90s

This article is about the years AD 90–99. For the years 90–99 in other centuries, seeList of decades.

Not to be confused with1890s,1990s,or2090s.

The90swas a decade that ran from January 1, AD 90, to December 31, AD 99.

Ruins of theForum of Nerva,completed in 97

As the decade began, theHan–Xiongnu Warwas approaching its end, with the Xiongnu having been on the verge of collapse since theBattle of the Altai Mountains(89) the prior decade. In 90, Dou Xian dispatched General Geng Kui and Shizi of the Southern Xiongnu with 8000 light cavalry to attack the Northern Chanyu, encamped at Heyun ( hà vân ).There, the Han killed 8000 men and captured several thousands.By 91, the last remnants of the Northern Xiongnu had migrated west towards theIli Rivervalley, ending the war.After the downfall of the Xiongnu, theXianbei replaced them with a loose confederacyfrom 93.

The Roman Empire did not see any significant military action this decade, exceptingclashes along the Danube in 92.Economically, the empire saw reforms byNervaafter the death ofDomitianin 96, including but not limited to a string of economic reforms intended to alleviate the burden of taxation from the most needy Romans.Before long, Nerva's expenses strained the economy of Rome and, although perhaps not ruinous to the extent once suggested by Syme,necessitated the formation of a specialcommissionof economy to drastically reduce expenditures.

According to some historians,Jews and Christians were heavily persecutedtoward the end ofDomitian's reign (89-96).TheBook of Revelation,which mentions at least one instance of martyrdom (Rev 2:13; cf. 6:9), is thought by many scholars to have been written during Domitian's reign.According to Barnes, "Melito, Tertullian, and Bruttius stated that Domitian persecuted the Christians. Melito and Bruttius vouchsafe no details, Tertullian only that Domitian soon changed his mind and recalled those whom he had exiled".A minority of the historians have maintained that there was little or no anti-Christian activity during Domitian's time.The lack of consensus by historians about the extent of persecution during the reign of Domitian derives from the fact that while accounts of persecution exist, these accounts are cursory or their reliability is debated.

In AD 92, theFlavian Palacewas completed. In AD 97, theForum of Nervawas completed.JosephuswroteAntiquities of the Jews(covering thehistory of the Jewish people),Against Apion(a defense ofJudaismas a classical religion and philosophy against criticism byApion), andThe Life of Flavius Josephus(an autobiographical text where Josephus details his own life).TacituswroteGermania(a historical andethnographicwork on theGermanic peoplesoutside theRoman Empire) andAgricola(which recounts the life of his father-in-lawGnaeus Julius Agricola,an eminent Roman general and governor ofBritain).

Events

AD 90

By place

Roman Empire

• An epidemic afflicts Rome.

By topic

Art

• TheYoung Flavian Womanis made. It is now kept atMusei Capitolini,Rome(approximate date).

AD 91

By place

Roman Empire

• Manius Acilius GlabrioandMarcus Ulpius TraianusbecomeRoman Consuls.
• Pliny the Youngeris named atribunus plebis.

Asia

• Ban Chaois made protector-general of theWestern Regions.

By topic

Art and Science

• Romeis described byStatiusin his poems.

AD 92

By place

Roman Empire

• EmperorDomitianbecomes aRoman Consul.
• In spring, several tribes (probablyMarcomanni,Quadi,Jazyges) cross the Danube and attack Pannonia, probably destroyingLegio XXIRapax.These tribes are defeated from May to December 92, and chased back over the river. The Romans do not pursue the retreating tribes.
• TheRoman armymoves intoMesopotamia(modernSyria).
• TheFlavian Palaceis completed on thePalatine.

AD 93

By place

Roman Empire

• EmperorDomitianpersecutes theChristians.
• Pliny the Youngeris named apraetor.

Asia

• TheXianbeiincorporates 100,000Xiongnu,and establishes theXianbei StateinMongolia(approximate date).

By topic

Literature

• Josephuscompletes hisJewish Antiquities(or inAD 94).

