340s BC

This article concerns the period 349 BC – 340 BC.

349 BC

This section is transcluded from 349 BC. (edit | history)

By place

Persian Empire

• Sidon is besieged by Persian forces. The Persian Empire reasserted its dominance over Egypt after Nectanebo II was forced to flee following the Persian military campaign under Artaxerxes III. The native Egyptian rule briefly came to an end, and the Persians regained control. This was just a precursor to the later events that would lead to Alexander the Great's conquest of Egypt in the early 4th century BCE, ultimately ending Persian rule and ushering in the Hellenistic period.^[1]

Macedonia

• After recovering from illness, Philip II of Macedon turns his attention to the remaining Athenian controlled cities in Macedonia and to the city of Olynthus, in particular. The Athenians organize to send help.^[2]

Births

Transcluding articles: 349 BC, 348 BC, 347 BC, 346 BC, 345 BC, 344 BC, 343 BC, 342 BC, 341 BC, and 340 BC

343 BC

• Philetaerus, founder of the Attalid dynasty of Pergamum in Anatolia (approximate date) (d. 263 BC)

342 BC

• Menander, Greek playwright (d. 291 BC)

341 BC

• Epicurus, Greek philosopher was born in Samos^[19]

340 BC

• Appius Claudius Caecus, Roman politician and consul (approximate date)
• Chandragupta Maurya, founder of the Maurya Empire (approximate date)
• Qu Yuan, Chinese poet and minister (approximate date)

Deaths

Transcluding articles: 349 BC, 348 BC, 347 BC, 346 BC, 345 BC, 344 BC, 343 BC, 342 BC, 341 BC, and 340 BC

349 BC

• Plato
• Gorgippus
• Appius Claudius Crassus Inregillensis

348 BC

• Plato, Greek philosopher and author^[3]

347 BC

• Archytas, Greek philosopher, mathematician and statesman (or 350 BC) (b. 428 BC)^[20][21]
• Plato, Greek philosopher and founder of the Academy in Athens (b. c. 427 BC)^[22]
• Eudoxus of Cnidus, Greek philosopher and astronomer who has expanded on Plato's ideas (or 355 BC) (b. 410 BC or 408 BC)^[23]

345 BC

• Nicochares, Athenian poet of the Old Comedy
• Mahanandin, last king of the Shishunaga dynasty of the Indian subcontinent.

344 BC

• Idrieus, king of Caria

343 BC

• Dionysius II, tyrant of Syracuse (b. c. 397 BC)

342 BC

• Pang Juan, Chinese general
• Antiphon, Greek arsonist, execution

340 BC

• Lais of Hyccara, Greek hetaira (courtesan) (approximate date)
• Mentor of Rhodes, Greek mercenary and satrap (approximate date)
• Xuan of Chu, Chinese king of Chu (Warring States Period)