c. 200              Birth of Cyprian in Carthage.

    200–206      Tertullian, On Prayer, On Patience (De patientia), On Baptism (De baptismo), On the Apparel of Women (De cultu feminarum), To My Wife (Ad uxorem),  Against the Jews (Adversus Iudaeos) Against Hermogenes (Adversus Hermogenem.)

    200              Tertullian, The Demurrer against the Heretics, (De Praescriptione haereticorum.)

    202–203      Persecution of burgeoning Christianity in Africa and Egypt under Septimius Severus--- Eusebius reports “countless numbers” wreathed with crowns of martyrdom, escorted to the arena “from Egypt and the whole Thebais” (from Nile delta as far south as Syene); Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas at Carthage and  Victorius of Tabarka.

    202–203      Account of Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas.

    203–204      Tertullian, Repentance (De paenitentia.)

    202–203      African-born Emperor Septimius Severus pays state visit to Carthage and initiates vast building program at Lepcis Magna in Libya as fortified city.

    204              Tertullian, On Ecstasy (De ecstasi), On the Hope of the Faithful (De spe fidelium), On Paradise (De paradiso.)

c. 206              Tertullian, The Veiling of Virgins (De virginibus velandis.)

    206–212      The “semi-Montanist period” of Tertullian’s writing.

    207–208      Tertullian writes the second edition of Adversus Marcionem, containing books I – III.

    208–212      Tertullian writes The Soul (De anima), The Flesh of Christ (De carne Christi), The Resurrection of the Dead (De resurrectione mortuorum), An Exhortation to Chastity, Against Marcion (Adversus Marcionem), books IV-V, 3rd edition, De pallio, Adversus Valentinianos, De censu animae adversus Hermogenem, De fato, Adversus Apelleiacos.

    211              Death of Septimius Severus; accession of his son Caracalla, Emperor, 211-217, continuing the African-based Severian dynasty; first long peace.

    211              Tertullian writes The Crown (De corona) and Idolatry (De idololatria.)

    211–213      Tertullian, Antidote Against the Scorpion. (Scorpiace.)

    212              Caracalla grants Roman citizenship to all free residents of the empire, legal recognition nominally granted to Jews and Christians for the first time.

    212              Solar eclipse of 14th August; Tertullian writes Ad Scapulam.

    213              After the breakdown of relations with the 'Psychici', Tertullian writes On Flight (De fuga), Against Praxean (Adversus Praxean), Monogamy (De monogamia)and On Fasting (De ieiunio.)

    215              Birth of Mani (215-276), founder of Manichaeism.

    217              Murder of Caracalla; Macrinus, a Moor (Mauritania in North Africa), becomes emperor.

    217–222      Callistus I, bishop of Rome.

    217              Tertullian and Hippolytus and Roman bishop, are involved in a controversy on Church discipline.

    218              Tertullian embraces some aspects of Montanism.

    220              Tertullian writes On Modesty (De pudicitia.)

c. 220              Tertullian coined terms Trinity and New Testament: cites African Latin Bible translation, earliest in Latin.

    248              Cyprian becomes bishop of his native city, Carthage.

    249              Beginning of Christian persecutions under Emperor Decius, who issued a general edict ordering Roman citizens to participate in a formal civic confession, supplicatio, tempting many to lapse into idolatry.

    249              Persecution makes the problem of penitence acute; Cyprian’s practice: before receiving laying on of hands and being readmitted to the Eucharist, those who have lapsed must make public confession of their fault and submit to a suitable act of penitence.

    250              Growing controversy between Carthage and Rome over the treatment of returning lapsed Christians; Novatian dissident deacon Felicisimus of Carthage opposes Cyprian.

    250s            Rome steps up persecution of Christians, martyrs revered as saints who share Christ’s suffering.

    251              Persecution of Valerian.

    251              Council of Carthage called by Cyprian on question of the lapsed; he writes On the Lapsed (de lapsis.)

    251–252      Cyprian writes The Unity of the Catholic Church: Against the Novationists (De Unitate Ecclesiae Catholicae), The Lord’s Prayer, and To Demetrian.

    251–253      Cornelius I writes his Letters.

    253              Cyprian writes Works and Almsgiving.

    254–257      Baptismal controversy, Carthage (Cyprian) and Rome (Stephen I.)

    255–256      Fermilian of Caesarea writes Letter to Cyprian of Carthage.

    255–256      Councils of Carthage on the rebaptism of heretics.

    256              Acts of the Seventh Council of Carthage, Cyprian presiding.

    256–258      Cyprian writes The Advantage of Patience;  To Donatus; The Dress of Virgins; That Idols Are Not Gods; Jealousy and Envy; Exhortation to Martyrdom, to Fortunatus, Letters.

    256–258      Anonymous Treatise on Re-Baptism is written.

    257–260      Persecutions under Valerian.

    258              Martyrdom of Cyprian at Carthage.

    258              Acts of Cyprian describes his martyrdom, written by his deacon Pontius.

    260              Upon Valerian’s death, Gallienus becomes sole emperor; he decrees the Edict of Toleration, bringing a second  long peace; Sabellianism condemned.

c. 260              Birth of Lactantius in Proconsular Africa; he becomes a disciple of Arnobius of Sicca and author of a major work on philosophy of history.

    262              Earthquake in Cyrenaica.

    276              Death of Mani, whose disciples came to Africa before his death, requiring Christian response.

    270–300      Steady increase of Christianity in central Egypt and North Africa; intellectual attacks against Christian teaching are made by Porphyry, disciple of Plotinus.

c. 280              Birth of Marius Victorinus.

    285              Roman empire is partitioned by Diocletian into Western and Eastern empires.

    290’s           Conversion of Arnobius of Sicca.

d. 298              Marcellus, martyr centurion of Tingis in Mauretenia.