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409| 200–700 | Central America [statistics and demography] | The Zapotec site of Monte Albán in Central America is at its peak in this period. It may have had 30,000 or more inhabitants. It is the centre of a complex of public buildings, temples, and dwellings that cover 40 sq km/15 sq mi. | | 400–500 | India [chess] | Shaturanga (or chaturanga), ‘the army game’, an ancestor of chess through the Persian game of shatranj (or chatrang), evolves in the Indus Valley on the Indian subcontinent. | | 409 | Western Roman Empire, Italy [barbarian invasions of Rome (378–476)] | The Visigoth king Alaric besieges Rome, bringing the inhabitants close to starvation. Twice he is bought off but twice returns. Many Germanic slaves escape to his side. The emperor Honorius in Ravenna refuses to negotiate for peace, despite repeated offers from Alaric. After his second siege of Rome, Alaric comes to terms with the Senate and sets up the prefect of the city, Attalus, as a rival emperor to Honorius. Attalus proves incapable, however, losing the vital province of Africa (the granary of Rome) to Honorius. Alaric deposes him and reopens negotiations with Honorius. Hindered by the machinations of his Gothic enemy Sarus, Alaric begins his third siege of Rome. | | 409 | Western Roman Empire, Spain [wars] | The Vandals, under King Gunderic and their allies the Alani and Suevi, invade Spain and plunder the rich cities there. Constans, the son of the usurping emperor Constantine in Gaul, despite having installed Gerontius as prefect in Spain, does nothing to stop the Vandal invasion. |
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