600s 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 580s BC 570s BC 560s BC 550s BC

Events and trends

* Fall of the Assyrian Empire and Rise of Babylon
* 609 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 rump Assyrian state of Ashur-uballit II.
* 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 - 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 - Death of Zhou kuang wang, King of the Zhou Dynasty of China
* 606 BC - Zhou ding wang becomes King of the Zhou Dynasty of China
* 605 BC - Battle of Carchemish, Crown Prince Nebuchadrezzar 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 - Nebuchadrezzar II succeeds his father Nabopolassar as King of Babylon
* 600 BC - Foundation of Capua
* 600 BC - Foundation of Milan by Celts (approximate date)
* 600 BC - Foundation of Marseille by Phoceans (traditionial date)
* 600 BC - Smyrna sacked and destroyed
* 600 BC - Nebuchadrezzar builds the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
* 600 BC - Lehi and his family set out for the Americas as recorded in the Book of Mormon (approximate date)

Significant people

*600 BC - Birth of King Cambyses I of Anshan, head of the Achaemenid dynasty (approximate date)