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605 B.C.E. Nebuchadnezzar II, son of Nabopolassar king of Babylon, defeats Pharaoh Necho at Carcemish and at Hamath. Nebuchadnezzar expands territories into
Syria toward the Holy Land. Babylonian king Nabopolassar dies. Nebuchadnezzar returns to Babylon to receive the crown, then marches through the Holy Land and defeats Ashkelon.
Judah is ruled by Babylon. Daniel and companions are taken to Babylon along with certain holy vessels of the Temple in Jerusalem.
c. 600 B.C.E. Two tiny silver scrolls interred in a Jerusalem tomb, contain the Jewish "Priestly Blessing" of Numbers 6, the earliest known text of the Hebrew Scripture. They are rediscovered in 1979 C.E.
598 B.C.E. Judah revolts against Babylon and is crushed by Nebuchadnezzar. Jerusalem is captured, the Temple is plundered and several thousands of upper class Jews are taken to Babylon, including king Jehoiachin and Ezekiel. Zedekiah is installed as king of
Judah.
594 B.C.E. Solon, sole archon of Athens, replaces the severe Draconian laws with a new constitution and institutes election reforms.
c.593 B.C.E. Ezekiel begins a prophetic ministry to the captive Jews in Babylonian exile.
590 B.C.E.
Judah, backed by
Egypt, revolts against the Babylonians.
586 B.C.E. Nebuchadnezzar again crushes
Judah's rebellion, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple and exiles more Jews to Babylon.
585 B.C.E. The Median king, Cyaxares, breaks off an indecisive battle with Lydians after witnessing a solar eclipse predicted by Thales of Miletus.
580 B.C.E. Nebuchadnezzar builds the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
568 B.C.E. Nebuchadnezzar invades
Egypt and defeats pharaoh Amasis. The Babylonian empire reaches its maximum extent.
563 B.C.E. Prince Siddhartha Gautama is born, later to become the Buddha.
562 B.C.E. Nebuchadnezzar dies. Evil Merodach is king of Babylon and releases Jehoiachin from prison.
560 B.C.E. Ionia is conquered by Croesus of Lydia, autonomy of Ionian cities preserved. Tyranny of Peisistratus in Athens, a period of cultural and political advance.
559 B.C.E. The Persian vassal-king of Medes, Cyrus II the Great, rules Anshan.
556 B.C.E. Nabonidus of Haran seizes the Babylonian throne and seeks to weaken the power of the priests of Marduk. Nabonidus conducts archaeological excavations.
551 B.C.E. Confucius is born.
550 B.C.E. Cyrus, king of Anshan, conquers Achmetha and takes control of Median empire. The Peloponnesian League is established under the military domination of Sparta.
546 B.C.E. Croesus, the last king of
Lydia, is defeated by Cyrus. The Persians conquer Asia Minor. Death of Thales of Miletus. |