Editing 7th century BC

{{Short description|One hundred years, from 700 BC to 601 BC}}
{{redirect|600s BC|the decade|600s BC (decade)}}
{{Centurybox|-7}}
The '''7th century BC''' began the first day of [[700 BC]] and ended the last day of [[601 BC]].
[[File:Map of Assyria.png|thumb|550px|right|Map of the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire]] at their apex in 671 BC]]

The [[Neo-Assyrian Empire]] continued to dominate the [[Near East]] during this century, exercising formidable power over neighbors like [[Babylon]] and [[Egypt]]. In the last two decades of the century, however, the empire began to unravel as numerous enemies made alliances and waged war from all sides. The Assyrians finally left the world stage permanently when their capital [[Nineveh]] was destroyed in 612 BC. These events gave rise to the [[Neo-Babylonian Empire]], which would dominate the region for much of the following century.

The [[Zhou dynasty]] continues in [[China]] and the [[Late Period of ancient Egypt|Late Period]] begins in Egypt with the [[Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt|Twenty-sixth Dynasty]] starting with the coronation of [[Psamtik I]].

In [[Mesoamerica]], the [[Zapotec civilization]] began to develop in the area later known as the [[Valley of Oaxaca]].

==Events==

[[Image:Hanging Gardens of Babylon.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A 16th-century depiction of the [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]], by [[Martin Heemskerck]], with [[Tower of Babel]] in the background.]]

=== [[690s BC]] ===

* [[699 BC]]: [[Khallushu]] succeeds [[Shuttir-Nakhkhunte]] as king of the [[Elamite Empire]].
* [[697 BC]]: Death of [[King Huan of Zhou]], king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[696 BC]]: [[King Zhuang of Zhou]] becomes king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[696 BC]]: The [[Cimmerians]] ravage [[Phrygia]], possible migration of the [[Armenians]].
* [[691 BC]]: King [[Sennacherib]] of [[Assyria]] defeats king [[Humban-nimena]] of [[Elamite Empire|Elam]] in the [[Battle of Halule]].
* [[690 BC]]: [[Taharqa]], a king of the [[Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt|Twenty-fifth Dynasty]], ascends the throne of [[History of ancient Egypt|Egypt]] (approximate date).
* [[690s BC]]: —[[W'rn Hywt]] of [[D'mt]] in [[Ethiopia]] appears in the inscriptional record and mentions the king of Saba', Karib'il Watar.
* c. 690 BC-[[664 BC]]—[[Sphinx]] of Taharqa, from Temple T, [[Kawa (Sudan)|Kawa]], [[Nubia]], is made. [[Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt]]. It is now kept at [[The British Museum]], [[London]].

=== [[680s BC]] ===

* [[689 BC]]: King [[Sennacherib]] of [[Assyria]] sacks [[Babylon]].
* [[687 BC]]: [[Gyges of Lydia|Gyges]] becomes king of [[Lydia]].
* [[687 BC]]: [[Hezekiah]] succeeded by [[Manasseh of Judah|Manasseh]] as king of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]].
* [[682 BC]]: Death of [[King Zhuang of Zhou]], king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[681 BC]]: [[King Xi of Zhou]] becomes king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[681 BC]]: [[Esarhaddon]] succeeds [[Sennacherib]] as king of [[Assyria]].

=== [[670s BC]] ===

* [[678 BC]]: [[Phraortes]] becomes king of the Medes
* [[677 BC]]: Death of [[King Xi of Zhou]], king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[677 BC]]: [[Esarhaddon]] leads the [[Assyria]]n army against rebellious [[Arab]] tribes, advances as far as the [[Brook of Egypt]].
* [[676 BC]]: [[King Hui of Zhou]] becomes king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[675 BC]]: [[Esarhaddon]] begins the rebuilding of [[Babylon]].
* [[675 BC]]: [[Teispes]] becomes a king of [[Anshan (Persia)|Anshan]].
* [[674 BC]]: [[Esarhaddon]] puts down a revolt in [[Ascalon]] supported by [[Taharqa]], king of [[History of ancient Egypt|Egypt]]. In response, the [[ancient Assyrians|Assyrians]] invade [[Egypt]], but [[Taharqa]] is able to hold the invaders off.
* [[673 BC]]: [[Tullus Hostilius]] becomes king of [[Rome]].
* [[671 BC]]: [[Esarhaddon]] again invades [[Egypt]], capturing [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]] as well as a number of the royal family.

