60's

The 1960s or 1960s began on January 1, 1960 and ended on December 31, 1969.

Events

• 61: Boudica leads a rebellion of the British against the Romans.
• 61: Publio Petronio Turpiliano and Lucio Cesenio Peto become Roman consuls.
• 62: Emperor Nero married for the second time with Popea Sabina, ex-wife of Marco Salvio Otón.
• A major earthquake damages the cities of Campania, including Pompeii (5 February).
• Roman-partan war: the Roman army (two legions) is defeated by births under King Tiridates I of Armenia. Peto surrenders and withdraws his ruthless army to Syria.
• A violent storm destroys 200 ships in the port of Portus.
• 63: Near the Vesuvius Volcano (Italy, 40°48′N 14°30′E / 40.80, 14.50) an earthquake happens. Sixteen years later will happen the eruption that will bury Pompeii.
• Vespasian becomes governor of Africa.
• Cneo Domicio Corbulón is restored to command after the Roman debacle in the Roman-partan War; it invades Armenia and defeats Tiridates I, which accepts Roman sovereignty; Partia withdraws from the war.
• 64: The Great Fire of Rome takes place. It starts in the commercial area of Rome and soon burns completely out of control, while Emperor Nero allegedly plays his lira and sings while observing the fire from a safe distance. There is no solid evidence to support this claim. Fire destroys about half the city and officially blames Christians, a small but growing religious movement. Nero is accused of being the arsonist by the popular rumor.
• The persecution of Christians in Rome begins under Emperor Nero. The Apostle Peter may be among those executed.
• Lyon sends a large sum of money to Rome to help in reconstruction. However, during the winter of 64–65, Lyon suffers a catastrophic fire, and Neron responds by sending money to Lyon.
• Fenicia becomes part of Syria.
• 65: Cayo Cestio Galo becomes a legacy of Syria.
• Matthew's Gospel is probably written between 60 and this year.
• In China, the first official reference to Buddhism is made.
• The first Christian community in Africa is founded by Mark, a disciple of Saint Peter. Mark begins to write his gospel.
• 66: Nero creates the Legio I Italica.
• 67: The Italian Lino de Volterra happens to Pope Simon Bar Ioná (“Saint Peter”).
• Fall from the Jewish fortress of Gamala in the Gaulanítide to the Romans and massacre of their inhabitants.
• 69: year of the four emperors. Galba, Oton, Vitelio and Vespasian. Year of civil wars.
• 69: In Rome, Vespasian is finally made with the title of emperor.
• 69: Roman legions in Germania Superior refuse to swear allegiance to Galba. They rebel and proclaim Vitelio as emperor.
• The Christian Jew Paul of Tarsus writes his letters to the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians, the Hebrews, Timothy, Titus and Philemon.
• probable date of writing Gospel of Mark.
• In Rome the book is written Acts of the Apostles.
• The Letters of James, the Letters of Peter and the Letter of Judas are written in Rome.

Important characters

• Boudica, rebellious British queen.
• Cayo Suetonio Paulino, Roman general.
• Julio Civilis, leader of the Rebellion of the Bavarians against the Romans.
• John F. Kennedy, fifth president of the United States, killed in Dallas in 1963.

Births

• 61: Pliny the Young, Roman author and statesman (f.113).
• 64: Julia Flavia, daughter of the Roman Emperor Titus, lover of her brother Domitian (f. 96).
• 64: Philo de Biblos, a Phoenician historical writer (f. 141).
• 68: Kill the Greater, the niece of Emperor Trajan (f. 119).

Deaths

• 60 or 61: Boudica, queen of the ice.
• 62: Octavia, wife of Nero (possibly executed) (n. 40 C.)
• 63: Claudia, the only daughter of Nero.
• 65: Petronio, Roman writer (n 14 d.C. or 27 d.C.).
• 69: Marco Salvio Otón, Roman emperor (n. 32 A.D.)