Editing 6th century

{{Short description|One hundred years, from 501 to 600}}
{{Centurybox|6}}
[[File:Virgin_Mary_with_the_infant_Jesus,_6th_century_AD.jpg|thumb|Byzantine Iconography, representative of the reign of Emperor Justinian.]]

The '''6th century''' is the period from [[501]] through [[600]] in line with the [[Julian calendar]].

In [[Western culture|the West]], the century marks the end of [[Classical Antiquity]] and the beginning of the [[Middle Ages]]. The collapse of the [[Western Roman Empire]] late in the previous century left Europe fractured into many small Germanic kingdoms competing fiercely for land and wealth. From the upheaval the [[Franks]] rose to prominence and carved out a sizeable domain covering much of modern France and Germany. Meanwhile, the surviving [[Eastern Roman Empire]] began to expand under Emperor [[Justinian]], who recaptured [[North Africa]] from the [[Vandals]] and attempted fully to recover [[Italy]] as well, in the hope of reinstating Roman control over the lands once ruled by the [[Western Roman Empire]].

Owing in part to the collapse of the Roman Empire along with its literature and civilization, the sixth century is generally considered to be the least known about in the [[Dark Ages (historiography)|Dark Ages]].{{efn|This view is shown in several reputable sources about the Dark Ages. In his book "The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages, 400-1000", the historian Chris Wickham writes that "the sixth century is the least documented of any century of the 'Dark Ages{{'"}}.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wickham |first=Chris |date=2009 |chapter=Introduction |title=The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages, 400-1000 |location=New York |publisher=Viking |isbn=978-0-670-02098-0 |page=6}}</ref> Similarly, the historian Charles Oman writes in "The Dark Ages: 476-918" that "the 6th century was a period of such confusion and turmoil that it has been compared to the [[Genesis flood narrative|deluge of Noah]]".<ref>{{cite book |last=Oman |first=Charles |date=1914 |chapter=The Sixth Century |title=The Dark Ages: 476-918 |location=London |publisher=Rivingtons |page=23}}</ref> These sources reflect the widely accepted view among historians that the 6th century in the Dark Ages is the least known about.}}

In its second golden age, the [[Sassanid Empire]] reached the peak of its power under [[Khosrau I]] in the 6th century.<ref name="Roberts, J 1994">Roberts, J: "History of the World". Penguin, 1994.</ref> The classical [[Gupta Empire]] of [[Northern India]], largely overrun by the [[Huna (people)|Huna]], ended in the mid-6th century. In [[Japan]], the [[Kofun period]] gave way to the [[Asuka period]]. After being divided for more than 150 years among the [[Northern and Southern dynasties]], [[History of China|China]] was reunited under the [[Sui dynasty]] toward the end of the 6th century. The [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]] persisted throughout the century. The [[Göktürks]] became a major power in [[Central Asia]] after defeating the [[Rouran]].

In the [[Americas]], [[Teotihuacan]] began to decline in the 6th century after having reached its zenith between AD 150 and 450. Classic period of the [[Maya civilization]] in [[Central America]].

