600s BC (decade)

This article concerns the period 609 BC – 600 BC.

Map of the Eastern Hemisphere in 600 BC.

Events and trends

• 609 BC—The Babylonians defeat the Assyrian army of Ashur-uballit II and capture Harran. Ashur-uballit, the last Assyrian king, disappears from history.
• 609 BC—Battle of Megiddo: King Josiah of Judah dies in battle against Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt, who is on his way north to aid the Assyrian state of Ashur-uballit II. Jehoahaz succeeds his father Josiah as King of Judah, but is quickly deposed by Necho, who installs Jehoahaz's brother Jehoiakim in his place.
• 607 BC (15–26 March)—Halley's Comet is visible from Earth.^[1]
• 606 BC—Ji Yu succeeds Zhou Kuang Wang as king of the Zhou Dynasty in China.
• 605 BC—Battle of Carchemish: Crown Prince Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon defeats the army of Necho II of Egypt, securing the Babylonian conquest of Assyria. The Babylonians pursue through Syria and Palestine.
• 605 BC—Battle of Hamath: Nebuchadnezzar II defeats the remainder of the Egyptian army following the Battle of Carchemish.
• 605 BC—Nebuchadnezzar II succeeds his father Nabopolassar as King of Babylon.
• 601 BC—Foundation of Perinthus by settlers from Samos (traditional date).^[2]
• 601 BC—The Jewish–Babylonian war begins between the Kingdom of Judah and Babylonia.^[3]
• 600 BC—Marseille is founded by Greeks of Phocaea, who are victorious over the Carthaginians in a naval battle, beginning the Greco–Punic Wars.
• 600 BC—The Satrapy of Armenia is created.
• 600 BC—Capua is founded.
• 600 BC—Smyrna is sacked and destroyed by Alyattes of Lydia.^[4]
• 600 BC—Nebuchadnezzar II builds the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
• c. 600 BC—Milan is founded by Celts.
• c. 600 BC—Pompeii is founded.
• c. 600 BC—The Etruscans capture the settlement of Rome, making it into a prosperous trading centre.
• c. 600 BC—Zarathustra's religion becomes popular in Persia.
• c. 600 BC—Radiocarbon dating for first circular inhabitation enclosure at Emain Macha.
• c. 600 BC—580 BC—Construction begins on the Temple of Artemis, Korkyra (Corfu).^[5]
• c. 600 BC—Construction begins on the largest mound at Cahokia. Construction continues until AD 200.
• c. 600 BC—The Archaic period of sculpture begins in Ancient Greece.
• c. 600 BC—Pitcher (container) (olpe), from Corinth, is made.^[6]
• c. 600 BC—Kouros sculptures begin to be made.
• c. 600 BC—The Doric and Ionic orders are well developed.
• c. 600 BC—500 BC—A calendrical system appears in areas with strong Olmec influence in Mesoamerica.

Significant people

• 608 BC—Birth of Peisistratus, ruler of Athens^[7]
• 607 BC—Death of King Kuang of the Zhou Dynasty of China
• 605 BC—Death of Nabopolassar, first ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire
• c. 600 BC—Birth of King Cambyses I of Anshan, head of the Achaemenid dynasty

References

1. Seargent, David A. J. (16 December 2008). The Greatest Comets in History: Broom Stars and Celestial Scimitars. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-387-09513-4.
2. Whibley, Leonard (1916). A Companion to Greek Studies. University Press. p. 84.
3. Middlemas, Jill (13 October 2005). The Troubles of Templeless Judah. OUP Oxford. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-19-153627-4.
4. Angelis, Franco De (12 May 2020). A Companion to Greeks Across the Ancient World. John Wiley & Sons. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-118-27156-8.
5. Kleiner, Fred S. (1 January 2020). Gardner's Art through the Ages: The Western Perspective, Volume I. Cengage Learning. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-357-37048-3.
6. Honour, Hugh; Fleming, John (2005). A World History of Art. Laurence King Publishing. p. 231. ISBN 978-1-85669-451-3.
7. Newmyer, Stephen T. (30 December 2020). Plutarch's Three Treatises on Animals: A Translation with Introductions and Commentary. Routledge. p. 152. ISBN 978-1-351-33547-8.