540s

Millennium:	1st millennium
Centuries:	5th century – 6th century – 7th century
Decades:	510s 520s 530s – 540s – 550s 560s 570s
Years:	540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549
Categories:	Births – Deaths – Architecture; Establishments – Disestablishments

The 540s decade ran from January 1, 540, to December 31, 549.

[edit] Events and trends

- —The Eastern Roman Empire conquers Milan and the Ostrogothic capital of Ravenna. Over the course of the decade, the Ostrogoth king, Totila, responds by conquering Naples, Benevento, Rome, and other parts of Italy.
- —Schism between the Syrian Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church over the doctrine of Monophysitism. The Pope of Rome writes a critique of Monophystism.

Millennium:	1st millennium
Centuries:	5th century – 6th century – 7th century
Decades:	510s 520s 530s – 540s – 550s 560s 570s
Years:	540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549
Categories:	Births – Deaths – Architecture Establishments – Disestablishments