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.
• 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).
• 601 BC—The Jewish–Babylonian war begins between the Kingdom of Judah and Babylonia.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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.
• 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
• 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