==Events==
*Early 6th century – [[Ah Suytok Tutul Xiu]] founds [[Uxmal]].[[File:East-Hem 500ad.jpg|thumb|254x254px|Eastern Hemisphere at the beginning of the 6th century]]
*Early 6th century – [[Archangel ivory]], panel of a diptych probably from the court workshop at [[Constantinople]], is made. It is now kept at The [[British Museum]], [[London]].
*Early 6th century – [[Vienna Genesis]], from "[[Book of Genesis]]", probably made in [[Syria]] or [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], is made. It is now kept at [[Österreichische Nationalbibliothek]], [[Vienna]].
*By 6th century – ''[[Shilpa Shastras]]'' is written.
*Early 6th century – first academy of the east the Academy of [[Gundeshapur]] founded in [[Iran]] by [[Khosrau I of Persia]].
*Early 6th century – [[Ireland|Irish]] colonists and invaders, the Scots, began migrating to [[Caledonia]] (later known as [[Scotland]]). Migration from south-west Britain to [[Brittany]].
*Early 6th century – [[Glendalough]] [[monastery]], [[Wicklow]] [[Ireland]] founded on [[Kevin of Glendalough|St. Kevin]]. Many similar foundations in Ireland and Wales.
*Early 6th century – [[Zen]] [[Buddhism]] enters [[Vietnam]] from China.
*Early 6th century – [[Haniwa]], from [[Kyoto]], is made during the [[Kofun period]].[[File:Maya ruins in Mexico 003.jpg|thumbnail|Uxmal is founded in the early 6th century. ]]
*Early 6th century – [[Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe]]'s apse's mosaic is completed.
*[[AD 502|502]]: Chinese annals mentioned the existence of the Buddhist Kingdom, Kanto Lim in South Sumatra, presumably in the neighborhood of present-day [[Palembang]].
*[[507]]: The Franks commanded by [[Clovis I]] wrest [[Aquitaine|Aquitania]] from [[Alaric II]]'s Visigoths at the [[Battle of Vouillé]].
*[[518]]: Eastern Roman Emperor [[Anastasius I (emperor)|Anastasius I]] dies and is succeeded by [[Justin I]].
*[[522]]: Romans obtain [[silkworm]] eggs and begin silkworm cultivation
*c. [[524]]: [[Boethius]] writes his ''[[On the Consolation of Philosophy]]''.
*[[525]]: Having settled in [[Rome]] c. [[AD 500|500]], [[Scythians|Scythian]] monk [[Dionysius Exiguus]] invents the [[Anno Domini]] era [[calendar]] based on the estimated birth year of [[Jesus Christ]].
*[[527]]: [[Justinian I]] succeeds [[Justin I]] as [[Emperor]] of the Eastern Roman Empire.
*[[529]]: Saint [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the [[monastery]] of [[Monte Cassino]] in Italy.
*[[531]]–[[579]]: Reign of [[Persia]]n [[Shah]] [[Khosrau I]].
*[[532]]: [[Nika riots]] in [[Constantinople]]; the [[cathedral]] is destroyed. They are put down a week later by [[Belisarius]] and [[Mundus (general)|Mundus]]; up to 30,000 people are killed in the [[Hippodrome of Constantinople|Hippodrome]].
*[[535]]: Postulated [[Types of volcanic eruptions|volcanic eruption]] in the tropics which causes several years of abnormally cold [[weather]], resulting in mass [[famine]] in the [[Northern Hemisphere]]. (See [[Extreme weather events of 535–536]].)[[File:Buddhist Stela Northern Wei period.jpg|thumb|right|180px|This [[Buddhist]] [[Stele|stela]] from [[China]], [[Northern Wei]] period, was built in the early 6th century.]]
*[[537]]: [[Battle of Camlann]], final battle of [[legend]]ary [[King Arthur]].
*[[541]]–[[542]]: First [[pandemic]] of [[bubonic plague]] ([[Plague of Justinian]]) hits [[Constantinople]] and the rest of [[Byzantine Empire]].
*[[543]]/[[544]]: One of [[Justinian]]'s edict leads to the [[Three-Chapter Controversy]]
*[[545]]: Nubian Kingdom of [[Nobatia]] converts to [[Christianity]].
*Mid-6th century – [[Cassiodorus]] founds a cenobitic monastery and scriptorium at Vivarium in [[Italy]]
*Mid-6th century – Buddhist [[Jataka]] stories are translated into [[Persian language|Persian]] by order of the [[Zoroastrian]] king [[Khosrau I of Persia|Khosrau]].
*[[History of India|Mid-6th century]] – Cave-Temple of Shiva at [[Elephanta Caves]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]], is built. Post-[[Gupta]] period.
*[[History of India|Mid-6th century]] – Eternal Shiva, rock-cut relief in the Cave-Temple of Shiva at Elephanta Caves, is made
*[[History of India|Mid-6th century]] – [[Jogeshwari Caves]] excavated during 6th century A.D. is one of the finest specimen of [[Brahminism|Brahmanical]] [[Rock-cut architecture|Rock-Cut Architecture]] and bears similarity with [[Elephanta Caves]] (Cave No. 1) and Dhumar Lena (Cave No. 29) at [[Ellora Caves]]. 
*Second half of 6th century – Virgin and Child with Saints and Angels, icon, is made. It is now kept at [[Saint Catherine's Monastery]], [[Egypt]].
*[[550]]: [[Kingdom of Funan]] dies out.
*[[551]]: [[Bumin Khagan]] founded the [[First Turkic Khaganate|Turkic Khaganate]] in [[Central Asia]]
*[[552]]: [[Buddhism]] introduced to [[Japan]] from [[Baekje]] during the [[Asuka period]].
*[[553]]: [[Second Council of Constantinople]]
*[[554]]: Eviction of the [[Ostrogoths]] from Rome, and the re-unification of all Italy under Roman rule.
*[[561]] to [[592]]: Buddhist monk [[Jnanagupta]] translates 39 sutras from [[Sanskrit]] to [[Chinese language|Chinese]].
*[[563]]: The monastery on [[Iona]] is founded by [[Columba|St. Columba]].
*[[566]]: Birth of [[Emperor Gaozu of Tang|Lǐ Yuān]], founder of the [[Tang dynasty]] and Emperor of China under the name of Gaozu (618-626)
*[[568]]: [[Lombards]] invade [[Italy]] and establish a federation of dukedoms under a king.
*[[569]]: Nubian kingdom of [[Alodia]] converts to Christianity.
*[[569]]: Nubian kingdom of [[Makuria]] converts to Christianity.
*[[570]]: Birth of the last Islamic Prophet [[Muhammad]]. 
*[[574]]: The Roman Empire is invaded by various [[Slavs]], who plunder the Balkans.
*[[577]]: China's last of the [[Southern dynasties]], the [[Chen dynasty]] invents [[matches]].[[File:Sueben-Reich.jpg|thumb|The [[Suebi Kingdom]] would eventually be conquered by the [[Visigoths]] in the 6th century]]
*[[578]]: The world's oldest ongoing company, [[Kongō Gumi]], is founded in Osaka, Japan.
*[[579]]–[[590]]: Reign of [[Persia]]n [[Shah]] [[Hormizd IV]].
*[[582]]–[[602]]: Reign of Roman Emperor [[Maurice (emperor)|Maurice]].
*[[585]]: [[Kingdom of the Suebi|Suebian Kingdom]] conquered by [[Visigoths]] in Spain.
*[[587]]: [[Reccared]], king of the [[Visigoths]] in Spain, converts to [[Catholicism]].
*[[588]]: Shivadeva ascends the throne of the Lichchhavi dynasty in [[Nepal]].
*[[589]]: [[Third Council of Toledo]] adds the "[[filioque]]" clause to the [[Nicene Creed]] in Spain.
*[[589]]: China reunified under the [[Sui dynasty]] (589 – 618).
*[[590]]: [[Bahram Chobin]] usurps the Persian throne.
*[[590]]: [[Pope Gregory I|Gregory the Great]] succeeds [[Pope Pelagius II]] (who dies of plague) as the 64th pope.
*[[591]]: [[Khosrau II]] is restored as the Shah of Persia.
*[[594]]: Beginning of the [[Bengali calendars|Bengali Calendar]] or (বঙ্গাব্দ ''Bônggabdô'' or ''Banggabda'').
*[[595]]: Pope Gregory sends Roman monks led by [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] to England.

