6th century

The world at the beginning of the 6th century AD.

Eastern Hemisphere at the end of the 6th century AD.

The 6th century is the period from 501 to 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era. In the West this century marks the end of Classical Antiquity and the beginning of the Dark Ages.

Overview

Following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire late in the previous century, Europe fractured into many small Germanic Kingdoms, which competed fiercely for land and wealth. From this upheaval the Franks rose to prominence, and carved out a sizeable domain encompassing much of modern France and Germany. Meanwhile, the surviving Eastern Roman Empire began to expand under the emperor Justinian, who eventually recaptured North Africa from the Vandals, and attempted to fully recover Italy as well in the hope of re-establishing Roman control over the lands once ruled by the Western Roman Empire. Following Justinian's death, most of his gains were lost.

During its second Golden Age, the Sassanid Empire reached the peak of its power under Khosrau I in the 6th century. The classical Gupta Empire of Northern India, largely overrun by the Huna, ended in the mid-6th century. In Japan, the Kofun period gave way to the Asuka period. After being divided for more than 150 years into the Southern and Northern Dynasties, China was reunited under the Sui Dynasty toward the end of the 6th century. The Three Kingdoms of Korea persisted throughout the 6th century. The Göktürks became a major power in Central Asia after defeating the Rouran.

In the Americas, Teotihuacan began to decline in the 6th century after having reached its zenith between AD 150 and 450. Classic Period of the Maya civilization in Central America.

Events

This Buddhist stela from China, Northern Wei period, was built in the early 6th century.

• Early 6th century - Archangel Michael, panel of a dyptich probably from the court workshop at Constantinople, is made. It is now kept at The British Museum, London.
• Early 6th century - Page with Rebecca at the Well, from "Book of Genesis", probably made in Syria or Palestine, is made. It is now kept at Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna.
• The first academy of the east the Academy of Gundeshapur founded in Iran by Khosrau I of Persia.
• Irish colonists and invaders, the Scots, began migrating to Caledonia (later known as Scotland). Migration from south-west Britain to Brittany.
• Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland founded by St. Kevin. Many similar foundations in Ireland and Wales.
• Zen Buddhists enter Vietnam from China.
• Buddhist Jataka stories are translated into Persian by order of the Zoroastrian king Khosrau.
• Apse's mosaic, Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, is made.
• 518: Eastern Roman Emperor Anastasius I dies and is succeeded by Justin I.
• 527: Justinian I succeeds Justin I as Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.
• 529: Saint Benedict of Nursia founds the monastery of Monte Cassino in Italy.
• 532: Nika riots in Constantinople; the cathedral is destroyed. They are put down a sennight later by Belisarius and Mundus; up to 30,000 people are killed in the Hippodrome.
• 535: Possible volcanic eruption causes several years of abnormally cold weather, resulting in mass famine.
• 537: Battle of Camlann, final battle of legendary King Arthur.
• c. 538 - 540: First pandemic of bubonic plague hits Byzantine Empire.
• Buddhism introduced to Japan from Baekje in 552, thus contributing to the changes that occurred in the Asuka period.
• 554: Eviction of the Ostrogoths from Rome, and the re-unification of all Italy under Imperial rule.
• Second half of 6th century - Virgin and Child with Saints and Angels, icon, is made. It is now kept at Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai, Egypt.
• 563: The monastery on Iona is founded by St. Columba.
• Outbreak of bubonic plague in Constantinople and the rest of the Byzantine Empire (Plague of Justinian).
• 589: China reunified under the Sui Dynasty.
• The Kutrigur Bulgars move into modern Romania.
• Jewish influence in Aksum.
• Nubia is largely converted to Coptic Christianity.
• The area of modern Aargau falls into the Franks.
• The Kingdom of Funan dies out.
• Black Death raged over south east Asia.
• Silk Road farther into Europe.
• 589 – 618: Sui Dynasty of China.
• Old Irish language develops.
• Old Dutch language develops.
• Abraha attacks Kaaba in Mecca (circa 571).
• 590: Pope Gregory I succeeds Pope Pelagius II as the 64th pope.

Significant persons

• Muhammad, prophet of Islam, (born 570)
• Pope Gregory the Great (died 604)
• Clovis I, first King of the Franks to unite the Franks under one ruler (c. 466-511)
• Legendary King Arthur defeated the Anglo-Saxons
• Justinian, Byzantine Emperor (527–565)
• Khosrau I of Persia, Sassanid king (531–579)
• Belisarius, Byzantine general
• Gregory of Tours (c. 538–594)
• Beowulf, legendary king of the Geats
• Hrodgar, legendary Danish king depicted in Beowulf
• Jordanes, author of the Getica
• Procopius, Byzantine historian
• Bozorgmehr, Persian sage
• Empress Suiko of Japan
• Taliesin, Welsh poet
• Abraham the Great of Kidunja, Hermit and Priest of the Christian Church
• Emperor Wen of Sui, founder and first emperor of Chinese Sui Dynasty
• Karaikkal Ammeiyar, one of the few females amongst the sixty three Nayanmars, is one of the greatest figures of early Tamil literature

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

• Dionysius Exiguus creates the Anno Domini system, inspired by the birth of Jesus, in 525. This is the system upon which the Gregorian calendar and Common Era systems are based.
• Backgammon (nard) invented in Persia by Burzoe.
• Chess, as chaturanga, entered Persia from India and was modified to shatranj.
• Breast-strap horse harness in use in Frankish kingdom.
• Byzantine Empire acquires silk technology from China.
• Vaghbata, Indian medical books.
• In 589 AD, the Chinese scholar-official Yan Zhitui makes the first reference to the use of toilet paper in history.
• Significant to the history of agriculture, the Chinese author Jia Sixia wrote the treatise Chi Min Yao Shu in 535, and although it quotes 160 previous Chinese agronomy books, it is the oldest existent Chinese agriculture treatise. In over one hundred thousand written Chinese characters, the book covered land preparation, seeding, cultivation, orchard management, forestry, animal husbandry, trade, and culinary uses for crops.