648 BCE

Messenians in the Peloponnese revolt against Sparta under the leadership of king Aristomenes, beginning a struggle that will continue until 631 BC. Greece's 33rd games of the Olympiad is held at Olympia with a new event: the pankration is a no-holds-barred contest that combines boxing and wrestling. Babylon falls to Assyrian forces after a 3-year siege (see 651 BC); starved out by his half brother Ashurbanipal, king Shamash-shum-ukin commits suicide in his burning palace, as the Assyrians slaughter his city's garrison and much of its population.

In the 640s BC, the 7th century BC.