=== [[660s BC]] ===
* [[669 BC]]: [[Assurbanipal]] succeeds his father [[Esarhaddon]] as king of [[Assyria]].
* [[669 BC]]: Argos defeats Sparta for the last time, this time using a [[hoplite phalanx]], at the [[battle of Hysiae (669 BC)|battle of Hysiae]].
* [[668 BC]]: [[Shamash-shum-ukin]], son of [[Esarhaddon]], becomes King of [[Babylon]].
* [[668 BC]]: [[History of ancient Egypt|Egypt]] revolts against [[Assyria]].
* [[668 BC]]: [[Nineveh]], capital of [[Assyria]] becomes the largest city of the world, taking the lead from [[Thebes, Egypt|Thebes]] in [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]].<ref name="geoabout" />
* [[667 BC]]: [[Byzantium]] founded by [[Megara]]n colonists under [[Byzas]]. (traditional date)
* [[664 BC]]: First naval battle in [[Greece|Greek]] recorded history, between [[Ancient Corinth|Corinth]] and [[Corcyra]].
* [[664 BC]]: [[Assurbanipal]] captures and sacks [[Thebes, Egypt]].
* [[664 BC]]: [[Psammetichus I]] succeeds [[Necho I]] as king of [[Lower Egypt]].
* [[664 BC]]: [[Taharqa]] appoints his nephew [[Tantamani]] as his successor of [[Upper Egypt]].
* [[660s BC|February 11, 660 BC]]—Traditional founding date of [[Japan]] by [[Emperor Jimmu]].
* [[660 BC]]: First known use of the [[Demotic (Egyptian)|Demotic]] script.
* [[660 BC]]: [[Psammetichus I]] drives the [[Assyria]]ns out of [[Egypt]].
* [[660 BC]]: Estimated date of the [[impact event|impact]] that created the [[Kaali crater]]

=== [[650s BC]] ===
* [[650s BC]]: [[The Spartan Creed]] by Ancient Greek poet [[Tyrtaeus]]
* [[650s BC]]: Occupation begins at [[Maya civilization|Maya]] site of [[Piedras Negras, Guatemala]].
* [[657 BC]]: [[Cypselus]] becomes the first [[tyrant]] of [[Ancient Corinth|Corinth]].
* [[656 BC]]: [[Psammetichus I|Psammetichus]] extends his control over all of [[History of ancient Egypt|Egypt]]. End of [[Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt|Twenty-fifth Dynasty]].
* [[653 BC]]: [[Atta-Khumma-In-Shushinak]] and [[Khumbanigash II]] succeed [[Shilhak-In-Shushinak]] and [[Tempti-Khumma-In-Shushinak]] as kings of the [[Elamite Empire]].
* [[653 BC]]: [[Atlanersa]] becomes ruler of the [[Kingdom of Kush#Napatan period (750–542 BC)|Napatan kingdom of Kush]] after the collapse of the [[Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt]].
* [[652 BC]]: [[Babylonia]] rises in revolt under [[Shamash-shum-ukin]] against the [[Assyria]]ns.
* [[651 BC]]: [[King Xiang of Zhou]] becomes king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[650 BC]]: The town of [[Abdera, Thrace|Abdera]] in [[Thrace]] is founded by colonists from [[Clazomenae]].
* [[650 BC]]: A [[Climate variability and change|climate change]] affects all the [[Bronze Age]] cultures in [[Europe]] with colder and wetter climate, and tribes from the [[Scandinavia]]n [[Nordic Bronze Age]] cultures are pushed downwards into the [[European continent]].

