This section of the timeline of Romanian history concerns events from Late Neolithic (c. 3900 BC) until Late Antiquity (c. 400 AD), which took place in or are directly related with the territory of modern Romania.
Late Neolithic and Bronze Age (3800–1200 BC)
4th millennium BC 3900 BC – Bodrogkeresztúr-Gorneşti culture begins in Transylvania, as a continuation of Petreşti culture 3700 BC – Cernavodă III culture begins in Danube Valley, as a continuation of Cernavodă I culture 3500 BC – Copper Age begins and the areas of cultural influence start to expand again but without reaching the size of early Neolithic 3500 BC – Cernavodă III culture begins in Dobruja, as a continuation of Cernavodă I culture 3500 BC – Coţofeni culture begins in Transylvania as a continuation of Bodrogkeresztúr-Gorneşti culture 3500 BC – Baden culture begins in Lower Tisza/Crişana as a continuation of Bodrogkeresztúr-Gorneşti culture
3rd millennium BC 3000–2800 BC – Climate becomes hotter and drier, affecting the human societies 2750 BC – Cucuteni culture in eastern Romania comes to an end 2700 BC – Transition from Copper Age to Bronze Age Proto-Indo-Europeans related to the Decea Mureşului culture penetrate in Transylvania coming from the Black Sea region Kostolac culture develops sporadically in Banat coming from modern day Serbia Vučedol culture (3000–2200 BC) develops in Banat and western Crişana also coming from Serbia 2700–2000 BC – Proto-Indo-Europeans assimilate the local Eneolithic populations 2300–1900 BC – Verbicioara culture develops in Oltenia, Banat and western Muntenia 2100 BC – Otomani culture develops from a Baden culture background in a widespread area between the Mureş River, the Apuseni Mountains, and the Tisza River, up to modern-day Slovakia. It was characterized by fortified settlements and islands, the bronze deposits from Apa, Valea Chioarului in Transylvania, and Hajdúsámson in Hungary, the typical full handle swords and the axes with disc, the practice of inhumation, and later of cremation, and with the sanctuary of Sălacea
2nd millennium BC
2000 BC – Early Bronze Age starts Due to its richness in copper, Transylvania becomes one of the most important metallurgical centers in Europe Nir culture develops Glina III-Schneckenberg culture develops in Muntenia and extends into Oltenia and south eastern Transylvania; it is characterized by settlements on any terrain, and the practices of inhumation and incinerations in cists 2000–1800 BC – Cucuteni B culture destroyed 1700 BC Glina culture begins in Muntenia and Oltenia Otomani culture ends in Crişana 1700–1300 BC Monteoru culture begins 1600 BC – Gârla Mare culture begins in Oltenia 1500 BC – Middle Bronze Age starts Periam culture develops in southern Crişana, Banat, north-eastern Serbia and western Bulgaria; characterized by bronze jewelry and the practice of inhumation Pecica culture appears as a continuation of Periam culture and expands into the middle Danube, Tisa, and lower Mureş; brings moulds for casting weapons, crouched inhumation and the gold treasures from Pecica and Rovine Periam-Pecica/Mureş culture Sighişoara-Wietenberg culture develops from a Coţofeni culture background in the center and the Transylvanian Plain; characterized by fortified settlements with many weapons, pottery with spiral and meander motifs, bronze deposits, Boiu-type swords, Mycenaean swords from import, golden jewellery and axes (Ţufalău), the practice of cremation and much rarely of inhumation Vatina culture begins in western Banat, on lower Tisa and northern Serbia; defined by rare bronze objects Verbicioara culture expands into Oltenia, eastern Muntenia, Serbia and north-western Bulgaria, with fortified settlements and a limited number of bronze artefacts Monteoru culture expands from Muntenia into south-eastern Transylvania Tei culture expands from Muntenia into south-eastern Transylvania Suciu de Sus culture spreads