6th century BC

Millennium: 1st millennium BC
Centuries: 7th century BC · 6th century BC · 5th century BC
Decades: 590s BC 580s BC 570s BC 560s BC 550s BC
540s BC 530s BC 520s BC 510s BC 500s BC
Categories: Births – Deaths
Establishments – Disestablishments

The 6th century BC started the first day of 600 BC and ended the last day of 501 BC.

Map of the world in 500 BC

Pāṇini, in India, composed a grammar for Sanskrit, in this century or slightly later.[1] This is the oldest still known grammar of any language.

In the Near East, the first half of this century was dominated by the Neo Babylonian or Chaldean empire, which had risen to power late in the previous century after successfully rebelling against Assyrian rule. The Kingdom of Judah came to an end in 587 BC when Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar II captured Jerusalem, and removed most of its population to their own lands. Babylonian rule was toppled however in the 540's, by Cyrus, who founded the Persian Empire in its place. The Persian Empire continued to expand and grew into the greatest empire the world had known at the time.

In Iron Age Europe, the Celtic expansion was in progress. China was in the Spring and Autumn Period.

Monument 1, an Olmec colossal head at La Venta

Contents

Events

Solon, creator of the Solonian Constitution of Athens which incorporated the first elements of formalised civil democracy in world history

Significant persons

Anaximenes

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

References

Decades and years