1st century BC

In the course of the century, all the remaining independent lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea were steadily brought under Roman control, being ruled either directly under governors or through puppet kings appointed by Rome.

The internal turbulence that plagued Rome at this time can be seen as the death throes of the Roman Republic, as it finally gave way to the autocratic ambitions of powerful men like Sulla, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Octavian.

Both Mary and Joseph had saved Jesus from the purges of Herod's Roman soldiers that used both political violence and state terror.

In the eastern mainland, the Han dynasty began to decline and the court of China was in chaos in the latter half of this century.

Trapped in a difficult situation, the Xiongnu had to begin emigration to the west or attach themselves to the Han.