Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC

Decades: 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC - 210s BC - 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC

Years: 217 BC 216 BC 215 BC 214 BC 213 BC - 212 BC - 211 BC 210 BC 209 BC 208 BC 207 BC

Events

• Second Punic War:
  • In the First Battle of Capua , Hannibal defeats the consuls Q. Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius, but the Roman army escapes.
  • Hannibal destroys the army of the Roman praetor M. Centenius Penula in the Battle of the Silarus , then destroys the Roman army of the praetor Gnaeus Fulvius in the Battle of Herdonia .
  • The Romans take Syracuse.
  • Hannibal takes the Greek colony of Tarentum.
• In Rome, Publius Licinius Crassus is elected pontifex maximus over more distinguished candidates, despite never having held any major offices.

Births

Deaths

• Archimedes, scientist