200-299 (Fractured Empire)

The third century was a very chaotic one. From instability in Europe to the rise of a new dynasty in China, this century greatly changed the geopolitical stage, put the transition to the Late Antiquity in place.

The most important events of this century took place in the slowly weakening Roman Empire. From 235 until the Empire's final days, the Imperial Crisis would plague Rome. This was a period of economic depression, plague, civil war, and raids; specifically from the tribes and hordes in the east. From this, Rome would be split into three. The Gallic Empire would gain control over the provinces of Gaul, Britannia, and Hispania, while in the Syrian desert the Palmyrene Empire would be formed, controlling Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, as well as parts of Asia Minor. These events would lead to the downfall of Rome, and a resurgence of feudalism and tribalism within the European continent.

Meanwhile in Eastern Europe, the influential Goth dynasty would rise to power in Romania and the Ukraine. While they did own a small state in what is now the crossroads between Poland, Ukraine, and the Belarus, these years would mark their rise to relevancy within the European continent. After a short invasion of the Sarmatian Khanate, they would come to establish a new nation in eastern Europe, the Ostrogothic Kingdom. The neighboring Gothic tribe to the west, in Dacia, the Thervingi, would boldly invade Rome with Ostrogothic support, and would, surprisingly, come out on top, leaving them to inherit all of Dacia and establish the Visigothic Kingdom.

This era of Gothic power would also see the Ostrogothic-Bosporean War, another surprising Gothic victory. As Bosporous was a Roman vassal, they were involved as well. As a result of this war, Bosporous would be exiled from the Crimean peninsula,  owning just a small section of land on the Sea of Azov. The Goths would also later find themselves aligned with numerous other tribes to the east of Rome, such as the Carpians and Vandals, helping them invade and pillage Roman border towns, and later, helping them establish permanent, non-tribal authorities in their own regions. The Gothic states would, near the close of the century, support their former adversary in Bosporous during the Bosporean Revolution, calling neighboring tribes into the war and, ultimately, creating a Goth-friendly state on the Sea of Azov and ending Roman authority in Crimea. All of these defeats would greatly humiliate the Roman Empire.

This century also saw the rise of a new dynasty in Persia. After the fall of Parthia, a new dynasty, the Sasanians took control. The Sasanians would go on to create a golden age in Persia, being the last great Persian empire before its fall to the Caliphate. During the Sasanians' reign, Persian culture expanded far beyond its territorial borders, influencing areas as far east as Pakistan to as far west as Spain. Much of what would later become known as Islamic culture in art, architecture, music, and other subjects were transferred from the Sasanians through the Muslim world.