View source for 268 BC

== Events ==
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=== By place ===
==== Roman Republic ====
* The [[Roman Republic|Roman]] [[denarius]] coin is minted for the first time.
* The Romans found a colony at [[Malventum]] which they, for superstitious reasons, call [[Benevento|Beneventum]] (since ''male'' means ''bad'' and ''bene'' means ''good'' in [[Latin]]).
* The Romans found a colony at [[Rimini|Ariminum]].

==== Greece ====
* [[Chremonides]], an [[Ancient Athens|Athenian]] statesman and general, issues the Decree of Chremonides, creating an alliance between [[Sparta]], Athens, and [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy II]] of [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]]. The origins of this alliance lay in the continuing desire of many Greek states, notably Athens and Sparta, for a restoration of their former independence, along with the desire of Ptolemy II to create troubles for his rival [[Antigonus II Gonatas|Antigonus II]], King of [[Macedon]]ia. Ptolemy II's ambitions in the [[Aegean Sea]] are threatened by Antigonus Gonatas' fleet, so he carefully builds up a coalition of the rest of the Greeks against Macedonians. He especially cultivates Athens by supplying the city with grain.

==== India ====
* [[May 16]] &ndash; [[Ashoka]] becomes emperor of the [[Maurya Empire]].
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