into northern Transylvania, Crisana, north-eastern Hungary and south-eastern Slovakia, practicing cremation Cruceni-Belegiš culture follows and replaces the Vatina culture in Serbia and western Banat; it is part of the Urnfield culture which moves from the middle Danube towards south-east; this advance leads to great dislocations of populations in the Balkan Peninsula, resulting in Dorian migration to the south, the destruction of Mycenaean civilization and expeditions of the Sea Peoples 1300 BC – Late Bronze Age starts Sighişoara-Wietenberg culture extends into south-eastern Transylvania Tribes of shepherds appear from the east as the Noua culture; characterized by bronze deposits of Uriu-Domăneşti type and metal working 1250–1125 BC – Transition to Iron Age: Uioara de Sus
Iron Age (1200 BC – 400 AD)
12th century BC 1200–500 BC – Early Iron Age/Hallstatt culture : Ferigile 1150 BC – Gârla Mare culture ends in Oltenia
9th century BC 900–800 BC – Rafaila c. 800 BC – Basarabi culture begins in Muntenia, in connection with the Bosut culture, ethnically identified with TriballiPredrag Medović, Praistorija na tlu Vojvodine, Novi Sad, 2001, pages 129-130. or Daco-Getaes.Dragoslav Srejović, Iliri i Tračani, Beograd, 2002, page 243.Alexandru Vulpe- Necropola hallstattiana de la Ferigile, Bucuresti, 1967
8th century BC
700–500 BC – Poiana, Galaţi (Piroboridava) c. 700 BC – Scythians arrive in the CarpathiansParvan (1928) 48
7th century BC c. 600 BC – Basarabi culture ends, possibly due to arrival of the Scythian tribesMarian Gumă- Civilizaţia primei epoci a fierului în sud-vestul României, București, 1993 657 BC or 625 BC – Histria founded
6th century BC
6th-5th century BC Tomis is founded Histria, temple of Zeus Polieus 560 BC – Megara founds Heraclea Pontica Callatis founded by Heraclea Pontica, itself a colony of Megara c. 550 BC – Agathyrsi, a Thraco-Scythian people, build burial tombs around modern day Ciumbrud, in contrast with the surrounding people who practice incinerationThomson (1948) 399 514 BC – Darius I led his Persian army over the Bosphorus and campaigns unsuccessfully against the Scythians on the Danube. 513 BC – Darius subdues the Getae and east Thrace in his war against the Scythians. 513 BC – first written evidence of tribes (Getae or Dacians) inhabiting the region by Herodotus
5th century BC
500–1 BC – Middle Iron Age/La Tène culture 5th–4th century BC – A Getic settlement is found at Zimnicea 470–460 – The king Charnabon reigns over the Getae c. 450 BC – Democracy is imposed in Histria 431–424 – Odrysian king Sitalces conquests the territory of modern Dobruja ruling over the local Getic tribes
4th century BC
Agighiol silver treasure Golden Helmet of Coţofeneşti Callatis wall Callatis papyrus grave 364/363-353/352 BC – Clearchus, tyrant of Heraclea Pontica 341 – King Cothelas, also known as Gudila, ruled over the Geto-Dacian tribes from modern Dobruja 348 BC – Philip II of Macedon against Thracians 339 BC – Philip II against Scythians led by Ateas 339 BC – A Getic ruler, referred as "Histrianorum Rex" and located near Danube, opposes resistance to Ateas' Scythian army 335 BC – Alexander III of Macedon crosses the Danube fighting with Dacian tribes led by basileus Moskon c. 335 BC – Dacian king Sarmis/Armis rules in Transylvania 326 BC – The Macedon general Zopyrion leads a campaign north of Black Sea against Getae but he is defeated and ultimately killed 313 BC – Histria revolts against Lysimachus of Thrace 310–309 BC – Lysimachus besieges Callatis Late 4th century BC Histria, sacred area burnt Callatis, ustrinum 4th–2nd century BC Histria, Hellenistic wall Callatis, gilt terra-cotta miniatures
3rd century BC