AD 94

By place

Roman Empire

• EmperorDomitianrebuilds and rededicates theCuria Julia(meeting place of theRoman Senate), which had burned down inAD 64.
• Domitian banishes allStoicphilosophers fromRome.

Asia

• The Chinese GeneralBan Chaocompletes his conquest of theTarim Basinby takingYānqi,which is located on the strategicSilk Road.

By topic

Literature

• The Roman poetPublius Papinius Statiusretires toNaplesfrom Rome (approximate date).

AD 95

By place

Roman Empire

• EmperorDomitianandTitus Flavius ClemensbecomeRoman Consuls.
• Domitian executessenatorsout ofparanoiacfears that they are plotting to kill him.
• The Roman consulManius Acilius Glabriois ordered by Domitian to descend into the arena of theColosseumto fight a lion. After he kills the animal, Domitian banishes and puts him to death.

By topic

Epidemic

• InRomea severe form ofmalariaappears in the farm districts and will continue for the next 500 years, taking out ofcultivationthe fertile land of theCampagna,whose market gardens supply the city with fresh products. Thefeverdrives small groups of farmers into the crowded city, bringing the malaria with them, and lowers Rome's live-birth rate while rates elsewhere in the empire are rising.

Religion

• TheBook of Revelationis written (approximate date).
• Possible date for the writing of theFirst Epistle of Peter.

AD 96

By place

Roman Empire

• September 18– EmperorDomitianis stabbed to death by afreedmanat the age 44 after a 15-year reign, in a palaceconspiracyinvolving officers of thePraetorian Guard.TheFlavian Dynastyends.
• Nervais declared emperor by theRoman Senateas the new ruler of theRoman Empire.He recalls citizens exiled by Domitian; this is the beginning of the Era of theFive Good Emperors.TheAntoninesDynasty starts.
• Marcus Ulpius Traianusbecomes governor ofUpper Germany.
• TheArch of Titusis completed inRome.

By topic

Art and Science

• End of the period covered byTacitusin hisHistories.

Religion

• TheBook of Revelationis written (approximate date).
• A schism inBuddhismcreates a new, popular religion inIndia,Mahâyâna( "Great Vehicle" ).

AD 97

By place

Roman Empire

• October 28– EmperorNervarecalls his generalMarcus Ulpius Trajanus,age 44, from theGerman frontierand is forced by thePraetorian Guardtoadopthim as his successor.
• Tacitusadvances toconsulship.
• The Roman colony ofCuiculis started inNumidia.
• Gloucester, England is founded as Colonia Glevum Nervensis by the Romans.
• Nerva recognizes theSanhedrinofJamniaas an official governmental body of the Jews, and the patriarch ornasiis designated as the representative of theJewishpeople inRome.
• Sextus Julius Frontinusis appointed superintendent of theaqueducts(curator aquarum) in Rome. At least 10 aqueducts supply the city with 250 million US gallons (950,000 m³) of water per day. Thepublic bathsuse half the supply.

China

• Gan Ying,is sent as an emissary toDaquin(Rome), though he is turned back by the Parthians.

By topic

Religion

• EvaristussucceedsPope Clement Ias the fifth pope (according toCatholictradition; none of the popes until the midsecond centuryis certain).

AD 98

By place

Roman Empire

• January 1– EmperorNervasuffers astrokeduring a private audience.
• January 27– Nerva dies of afeverat hisvillain theGardens of Sallustand is succeeded by hisadoptedsonTrajan.Trajan is the firstRoman Emperorborn inItalica,nearSeville.A brilliant soldier and administrator, he entersRomewithout ceremony and wins over the public. Continuing the policies ofAugustus,Vespasianand Nerva, he restores theSenateto its full status in the government and begins a form of statewelfareaimed at assuring that poor children are fed and taken care of. He has a specific vision of theEmpire,which reaches its maximum extent under his rule, and keeps a close watch on finances.Taxes,without any increase, are sufficient during his reign to pay the considerable costs of the budget. Theinformersused byDomitianto support histyrannyare expelled from Rome. In order to maintain thePortofAlexandria,Trajan reopens the canal between theNileand theRed Sea.
• Trajan elevatesLadenburgto city status (civitas).

