AD 68

Events

By place

Roman Empire

• Final year that Tacitus records Annals, a written history of the Roman Empire.
• June 9 - Emperor Nero commits suicide four miles outside Rome. He is deserted by the Praetorian Guard and then stabs himself in the throat.
• June 9 - The Roman Senate accepts Servius Sulpicius Galba as emperor of the Roman Empire.
• Legio I Macriana liberatrix and Legio I Adiutrix are created.
• Lucius Clodius Macer revolts against the reign of Nero.
• Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, father of Trajan, becomes consul.
• Trajan moves to Scythopolis and crosses the Jordan River with Legio X Fretensis. He lays siege to Jericho and destroys the monastery of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are originated.
• The Roman Senate declares Nero as a persona non grata. In the line of succession, Galba follows Nero.
• Winter - Titus sets up camp at Jericho and the Romans cut off escape routes toward Jerusalem.
• Venutius successfully deposes his wife Cartimandua and becomes the ruler of the Brigantes.

  Asia

• An iron chain suspension bridge is constructed in China.

  By topic

Religion

• Buddhism officially arrives in China with the building of the White Horse Temple.
• Ignatius of Antioch becomes the third bishop of Antioch.
• The Gospel of Mark is written; and latest date for Second Epistle of Peter if of Petrine composition.
• The Essenes place the Dead Sea Scrolls in the caves at Qumran.