== Inventions, discoveries, introductions ==
*[[Dionysius Exiguus]] creates the [[Anno Domini]] system, inspired by the birth of [[Jesus]], in [[525]]. This is the system upon which the [[Gregorian calendar]] and [[Common Era]] systems are based.
*The technology of cutting and polishing [[diamonds]] was invented in [[India]], [[Ratna Pariksha]], a text dated to 6th century talks about diamond cutting.
*[[Backgammon]] (''nard'') invented in [[Iran|Persia]] by [[Burzoe]].
*[[Chess]], as [[chaturanga]], entered [[Iran|Persia]] from [[India]] and was modified to [[shatranj]].
*Breast-strap horse harness in use in [[Franks|Frankish]] kingdom.
*[[Byzantine Empire]] acquires [[silk]] [[technology]] from China.
*[[Chen dynasty]] from China invents [[matches]] in [[577]].
*[[Silk]] is a protected palace industry in the Byzantine Empire.
*Vaghbata, Indian [[Medicine|medical]] books.
*In [[589]] AD, the Chinese scholar-official [[Yan Zhitui]] makes the first reference to the use of [[toilet paper]] in history.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Green |first=Hilary |title=International Trade in the Middle Ages |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-4456-9841-0 |language=en}}</ref>
*Significant to the [[History of agriculture#Ancient China|history of agriculture]], the Chinese author Jia Sixia wrote the treatise [[Qi Min Yao Shu]] in [[535]], and although it quotes 160 previous Chinese [[agronomy]] books, it is the oldest existent Chinese agriculture treatise. In over one hundred thousand written [[Chinese characters]], the book covered land preparation, seeding, cultivation, orchard management, forestry, animal husbandry, trade, and culinary uses for crops.

== Notes ==
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==References==
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