690s BC (3 events)
690 BC
ID: 3687
Taharqa rules from Memphis - builds extensively in Egypt and Nubia, largest pyramid at Nuri
ID: 3687
689 BC
ID: 4639
Sennacherib destroys Babylon completely - floods the city, shocking the ancient world
ID: 4639
681 BC
ID: 4640
Sennacherib assassinated by his sons in temple of Nisroch - Esarhaddon takes throne
ID: 4640
680s BC (2 events)
671 BC
ID: 3621
Esarhaddon conquers Egypt - Assyrian Empire reaches maximum extent
ID: 3621
671 BC
ID: 3688
Assyrians invade Egypt - Esarhaddon defeats Taharqa, Kushites retreat but maintain Nubia
ID: 3688
670s BC (2 events)
668 BC
ID: 3622
Ashurbanipal becomes king - creates world's first library at Nineveh with 30,000 tablets
ID: 3622
663 BC
ID: 4641
Ashurbanipal sacks Thebes in Egypt - furthest extent of Assyrian power
ID: 4641
660s BC (3 events)
660 BC
ID: 5484
February 11, 660 BC
Traditional date of Japan's founding - Emperor Jimmu ascends throne as first Emperor of Japan
ID: 5484
656 BC
ID: 3689
Kushites expelled from Egypt - 25th Dynasty ends, Kush continues independently in Nubia
ID: 3689
652 BC
ID: 4642
Shamash-shum-ukin rebels against brother Ashurbanipal - beginning of destructive Assyrian civil war
ID: 4642
650s BC (3 events)
650 BC
ID: 5414
Greek wine classification develops - Chian, Lesbian, Thasian wines gain premium status, first wine appellations
ID: 5414
648 BC
ID: 4643
Ashurbanipal defeats and kills brother Shamash-shum-ukin - Babylon destroyed again after 4-year siege
ID: 4643
646 BC
ID: 4644
Ashurbanipal destroys Susa - capital of Elam razed, ending 2000-year-old civilization
ID: 4644
630s BC (4 events)
628 BC
ID: 4648
Birth of Zoroaster (traditional date) - prophet of Zoroastrianism born in Balkh region
ID: 4648
627 BC
ID: 4645
Death of Ashurbanipal - succession crisis weakens empire as multiple claimants fight for throne
ID: 4645
626 BC
ID: 3669
Nabopolassar founds Neo-Babylonian Empire - rebels against Assyria, establishes Chaldean dynasty
ID: 3669
622 BC
ID: 2765
Josiah's reform - Book of Law found in Temple, covenant renewed, pagan altars destroyed throughout land
ID: 2765
620s BC (3 events)
616 BC
ID: 2643
Tarquin dynasty begins - Etruscan kings transform Rome from village to city, build Forum, Cloaca Maxima sewer, Circus Maximus
ID: 2643
612 BC
ID: 3670
Babylon and Medes destroy Nineveh - end of Assyrian Empire, Babylon inherits southern territories
ID: 3670
612 BC
ID: 3623
August 612 BC
Fall of Nineveh - Medes and Babylonians destroy Assyrian capital, empire collapses
ID: 3623
610s BC (7 events)
609 BC
ID: 2766
Death of Josiah at Megiddo - killed trying to stop Pharaoh Neco II, end of religious reform
ID: 2766
609 BC
ID: 4646
Battle of Harran - last Assyrian army under Ashur-uballit II defeated, final end of Assyria
ID: 4646
605 BC
ID: 2767
Battle of Carchemish - Nebuchadnezzar defeats Egypt, Babylon becomes dominant power (Babylonian Chronicle confirms)
ID: 2767
605 BC
ID: 2768
First deportation to Babylon - Nebuchadnezzar takes Daniel and Judean nobles after Jehoiakim submits
ID: 2768
605 BC
ID: 4647
Battle of Carchemish - Nebuchadnezzar defeats remnant Assyrian-Egyptian forces, Babylon supreme
ID: 4647
604 BC
ID: 5800
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Philistine cities - Ashkelon destroyed, Philistines begin to disappear as distinct people
ID: 5800
603 BC
ID: 2778
Nebuchadnezzar's dream of statue - Daniel interprets dream of four kingdoms, predicts eternal kingdom of God
ID: 2778
600s BC (8 events)
600 BC
ID: 2802
Baruch's seal used - 'Belonging to Berekhyahu son of Neriyahu the scribe' (Baruch ben Neriah, Jeremiah's scribe)
ID: 2802
600 BC
ID: 3671
Hanging Gardens of Babylon built - Nebuchadnezzar creates wonder for homesick Median wife (traditional date)
ID: 3671
600 BC
ID: 4209
Sirrush dragon depicted on Ishtar Gate - scaly dragon-like creature with snake head, lion body, bird feet carved in relief
ID: 4209
600 BC
ID: 5318
Phoenicians expand Rio Tinto operations - introduce cupellation for silver extraction, export metals throughout Mediterranean
ID: 5318
600 BC
ID: 5364
Greeks found Massalia (Marseille) - establishes wine trade with Celts, transforms Celtic culture through introduction of Mediterranean luxury goods
ID: 5364
600 BC
ID: 5752
Pharaoh Necho II attempts Red Sea-Nile canal - reportedly kills 120,000 workers, abandons after oracle warns it helps barbarians
ID: 5752
600 BC
ID: 5801
Philistines cease to exist as distinct people - absorbed into local populations after Babylonian conquests
ID: 5801
600 BC
ID: 5948
Orphic mysteries spread through Greece - followers of Orpheus seek purification, believe in reincarnation, refuse meat, carry secret gold tablets for afterlife
ID: 5948