King Zalmodegikos rules over Dobruja Celts migrate to Transilvania and Oltenia Poroina rython Histria, temple of Aphrodite Piscul Crăsanilor, Dacian settlement King Dromichaites rules over tribal unions in Romanian Plain 297 BC – Lysimachus make peace with Dromichaites 292 BC – Lysimachus fight against Getae and he is defeated and taken prisoner, perhaps in Piscul Crăsanilor 281 BC – Lysimachus dies 279 BC – Celts attack Histria and Delphi 262 BC – Histria and Callatis war against Byzantium 251 BC – Theoros from Callatis 230–130 BC – Ciumeşti necropolis
2nd century BC
First half of 2nd century BC – the Dacian Kingdom was led by King Oroles 200 BC – Callatis building inscription 200–150 BC – Histria ephebe inscription 2nd century? – Histria aqueduct 2nd–1st century BC – Popeşti flourishes 145–172 BC – Tilişca counterfeiter's coins 110–72/71 BC – Mithridates controls Pontic cities 109 BC – Dacians together with Scordisci attack Roman provinces situated south of Danube; attack repelled by M. Minucius Rufus
1st century BC
82 BC – Burebista unifies the Dacians and Getae forming the first and largest Dacian Kingdom, on the territory of modern Romania and surroundings Early 80s BC – Burebista moves capital from Popeşti to Costeşti 80 BC – 106 AD – Dacian citadels 74 BC – Dacian Kingdom at its peak under King Burebista 72-71 BC – War between Pontic cities, allied with Thracians, and Romans; Callatis treaty with Rome 61 BC – Coalition of Greeks and barbarians (Getae and Bastarnae) defeats C. Antonius Hybrida at Histria c. 60 BC – Burebista leads a policy of conquest of new territories: he attacks and vanquishes the Celtic tribes of Boii and Taurisci dwelling along the Middle Danube (in what is now Slovakia) c. 57 BC – Burebista conquers the Black Sea shore, subjugating the Greek fortresses from Olbia to Apollonia, as well as the Danubian Plain all the way to the Balkans. Burebista runs expeditions against a group of Celts who lived among the Thracians and Illyrians (probably the Scordisci)John T. Koch, Celtic culture: a historical encyclopedia, p.550, ABC-CLIO, 2006
After 50 BC – Histria, "second founding" 48 BC – Burebista sides with Pompey during his struggle against Julius Caesar in the Great Roman Civil War (49–45 BC), sending Akornion as an ambassador and a military adviser 48 BC – Citizens of Dionysopolis dedicate an inscription to Akornion, which mention this citizens' friendship to Burebista, as well as a diplomatic mission to the Dacian town named Argedava or Argidava to possibly visit Burebista's father c. 45 BC – Caesar emerges as victor and plans on sending legions to punish Burebista 44 BC On March 15 Caesar is assassinated in the Senate before he can start a campaign against the Dacian Kingdom Burebista is assassinated in a plot made by the tribal aristocracy, which felt that a consolidation towards a centralized state would reduce their power The Dacian Kingdom is dissolved, with the exception of the nucleus around the Orăştie Mountains, while the rest being divided into four different kingdoms 42 BC – Geto-Dacian contingent with Brutus at the Battle of Philippi, fighting against Octavian and Mark Antony 27 BC – Crassus triumphs over Geto-Dacians Augustus Caesar sends an army against the Geto-Dacians, finding the former state of Burebista divided into five states 14 BC – 98 AD – Minor Dacian citadels flourish
1st century
6-12 AD – Sextus Aelius Catus destroys Muntenian towns 9-17 AD – Ovid in exile at Tomis 12 AD – Getae from Lower Moldavia attack Aegyssus and capture it temporarily; attack repelled by Odrysian king Rhoemetalces I and P. Vitellius 14 AD Barbarians attack Troesmis Dobruja becomes province of Moesia 15-35 AD – C. Poppaeus Sabinus, governor of Moesia c. 20 AD – Strabo publishes his Geographica (Geography) giving a detailed account of the Dacian Kingdom at the time of Burebista in Book VII, Chapter 3 (Mysia, Dacia, and the Danube); he mentions that Getae and Dacians speak the same language, and makes important references to the high priest Deceneus and the teachings of Zalmoxis 26 AD – Poppaeus Sabinus and L. Pomponius Flaccus crushes Dobrujan revolt of Thracians