375

By place

Roman Empire

• November 17 - Emperor Valentinian I concludes an enduring peace with the Alamanni in Germany, then marches into Illyrium to repel an invasion of the Quadi and the Sarmatians on the Danube frontier. While negotiating with the Quadi, Valentinian, age 54, becomes so enraged that he dies in a fit of apoplexy at Brigetio. Extreme cruelty has marked his 11-year reign, but he has also founded schools and provided physicians to serve the poor of Constantinople.
• The Quadi accept an uneasy peace from Merobaudes, which gives them land to settle on the Danube.
• Gratian, age 16, takes over the government at Augusta Treverorum, but ministers wishing to retain the loyalty of the Illyrian army fear a usurper. They proclaim Valentinian's 4-year-old son Valentinian II co-emperor with his mother, Justina, as regent. Gratian reserves for himself the administration of the Gallic provinces, and hands over Italy, Illyrium, Hispania and Africa to his stepmother, who makes Mediolanum her residence.
• Gratian, advised by his chief advisor Ambrosius, begins a systematic persecution of the pagans. He confiscates the fortunes of the temples and adds the money to the Imperial Treasury. He proscribes Arianism and Donatism.
• In Africa, the dissident Berber prince Firmus is delivered to the Romans by his brother Gildon.

  India

• Emperor Chandragupta II becomes ruler of the Gupta Empire. He is the son of Samudragupta the Great and retains his reign by an aggressive expansionist policy.

  Asia

• Geungusu becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje.

  By topic

Education

• The earliest extant books – a school textbook and an account book – with bound wooden leaves, are lost at the Dakhla Oasis in western Egypt. The desert sands preserve them for modern archaeologists.

  Religion

• The first two Korean Buddhist temples are built.
• Saint Jerome retires to the desert of Chalcis.
• The Maronite Church is founded by Saint Maron in Lebanon.
• The Talmud of Babylon is written by Rav Ashi. This commentary on the Mishnah contains approximately 2.5 million words on 5.894 pages.