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The 500s BC

53 sourced entries across 10 years, inside the 6th century BC. Each year below opens its own page; the lines under it are that year’s highest-ranked entries.

509 BCE10 entries

  • September 13—The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Rome's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September.
  • The Roman monarchy is overthrown, and the Republican period begins (traditional date).
  • Forces of Veii and Tarquinii, led by the deposed king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, are defeated in the Battle of Silva Arsia by the Roman army. Consul Publius Valerius Publicola celebrates the first republican triumph on March 1.

508 BCE4 entries

  • The office of rex sacrorum is created in Rome to carry out the religious duties formerly held by the kings.
  • Athenian democracy in the city of Athens is established under Cleisthenes following the tyranny of Hippias.
  • A war is fought between Rome and Clusium.

507 BCE4 entries

  • Athenians send an embassy to the Achaemenid satrap of Asia Minor - in the capital city of Sardis - for help in defending against Spartan threats, but refuse to accept Persian terms, which demanded the return of Hippias' tyranny.
  • Cleisthenes takes power in the city-state of Athens and institutes reforms that lead historians to consider him the father of democracy.

506 BCE3 entries

505 BCE1 entries

  • A war between Rome and the Sabines begins, concluding in 504 BC.

504 BCE1 entries

  • A war between Rome and the Sabines ends, having begun in 505 BC.

503 BCE3 entries

  • The Latin towns of Pometia and Cora, with the assistance of the Aurunci, revolt against Rome.

502 BCE4 entries

  • December 4—A solar eclipse darkens Egypt (computed, no clear historical record of observation).
  • Rome suppresses the Pometian revolt.
  • The island of Naxos rebels against the Persian Empire.

501 BCE5 entries

  • Confucius is appointed governor of Chung-tu.
  • In response to threats by the Sabines, Rome creates the office of dictator.
  • Cleisthenes reforms the democracy in Athens.

500 BCE18 entries

  • The world population reaches 100,000,000—85,000,000 in the Eastern Hemisphere and 15,000,000 in the Western Hemisphere, primarily Mesoamerica and northern South America (Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela).
  • The She-wolf, with late 15th century or early 16th century additions (twins), is made. It is now kept at the Museo Capitolino in Rome (approximate date).
  • Darius I of Persia proclaims that Aramaic will be the official language of the western half of his empire.