600s BC (decade)

This article concerns the period 609 BC – 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—King Josiah of Judah dies in the Battle of Megiddo 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—Death of King Kuang of the Zhou Dynasty of China.
• 606 BC—Ji Yu becomes king of the Zhou Dynasty.
• 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—Nebuchadnezzar II succeeds his father Nabopolassar as King of Babylon.
• 601 BC—Foundation of Perinthus by settlers from Samos.
• 600 BC— Foundation of Marseille by Focei winners in a naval clash on Carthaginians; It was the beginning of Greek-punic Wars.
• 600 BC—Radiocarbon dating for first circular inhabitation enclosure at Emain Macha.
• 600 BC—Creation of Armenia.
• 600 BC—Foundation of Capua.
• 600 BC—Foundation of Milan by Celts (approximate date).
• 600 BC—Smyrna sacked and destroyed.
• 600 BC—Nebuchadnezzar builds the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
• c. 600 BC—Archaic period of sculpture starts in Ancient Greece.
• c. 600 BC—Pitcher (container) (olpe), from Corinth, is made. It is now at The British Museum, London.
• c. 600 BC—Kouros is made. It is now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
• c. 600 BC–580 BC—Temple of Artemis, Korkyra (Corfu) is built.
• c. 600 BC—Pompeii is founded.
• c. 600 BC—Zarathustra's religion becomes popular in Persia.
• c. 600 BC—Beginning of the construction of the largest Mound at Cahokia, near East St. Louis, Illinois. Construction continues until AD 200.
• c. 600 BC—The Etruscans capture the settlement of Rome, making it into a prosperous trading centre.
• c. 600 BC—Athens was suffering severe economic problems.
• c. 600 BC—Doric order and Ionic order are well developed.
• c. 600 BC - 500 BC - Calendrical system appears in areas with strong Olmec influence in Mesoamerica.

Significant people

• 605 BC—Death of Nabopolassar, first ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
• 608 BC-Birth of Peisistratos, ruler of Athens.
• c. 600 BC—Birth of King Cambyses I of Anshan, head of the Achaemenid dynasty.
• c. 600 BC—Thales, Greek philosopher.