Century
6th century BCE
The years 600 – 501 BCE. The atlas records 209 events begun in them: the most significant follow, region by region, with the realms of the age and its wonders, trade routes, faiths and great people.
- 600 – 501 BCE
- 209 events
- 10 realms
- Realms with a page of their own
- Others the atlas draws, from Cliopatria
Headlines
The most significant events, wherever they happened- 6th century BCENyayaEvent · South Asia
- 539 BCEFall of BabylonBattle · Middle East
- 589 – 587 BCESiege of JerusalemSiege · Middle East
- May 525 BCEBattle of PelusiumBattle · North Africa
- 6th century BCEobolEvent
- 597 BCESiege of JerusalemSiege · Middle East
- September 539 BCEBattle of OpisBattle · Middle East
- 553 – 550 BCEMedo-Persian conflictRebellion · Middle East
Around the world
The most significant of the rest, in each regionNorth Africa
- Lost Army of Cambyses524 BCE · Event524 BCE
- First Achaemenid conquest of Egypt525 BCE · Event525 BCE
- Founding of Tipasa6th century BCE · Founding6th century BCE
- Founding of Barca540 BCE · Founding540 BCE
- Construction of Oracle of Amun550s BCE · Construction550s BCE
- Construction of Temple of Apollo in Cyrene6th century BCE · Construction6th century BCE
Middle East
- Battle of Halys28 May 585 BCE · Battle28 May 585 BCE
- Battle of ThymbraDecember 547 BCE · BattleDecember 547 BCE
- Battle of Pteria547 BCE · Battle547 BCE
- Battle of the Persian Border551 BCE · Battle551 BCE
- Siege of SardisDecember 547 BCE · SiegeDecember 547 BCE
- Founding of Iran550 BCE – 1979 CE · Founding550 BCE – 1979 CE
Europe
Central Asia
South Asia
- Achaemenid conquest of the Indus Valley535 – 323 BCE · Event535 – 323 BCE
- Founding of Delhi500s BCE · Founding500s BCE
- Founding of Mahajanapada600 BCE · Founding600 BCE
- Founding of Malla6th century BCE · Founding6th century BCE
- Fall of Kashi6th century BCE · Collapse6th century BCE
- Fall of Janapada6th century BCE · Collapse6th century BCE
East Asia
Southeast Asia
North America
Realms of the age
Our civilizations alive in these years, by home region. Each track is the century, its bar the realm’s years.North Africa
Ancient Carthage814 – 146 BCE
Sub-Saharan Africa
Kingdom of Kush2180 BCE – 350 CE
Middle East
Elam2700 – 539 BCE
Babylonia19th century – 539 BCE
Neo-Babylonian Empire626 – 539 BCE
Achaemenid Empire550 – 330 BCE
Europe
Roman Republic509 – 27 BCE
East Asia
Zhou dynasty11th century – 256 BCE
Mesoamerica and the Caribbean
Wonders
Being built, or standingBuilt in these years
Trade routes
Carrying trade in these years- Tin route through GaulOpenedc. 600 BCE – 51 BCE · by land and seac. 600 BCE – 51 BCE
- Via Marisc. 3000 BCE – 1516 CE · by landc. 3000 BCE – 1516 CE
- Steppe Routec. 2000 BCE – 600 CE · by landc. 2000 BCE – 600 CE
- Phoenician sea tradec. 1200 BCE – 332 BCE · by seac. 1200 BCE – 332 BCE
- King's Highwayc. 1200 BCE – 636 CE · by landc. 1200 BCE – 636 CE
- Incense Routec. 700 BCE – 200 CE · by land and seac. 700 BCE – 200 CE
Faiths on the move
Where each faith arrived in these years- HinduismReached Ujjain (c. 600 BCE)
- JudaismReached Elephantine (c. 600 BCE) and Babylonia (Babylon) (597 BCE)
- ZoroastrianismReached Persis (Pasargadae) (c. 550 BCE)
- JainismBegan at Vaishali (c. 599 BCE). Reached Magadha (Rajagriha) (c. 557 BCE)
- BuddhismBegan at Bodh Gaya (c. 528 BCE). Reached Sarnath (c. 528 BCE), Rajagriha (c. 528 BCE) and Shravasti (c. 525 BCE)
Great people
Alive in these years, in the halls of the Agora of Ages- c. 624 – 546 BCEThales of MiletusFirst of the Seven Sages; natural philosophyGreek Philosophers
- fl. 6th century BCE (traditional)LaoziFounder of Taoism; the Tao Te ChingChinese Emperors & Sages
- c. 570 – 495 BCEPythagorasMathematics, harmony, the Pythagorean schoolGreek Philosophers
- 551 – 479 BCEConfuciusPhilosopher; the Analects; foundation of Chinese ethicsChinese Emperors & Sages
- c. 544 – 496 BCE (traditional)Sun TzuStrategist; 'The Art of War'Chinese Emperors & Sages
- c. 535 – 475 BCEHeraclitus'Everything flows'; the logosGreek Philosophers