=== [[640s BC]] ===

* [[640s BC]]: [[Assyria]]n king [[Ashurbanipal]] founds [[Library of Ashurbanipal|library]], which included our earliest complete copy of the ''[[Epic of Gilgamesh]]''.
* [[649 BC]]: [[Indabigash]] succeeds [[Tammaritu II|Tammaritu]] as a king of the [[Elamite Empire]].
* [[649 BC]]: [[Babylonia]]n revolt under [[Shamash-shum-ukin]] is crushed by the [[Assyria]]ns.
* [[648 BC]]: [[Pankration]] becomes an event at the [[Ancient Olympic Games]].
* [[640s BC|April 6, 648 BC]]: Earliest [[Ancient Greece|Greek]]-chronicled [[solar eclipse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEsearch/SEsearchmap.php?Ecl=-06470406|title=Total Solar Eclipse of -647 April 06|author=F. Espenak and Xavier Jubier|publisher=NASA}}</ref>
* [[647 BC]]: [[Monarch|King]] [[Assurbanipal]] of [[Assyria]] [[Battle of Susa|sacks Susa]].
* [[642 BC]]: [[Ancus Marcius]] becomes king of [[Rome]] (traditional date).
*c.[[640s BC|641 BC]]: [[Josiah]] becomes king of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]].
* [[640 BC]]: Decisive victory of [[Assyria]] over [[Elamite Empire]]; [[Ashurbanipal|Assurbanipal]] captures its last king [[Khumma-Khaldash III]], annexes Elam, and lays waste the country.<ref>Potts, D. T. (1999) "The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State" (Cambridge World Archaeology)</ref>

=== [[630s BC]] ===

* [[632 BC]]: [[Cylon (ancient Athenian)|Cylon]], [[Athens|Athenian]] [[Nobility|noble]], seizes the [[Acropolis, Athens|Acropolis]] in a failed attempt to become king.
* [[632 BC]]: In the [[Battle of Chengpu]], the [[China|Chinese]] kingdom of [[Jin (Chinese state)|Jin]] and her allies defeat the kingdom of [[Chu (state)|Chu]] and her allies.
* [[631 BC]]: Founding of [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]], a [[Archaic Greece|Greek]] colony in [[Libya]] ([[North Africa]]) (approximate date).
* [[631 BC]]: [[Sadyates]] becomes king of [[Lydia]].

=== [[620s BC]] ===

* [[627 BC]]: Death of [[Assurbanipal]], king of [[Assyria]]; he is succeeded by [[Assur-etel-ilani]] (approximate date).
* [[626 BC]]: [[Nabopolassar]] revolts against [[Assyria]], founds the [[Neo-Babylonian Empire]].
* [[625 BC]]:  [[Cyaxares]] becomes king of the [[Median Empire]].
* [[625 BC]]: [[Medes]] and [[Babylonians]] assert their independence from [[Assyria]] and attack [[Nineveh]] (approximate date).
* [[623 BC]]: [[Sin-shar-ishkun]] succeeds his brother [[Assur-etel-ilani]] as king of [[Assyria]] (approximate date).
* [[622 BC]]: Text of [[Deuteronomy]] found in the [[Temple in Jerusalem]]. The Hebrew prophet [[Ezekiel]] said to be born this year.

=== [[610s BC]] ===
[[File:Fall_of_nineveh.jpg|thumb|''The Fall of Nineveh'', by [[John Martin (painter)|John Martin]]]]
* [[619 BC]]: [[Alyattes of Lydia|Alyattes]] becomes king of [[Lydia]].
* [[619 BC]]: Death of [[King Xiang of Zhou]], king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[618 BC]]: [[King Qing of Zhou]] becomes king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[616 BC]]: [[Lucius Tarquinius Priscus]] becomes king of [[Rome]].
* [[614 BC]]: Sack of [[Assur|Ashur]] by the [[Medes]] and [[Babylonians]].
* [[613 BC]]: Death of [[King Qing of Zhou]], king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[612 BC]]: [[King Kuang of Zhou]] becomes king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[612 BC]]: An alliance of [[Medes]], [[Babylonia]]ns and [[Susa|Susianians]] besiege and conquer [[Nineveh]]. King [[Sin-shar-ishkun]] of [[Assyria]] is killed in the sack.
* [[612 BC]]: [[Ashur-uballit II]] attempts to keep the [[Assyria]]n empire alive by establishing himself as king at [[Harran]].
* [[612 BC]]: [[Babylon]], capital of [[Babylonia]] becomes the largest city of the world, taking the lead from [[Nineveh]], capital of [[Assyria]].<ref name="geoabout">{{cite web|url=http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa011201a.htm|title=Largest Cities Through History|work=About.com Geography|access-date=2006-05-09|archive-date=2005-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050527095609/http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa011201a.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[610 BC]]: [[Necho II]] succeeds [[Psammetichus I]] as king of [[History of ancient Egypt|Egypt]].

