570 CE

Abraha, Christian ruler of coastal Yemen, who was acting as a general for the Christian kingdom in Abyssinia, begins a military expedition in Arabia against the predominantly pagan Quraysh of Mecca, known as the Year of the Elephant. Muhammad, Islamic prophet, is born in Mecca (today's Saudi Arabia). His father Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib dies a few months before his birth, so he and his mother Aminah bint Wahb are protected by Muhammad's paternal grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, who is recognized as the leading figure in his tribe, the Quraysh. A limestone statue of Boddhisattva is created in Henan (approximate date).

In the 570s, the 6th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Leutfred becomes duke of Alemannia (modern Germany).source
  • Spoleto becomes the capital of an independent duchy, under the Lombard chieftain Faroald (approximate date).source

Conflict & Security

  • Ctesiphon, capital of the Sassanid Empire, becomes the largest city in the world, taking the lead from Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire.source
  • Battle of Gwen Ystrad: A British alliance is forged between the kingdoms of Strathclyde, Bryneich and Elmet (approximate date).source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Abraha, Christian ruler of coastal Yemen, who was acting as a general for the Christian kingdom in Abyssinia, begins a military expedition in Arabia against the predominantly pagan Quraysh of Mecca, known as the Year of the Elephant.source

Religion & Belief

  • The first mention is made of the Spear of Destiny (approximate date).source
  • Muhammad, Islamic prophet, is born in Mecca (today's Saudi Arabia). His father Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib dies a few months before his birth, so he and his mother Aminah bint Wahb are protected by Muhammad's paternal grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, who is recognized as the leading figure in his tribe, the Quraysh.source
  • The Jews of Clermont-Ferrand are forced to convert to Christianity.source
  • Year of the Elephant, according to Islamic tradition.source
  • A limestone statue of Boddhisattva is created in Henan (approximate date).source
  • The anonymous Pilgrim of Piacenza travels the Holy Sites of Christianity in Syria, Palestine and Sinai, an experience that he later writes down as a travel report (approximate date).source

Births

  • Rigunth, daughter of Chilperic I (died 585)source
  • Khosrow II, last great Sasanian king of Iran (died 628)source
  • Imerius of Immertal, Swiss monk (approximate date)source
  • Muhammad, last prophet of Islam (died 632) (approximate date)source
  • Ammar ibn Yasir, companion of Muhammad.source
  • Namri Songtsen, king of Tibet (approximate date)source
  • Childebert II, king of Austrasia (died 595)source
  • Li Dashi, Chinese official and historian (died 628)source
  • Gao Heng, emperor of Northern Qi (died 577)source
  • Pei Ji, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (died 629)source
  • Pybba, king of Mercia (approximate date)source
  • Chen Yuan, crown prince of the Chen dynasty (approximate date)source
  • Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards (died 628)source

Deaths

  • January 15 – Íte of Killeedy, Irish nunsource
  • Fei Di, emperor of the Chen dynastysource
  • John Philoponus, Aristotelian commentator (born 490)source
  • Zhang Yao'er, empress dowager of the Chen dynasty (born 506)source
  • Antonina, wife of Belisarius (approximate date)source
  • Abraha, an Aksumite army general, Islamic tradition places his death immediately after his expedition to the Hejazsource
  • Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, father of Muhammad (born 545)source
  • Soga no Iname, leader of the Soga clansource
  • Armel, Breton prince and bishop (approximate date)source