Seleucid Empire 185 BC

The Seleucid Empire in 185 BC was facing a period of decline and instability. Once a powerful Hellenistic state encompassing regions from modern-day Turkey to Pakistan, internal strife and external pressures were weakening its grip. Following the death of Antiochus III, his son Antiochus IV Epiphanes ascended to the throne. His reign was marked by attempts to centralize power, leading to tensions with local rulers and revolts in various provinces. One of the most notable events during this period was the Maccabean Revolt in Judea. The Jewish rebellion against Seleucid rule, led by the Maccabees, eventually resulted in the establishment of an independent Jewish state. In the east, the Parthians were gaining strength and challenging Seleucid authority, further fracturing the empire's control over its territories. By 185 BC, the Seleucid Empire was a shadow of its former self, struggling to maintain its vast territories amidst internal dissent and external threats. This period marked the beginning of the empire's gradual decline until its eventual collapse in the 1st century BC.