The 6th century BC started on the first day of 600 BC and ended on the last day of 501 BC.
In Western Asia, the first half of this century was dominated by the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which had risen to power late in the previous century after successfully rebelling against Assyrian rule. The Kingdom of Judah came to an end in 586 BC when Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar II captured Jerusalem, and removed most of its population to their own lands. Babylonian rule was ended in the 540s by Cyrus, who founded the Persian Empire in its stead. The Persian Empire continued to expand and grew into the greatest empire the world had known at the time.
Map of the Eastern Hemisphere in 600 BC, the beginning of the sixth century BC.Map of the Eastern Hemisphere in 500 BC, the end of the sixth century BC.
28 May 585 BC: A solar eclipse occurs as predicted by Thales, while Alyattes is battlingCyaxares. This leads to a truce. This is one of the cardinal dates from which other dates can be calculated.
570 BC: End of the Babylonian siege against the city of Tyre with a partial victory by the Babylonians. It was the longest siege of the city in history, lasting 13 years.
Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and Bengbu Museum (June 2015). "The Excavation of the tomb of Bai, Lord of the Zhongli State". Chinese Archaeology. 14 (1). Berlin, Boston: Walter de Gruyter: 62–85. doi:10.1515/char-2014-0008.