=== [[600s BC (decade)|600s BC]] ===

* [[609 BC]]: King [[Josiah]] of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] dies in the [[Battle of Megiddo (609 BC)|Battle of Megiddo]] against [[Pharaoh]] [[Necho II]] of [[Egypt]], who is on his way north to aid the rump [[Assyria]]n state of [[Ashur-uballit II]].
* [[609 BC]]: The [[Babylonians]] defeat the [[Assyrian army]] of [[Ashur-uballit II]] and capture [[Harran]]. Ashur-uballit, the last [[Assyria]]n king, disappears from history.
* [[609 BC]]: [[Jehoahaz of Judah|Jehoahaz]] succeeds his father [[Josiah]] as [[King of Judah]], but is quickly deposed by [[Necho II|Necho]], who installs Jehoahaz's brother [[Jehoiakim]] in his place.
* [[607 BC]]: Death of [[King Kuang of Zhou]], king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[606 BC]]: [[King Ding of Zhou]] becomes king of the [[Zhou dynasty]] of [[China]].
* [[605 BC]]: [[Battle of Carchemish]]: [[Crown Prince]] [[Nebuchadnezzar]] of [[Babylon]] defeats the army of [[Necho II]] of [[Egypt]], securing the [[Babylonia]]n conquest of [[Assyria]]. The [[Babylonians]] pursue the Egyptians through [[Syria]] and [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]].
* [[605 BC]]: [[Nebuchadnezzar II]] succeeds his father [[Nabopolassar]] as King of [[Babylon]].
* [[601 BC]]: An alliance of [[Medes]] (from western [[Iran]]) and [[Scythians]] (who originated from the [[Eurasian Steppe]]) invade the northern and eastern parts of [[Assyria]].
* [[600 BC]]: Foundation of [[Capua]].
* [[600 BC]]: [[India]]—Age of the [[Mahajanapadas]]—16 polities rule India—[[Kasi Kingdom|Kasi]], [[Kosala]], [[Anga]], [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]], [[Vajjika League|Vajji]] (or Vṛji), [[Malla (tribe)|Malla]], [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]], [[Vatsa]] (or Vamsa), [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]], [[Panchala]], [[Matsya (tribe)|Matsya]] (or Maccha), [[Surasena]], [[Assaka]], [[Avanti (India)|Avanti]], [[Gandhara]], [[Kamboja Kingdom|Kamboja]]
* [[600 BC]]: Foundation of [[Milan]] by [[Celts]] (approximate date).
* [[600 BC]]: Foundation of [[Marseille]] by [[Phoceans]] (traditional date).
* [[600 BC]]: [[Smyrna]] sacked and destroyed.
* [[600 BC]]: [[Nebuchadnezzar II|Nebuchadnezzar]] builds the [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]].

==Inventions, discoveries, introductions==
* First metal [[coin]]s used by the [[Lydia]]ns of western [[Anatolia]]. Until c. [[525 BC]], [[coin]]s bore an image on one side only.
* [[Greeks]] adopt coins from [[Asia Minor]].
* [[Iron (material)|Iron]] allegedly discovered in [[China]].
* 7th century BC – [[4th century BC]] – Etruscan cemetery of La [[Banditaccia]], [[Cerveteri]] is made.

==Sovereign states==
See: [[List of sovereign states in the 7th century BC]].

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

{{Decades and years}} 
{{Centuries}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:7th Century Bc}}
[[Category:7th century BC| ]]
[[Category:1st millennium BC|-3]]
[[Category:Centuries|-93]]