List of political entities in the 3rd century

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List of political entities in the 3rd century (short, easy version)

This article gives a simple overview of the kinds of political entities that existed during the 3rd century (approximately 200s to 300 AD) around the world. It is not a complete roster, but it shows some of the major kingdoms, empires, and tribal states that shaped world history at the time.

What was happening globally
- Many regions were ruled by large empires, while others were organized into kingdoms, confederations, or tribal states.
- The era covered the later part of the Han dynasty in China, the rise of the Three Kingdoms in China, the Roman Empire in Europe, and powerful states in the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian and Central Asian worlds.
- The century saw both long-standing civilizations and ongoing tribal and regional politics, with borders and power shifting through wars, diplomacy, and trade.

Notable regions and some example states

Europe and the Mediterranean
- Roman Empire (Rome and Constantinople) – the dominant power of the time in Europe, the Near East, and parts of North Africa.
- Gallic Empire (260–274) – a short-lived breakaway Roman imperial state in western Europe.
- Various Germanic and Celtic groups continued to be active north and west of Rome, including people like the Alemanni, Franks, Saxons, and tribes in Britain.
- Other Balkan and eastern European polities existed in smaller forms, with shifting alliances and borders.

Africa
- Garamantes (Libya) – a long-standing tribal confederation/empire in the central Sahara region.
- Kush (Nubia, in the area of modern Sudan) – a historic kingdom with centers such as Kerma, Napata, and Meroe.
- Mauretania and other Northwest African polities played roles in regional politics.
- Nok culture in West Africa represented organized communities in the western Sahel.

Asia and the Middle East
- Han Dynasty (China) was in its late period, giving way to the Three Kingdoms era in China (Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu) in the early 3rd century.
- Palmyrene Empire (in Syria) briefly rose as a powerful independent state in the mid-3rd century.
- Parthian Empire and its successor states covered much of Iran and Mesopotamia; the Sasanian Persian Empire began toward the end of the century and would become a major power in later centuries.
- Osroene (Edessa) and other kingdoms in the Mesopotamian region were important clients or rivals to larger empires.
- In the Caucasus and nearby areas, kingdoms and principalities such as Iberia (in the Georgian region) and Lazica played roles in regional politics.
- Central and South Asia saw a mix of empires and smaller states, including the Kushan realm and various kingdoms in what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India.

South and Southeast Asia
- Indian subcontinent featured major powers such as the Satavahana Empire and the Pallava and Vakataka realms, along with Indo-Scythian and other smaller polities.
- Buddhism and trade networks connected different regions, influencing political and cultural exchange.

East and Southeast Asia
- In Korea, early kingdoms and confederations such as Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla, and the Gaya confederacy were developing complex political systems.
- In Japan, the early Yamato state began to consolidate power and would continue to develop in the following centuries.
- Southeast Asia saw a mix of small kingdoms and city-states, often linked by trade networks across the region.

Americas
- Central America hosted powerful Maya and Zapotec city-states with advanced societies and ceremonial centers.
- In the Andean and surrounding regions, cultures and polities continued to develop in what would become later civilizations.
- North America included various tribal groups and confederations with local centers of power.
- Empires and states in the Americas often centered on agriculture, trade, and local leadership rather than centralized empires like Rome or China.

Key takeaway
- The 3rd century was a time of diverse political life. While the Roman Empire and the Han/Three Kingdoms era in China were major anchors, countless other states, kingdoms, and tribal confederations shaped regional histories across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. The century laid many of the foundations for the political map of the later classical world.