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220
Splitting of the Han Empire
Power struggles in the Han Dynasty eventually led to its demise. The empire was in a fractured disarray of several different city states, all ruled by warlords. Unity was achieved again with Cao Cao, but destroyed again after his death. The regions that had been conquered by warlords during Cao Cao's later reign offically divided into the Three Kingdoms. -
410
Sacking of Rome
The Visigoths, under the leadership of Alaric I, invaded and destroyed the city of Rome because they were angry at the Roman emperor. They pillaged it and completely wreaked havoc among the people thereof. It was the first time Rome had been successfully invaded in over 800 years. Many historians believe it to be the turning point in the Roman Empire's eventual end, as well as the end of its prosperity. -
467
Death of Skandagupta
Skandagupta was the last of the "good" Gupta emperors. During his reign, he fought off the Huns and other invading tribes. This cost the Gupta Empire lots of money. After he died, there were many relatively weak emperors and the Gupta Empire eventually collapsed. -
Cao Cao Comes to Power
The Chinese warlord Cao Cao meets with and gains control over the Han Dynasty's Emperor Xian. He will become the chancellor, officially leaving power with the emperor, but will control much of the state's business. During his time in power, there were many struggles between various warlords. These would, along with Cao Cao's death in 220 CE and Emperor Xian's subsequent abdication to his son Cao Pi, lead to the division of the Han Dynasty into the Three Kingdoms. -
Diocetian Splits Rome In Two
Diocletian split the Roman Empire into two parts, the Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire. He formed a tetrarchy (literally "rule by four") with 2 Emperors and 2 Caesars (vice-Emperors). Unfortunately, this didn't work. Diocletian moved to the Eastern Roman Empire (the wealthier half). His co-Emperor in the Western Roman Empire was Maximian.
