610s BC

This article concerns the period 619 BC – 610 BC.

Events and trends

• 619 BC—Death of Ji Zheng, king of the Zhou dynasty of China.
• 618 BC—Silphium discovered in Cyrene according to Theophrastus.
• 618 BC—Ji Renchen becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.
• 616 BC—Lucius Tarquinius Priscus becomes the fifth King of Rome.
• 615 BC—Neo-Babylonian kingdom begin attacking Assyrian cities.
• 614 BC—Sack of Assur by the Medes and Babylonians.
• 613 BC—Death of Ji Renchen, king of the Zhou dynasty of China.
• 613 BC—King Zhuang of Chu ascends to the throne of Chu in China
• 612 BC—Ji Ban becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.
• 612 BC—An alliance of Medes, Persians, Scythians, Babylonians and Susianians besiege and conquer Nineveh at the Battle of Nineveh. King Sin-shar-ishkun of Assyria is killed in the sack.
• 612 BC—Ashur-uballit II attempts to keep the Assyrian empire alive by establishing himself as king at Harran.
• 612 BC—Estimation: Babylon, capital of Babylonia becomes the largest city of the world, taking the lead from Nineveh, capital of Assyria.
• 612 BC—Fall of the Assyrian Empire and Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
• 610 BC—Necho II succeeds Psamtik I (Psammetichus) as king of Egypt.
• 610 BC—Foundation of Naucratis

Significant people

• 610 BC—Birth of Anaximander, Greek philosopher (approximate date)
• 610 BC—Death of Psammetichus I, king of Egypt
• 612 BC—Death of King Sin-shar-ishkun of Assyria