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Tacitusfinishes hisGermania(approximate date).

Commerce

• Thesilvercontent of the Romandenariusrises to 93 percent under emperor Trajan, up from 92 percent under Domitian.

AD 99

By place

Roman Empire

• EmperorTrajanreturns toRome
• Emissaries of theKushan Empirereach theRoman Empire.
• Richimerus I fights a battle with a combined army of Romans and Gauls at Basana nearAachen.

• 29 August -Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 581,recording the sale of a slave girl, is written.

By topic

Religion

• 23 November - PopeEvaristussucceeds PopeClement Ias the fifthpopeaccording to Roman Catholic tradition.

Significant people

• Titus Flavius Domitianus,Roman Emperor(AD 81–96)
• Nerva,Roman Emperor (AD 96–98)

Births

AD 90

• Ishmael ben Elishha,Jewishrabbi(approximate date)
• Quintus Tuneius Rufus,Roman politician (approximate date)

AD 92

• Pope Anicetus

AD 94

• An of Han,Chinese emperor (d.125)

AD 95

• Appian of Alexandria,Greekhistorianand writer (d.165)

AD 96

• Lucius Minicius Natalis Quadronius Verus,Roman statesman

AD 99

• Narcissus of Jerusalem,Christian bishop and saint (d. c.216)

Deaths

AD 90

• Gaius Valerius Flaccus,Roman poet (approximate date)
• Pedanius Dioscorides,Greek physician (approximate date)
• Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis I,Roman client king

AD 91

• Gaius Vipstanus Apronianus,Roman politician, governor
• Julia Flavia,daughter ofTitus,lover of his brotherDomitian(b.AD 64)
• Publius Valerius Patruinus,Roman politician, governor

AD 92

• April 9–Yuan An,Chinese administrator, scholar and statesman
• Antipas of Pergamum,Roman bishop, martyr
• Ban Gu,Chinese historian, poet and writer (b.AD 32)
• Dou Xian,Chinese general and statesman of theEastern Han dynasty
• Gaius Julius Archelaus Antiochus Epiphanes,prince ofCommagene(b.AD 38)

AD 93

• August 23–Gnaeus Julius Agricola,Roman general and governor (b.AD 40)
• Arulenus Rusticus,Roman politician andStoicphilosopher (executed)
• Herennius Senecio,Roman Stoic philosopher and writer (executed)
• Lucius Antistius Rusticus,Roman politician and governor

AD 94

• Guo Gong [zh], Eastern Han Dynasty official

AD 95

• Avilius of Alexandria,patriarch ofAlexandria
• Epaphroditus,Roman freedman ofNero(executed)
• Flavius Scorpus,Roman charioteer (b. c.AD 68)
• Manius Acilius Glabrio,Roman politician (executed)

AD 96

• September 18–Domitian,Roman emperor (b.AD 51)
• Gaius Manlius Valens,Roman senator and consul (b.AD 6)
• Publius Papinius Statius,Roman poet (approximate date)

AD 97

• Lucius Verginius Rufus,Roman politician and general (b.AD 15)
• Timothy,Christian evangelist and saint (b.AD 17)
• Titus Petronius Secundus,Romanprefect(b.AD 40)
• Zhangde,Chinese empress of theHan Dynasty

AD 98

• January 27–Nerva,Roman emperor (b.AD 30)
• Casperius Aelianus,Romanpraetorian prefect(b.AD 14)

AD 99

• Clement I,pope of theCatholic Church

References

Works cited

• Wu, Shu-hui (2013). "Debates and Decision-Making: The Battle of the Altai Mountains (Jinweishan kim hơi sơn ) in AD 91".Debating War in Chinese History.Leiden: Brill.ISBN978-90-04-22372-1.
• Wyatt, James C. Y. (2004).China: Dawn of a Golden Age, 200-750 AD.Metropolitan Museum of Art.ISBN978-1-58839-126-1.
• Yü, Ying-shih (1986). "Han Foreign Relations".The Cambridge History of China, Volume 1: The Ch'in and Han Empires, 221 B.C. - A.D. 220.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.ISBN0-521-24327-0.