What happened in the 6th century BC

600–501 BC

85 events　World 5, Europe 28, Asia 16, Middle East 34, Africa 2

Highlights of the 6th century BC

600 BCEuropeFoundation of Capua.
600 BCMiddle EastNebuchadnezzar builds the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
551 BCWorldConfucius was born.
520 BCAsiaKing Dao of Zhou becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China but dies before the end of the year
510 BCEuropeHippias, son of Pisistratus and tyrant of Athens, is expelled by a popular revolt supported by Cleomenes I, King of Sparta and his forces.
502 BCMiddle EastNaxos rebels against Persian domination sparking the Ionian Revolt.

551 BCConfucius was born.
536 BCAccording to tradition, the Biblical prophet Daniel receives an angelic visit from the archangel Gabriel.
516 BCIndian subcontinent—Occupation of Punjab is completed by the Achaemenid King Darius I.
512 BCThe Kingdom of Macedonia, under King Amyntas I, becomes a vassal state to the Achaemenid Empire.
501 BCConfucius is appointed governor of Chung tu.

600 BCFoundation of Capua.
600 BCFoundation of Milan by Celts (approximate date).
600 BCFoundation of Marseille by Phoceans (traditional date).
600 BCSmyrna sacked and destroyed.
570 BCPythagoras of Samos is born (approximate date).
550 BCAbdera is destroyed by the Thracians.
520 BCStart of construction of a colossal new Temple of Olympian Zeus (Athens) by Pisistratus's sons, Hippias and Hipparchos (approximate date).
520 BCCleomenes I succeeds Anaxandridas II as King of Sparta (approximate date)
510 BCHippias, son of Pisistratus and tyrant of Athens, is expelled by a popular revolt supported by Cleomenes I, King of Sparta and his forces.
510 BCEnd of reign of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, last King of the traditional seven Kings of Rome.
510 BCEstablishment of the Roman Republic.
510 BCDemaratus succeeds Ariston as King of Sparta (approximate date).
507 BCCleisthenes, Greek reformer, takes power and increases democracy.
505 BCFirst pair of Roman consuls elected.
502 BCThe Latin League defeats the Etruscans under Lars Porsena at Aricia.

600 BCIndia—Age of the Mahajanapadas—16 polities rule India—Kasi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji (or Vṛji), Malla, Chedi, Vatsa (or Vamsa), Kuru, Panchala, Matsya (or Maccha), Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara, Kamboja
586 BCdeath of King Ding of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China
572 BCDeath of King Jian of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China.
571 BCKing Ling of Zhou becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.
558 BCThe Chinese state of Jin defeats its rival Qin in battle.
550 BCThe Late Mumun Period begins in the Korean Peninsula.
Cataract surgery was known to Indian Physician Sushruta.
544 BCBimbisara establishes Haryanka dynasty of Magadha in India.
544 BCKing Jing of Zhou becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.
543 BCPrince Vijaya establishes a Sinhalese dynasty of Sri Lanka.
528 BCGautama Buddha attains Enlightenment, and begins his ministry. He founds Buddhism in India. It becomes a major world religion.
520 BCKing Dao of Zhou becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China but dies before the end of the year
519 BCKing Jing of Zhou becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.
514 BCKing Helü of Wu establishes the "Great City of Helü", the ancient name for Wuxi, as his capital in China.
506 BCBattle of Boju: Forces of the Kingdom of Wu under Sun Tzu defeat the forces of Chu.

600 BCNebuchadnezzar builds the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
570 BCAmasis II succeeds Apries as King of Egypt.
570 BCEnd of the Babylonian siege against the city of Tyre with a partial victory by the Babylonians. It was the longest siege of the city in history, lasting 13 years.
553 BCMedo-Persian conflict; Cyrus II overthrows the Median king Astyages, establishing the Persian Empire.
547 BCCroesus, Lydian King, is defeated by Cyrus of Persia near the River Halys.
546 BCCyrus of Persia completes his conquest of Lydia, and makes Pasargadae his capital.
539 BCBabylon is conquered by Cyrus the Great, defeating Nabonidus.
538 BCReturn of some Jews from Babylonian exile who build the Second Temple about fifty years after the destruction of the First Temple, from 520 BC–516 BC.
530 BCCambyses II succeeds Cyrus as King of Persia.
525 BCCambyses II, ruler of Persia, conquers Egypt, defeating Psammetichus III. This is considered the end of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty, and the start of the Twenty-seventh Dynasty.
522 BCSmerdis succeeds Cambyses II as ruler of Persia.
522 BCBabylon rebels against Persian rule.
513 BCDarius the Great subdues the Getae and east Thrace in his war against the Scythians.
502 BCNaxos rebels against Persian domination sparking the Ionian Revolt.
501 BCNaxos is attacked by the Persian Empire.