>
> 310-309 BC- Scythians defeat Caucasians at Thatis
River
>
> End of 3rd-beginning of 2nd century BC- Scythian(?) King Saitapharnes
> threatens Olbia and is propitiated with gifts
>
> c. 200 BC- Scythians gradually withdraw into
>
> 2nd century BC- The newly-founded capital Neapolis
Scythica supersedes
> Kamenskoe gorodisce.
King Scilurus and his family are interred in the
> mausoleum at the city wall
>
> 110 and 107 BC- King Palacus, son of Scilurus, suffers defeats at the
> hands of Diophantes, a commander of Mithradates VI of Pontus
>
> 110-106 BC- Scythians defeated in Crimea by King Mithridates
Eupator of
> Pontus (Bosphoran kingdom)
>
> From AD 9- Ovid, in exile in Tomis on the
western border of Scythia,
> calls the Black Sea the 'Scythian Sea' and tells of Scythian military
> operations
>
> 1st century AD- continuation of a late Scythian culture, especially in
> the Crimea
>
> 3rd century AD- destruction of Neapolis Scythica (possibly by Ostrogoths)
> and extinction of late Scythian culture