The world in the 6th century BC

600 BC–501 BCBabylon

The Achaemenid Empire was founded by Cyrus the Great around the 6th century BC. It was the first Persian empire and became the largest state of its time, spanning three continents. Its establishment marked a pivotal moment in Iranian history.

600 BC–501 BCWorld Heritage

Around the 6th century BC, Darius the Great had a large multilingual inscription and relief carved on the cliff of Mount Behistun in Iran to record his conquests. Written in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian, it is the longest known trilingual cuneiform inscription and was crucial for the decipherment of cuneiform.

600 BC–501 BC

The Tomb of Cyrus the Great is situated in Pasargadae, Fars Province of Iran, and is the burial place of Cyrus II, founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Located within the remains of the empire's first capital, the tomb was later identified by modern explorers and is now protected as a World Heritage site.

535 BC–400 BCTemple Mount, Jerusalem

After the destruction of the First Temple, Jews rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem, with construction beginning around 516 BCE. It became the central worship site of Judaism and was later expanded by Herod the Great, marking the start of the Second Temple period.

519 BC–510 BCWorld Heritage

Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, located about 60 km northeast of Shiraz in Fars province, Iran. Its name means 'city of the Persians'. It is a major Iranian cultural heritage site and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

589 BC–587 BC

In 587 BC, the Neo-Babylonian Empire besieged Jerusalem, capital of the Kingdom of Judah. The city fell, after which the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple, dissolved the kingdom, and exiled a large portion of the population to Babylonia.

600 BC–501 BCRome

Around the late 6th century BC, the Roman aristocracy overthrew the monarchy and established a republican government centered on the Senate and consuls, replacing the previous kingship. This transition laid the institutional foundation for Rome's later hegemony over the Mediterranean world.

600 BC–501 BC

The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus was the most important temple in Ancient Rome, situated on the Capitoline Hill. Its exact founding date is uncertain, but it likely occurred around the 6th century BCE. The temple was surrounded by the Area Capitolina, which housed numerous shrines, altars, statues, and victory trophies, reflecting its central role in Roman religious and political life.

600 BC–501 BCWorld Heritage

The Temple of Hera at Olympia was founded in the early 6th century BC, making it the oldest temple at the site. Dedicated to the goddess Hera, it originally served as a joint temple for Hera and Zeus. Later, a separate temple was built for Zeus. The temple's altar remains the site where the Olympic flame is lit. It was destroyed by an earthquake in the early 4th century AD.

600 BC–501 BCWorld Heritage

Verona was founded along the Adige River in the Veneto region of northern Italy around the 6th century BC. It grew to become one of the most important cities in the area, and its long history and rich artistic heritage earned it designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.

510 BC–509 BCRoma

Between the 6th and 5th centuries BC, a political revolution took place in ancient Rome, expelling the last king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, and establishing the Roman Republic. The details of the event were later forgotten, and while traditionally dated to c. 509 BC, modern scholars largely regard later historians' accounts as fictitious.

600 BC–501 BC

In the 6th century BCE, an ancient Greek temple was founded near the modern village of Mavriki in Arcadia, dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Located at an altitude of about 1,250 meters on Marmarovouni Hill, the temple is known as the Temple of Artemis Knakeatis. Although only ruins remain, they have allowed a detailed reconstruction of its original appearance.

600 BC–501 BCWorld Heritage

The ancient Roman city of Tipasa was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. Located on the coast of Algeria, the site preserves remains from the Roman period and reflects contacts between Berbers and Punic and Roman colonizers. In 2002 it was listed as a World Heritage Site in danger, but was removed from the danger list in 2006 following conservation efforts.

525 BC

In 525 BC, the first major battle between the Achaemenid Empire and Egypt was fought near Pelusium, a city at the eastern edge of the Nile Delta. The decisive Persian victory transferred the throne of the Pharaohs to Cambyses II of Persia, marking the beginning of the Achaemenid Twenty-seventh Dynasty of Egypt.

600 BC–501 BCWorld Heritage

The town of Dougga (Thugga) was founded at the end of the 6th century BCE in northern Tunisia. Built on high ground overlooking fertile plains, it was initially an important centre of a Libyco-Punic state. It later thrived under Numidian, Roman, and Byzantine rule. The well-preserved ruins led to its inscription as a World Heritage Site.

600 BC–501 BCWorld Heritage

The Greek Theatre of Cyrene was built on the north slope of the Acropolis in Cyrene, North Africa, around the late 6th century BC. It was the largest and oldest of the city's five known theatres, originally constructed as a standard Greek theatre. The structure underwent several renovations and was later converted into a Roman amphitheatre in the 2nd century AD.

600 BC–501 BC

Khiva is an oasis city in the historical Khwarazm region, now in western Uzbekistan. Archaeological evidence indicates it was founded around 2,500 years ago, approximately in the 5th to 4th century BCE.

600 BC–501 BC

Khujand, sometimes spelled Khodjent, is the second-largest city of Tajikistan, located at the mouth of the Fergana Valley on the Syr Darya River. Its historical names varied over time, and it was known as Leninabad during the Soviet period. The city has been settled and developed by various peoples, forming a significant urban center.

597 BC

In 597 BC, the major states of Jin and Chu clashed at Bi, in present-day Henan. About thirty-five years after Jin’s decisive victory at Chengpu, Chu won a major victory. This triumph cemented King Zhuang of Chu’s position as hegemon among the Zhou vassal states.

575 BCYanling County

In 575 BC, the states of Chu and Jin clashed at Yanling (modern Yanling, Henan) in a decisive battle for supremacy. King Gong of Chu had induced Zheng to rebel against Jin; when Jin attacked Zheng, Chu came to its aid. Though numerically superior, the Chu army was hindered by a marsh; Jin chariots routed both flanks and attacked the center, wounding King Gong and driving back his forces.

528 BC菩提伽耶

Bodh Gaya became a Buddhist sacred site as the place where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. Its history dates back to antiquity, centered on the Mahabodhi Temple and Bodhi Tree. It was used by Buddhists since the Maurya period and documented by Chinese monks Faxian and Xuanzang.