620s BC

Millennium:	1st millennium BC
Centuries:	8th century BC – 7th century BC – 6th century BC
Decades:	650s BC 640s BC 630s BC – 620s BC – 610s BC 600s BC 590s BC
Years:	629 BC 628 BC 627 BC 626 BC 625 BC 624 BC 623 BC 622 BC 621 BC 620 BC
Categories:	Births – Deaths – Architecture Establishments – Disestablishments

Events and trends

628 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.
c. 627 BC—Death of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria; he is succeeded by Assur-etel-ilani.
626 BC—Nabopolassar revolts against Assyria, founds the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
625 BC—Medes and Babylonians assert their independence from Assyria and attack Nineveh (approximate date).
c. 625 BC—Orientalizing period of vases ends in Ancient Greece.
623 BC—Sin-shar-ishkun succeeds his brother Assur-etel-ilani as king of Assyria (approximate date).
622 BC or 621 BC—Text of Deuteronomy found in the Temple in Jerusalem.
c. 620 BC—Archaic period in Greece starts.