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The 650s BC

35 sourced entries across 10 years, inside the 7th century BC. Each year below opens its own page; the lines under it are that year’s highest-ranked entries.

659 BCE1 entries

  • The enemy city of Alba Longa is destroyed by the Romans.

658 BCE3 entries

  • End of the rule of Énna Derg in Ireland (according to Foras Feasa ar Éirinn by Geoffrey Keating).
  • End of the rule of Duke Zhuang in Yan.
  • End of the rule of Miltiades in Athens.

657 BCE3 entries

  • Cypselus becomes the first tyrant of Corinth.
  • King Gyges of Lydia establishes a state monopoly in metal coinage, making it illegal for individuals to issue the bean-shaped lumps of electrum used as a medium of exchange in place of commodities (approximate date).
  • The Li Ji Unrest, a series of events that ends in 651 BC, initiates when Li Ji, the concubine of Duke Xian of Jin, attempts to have her son Xiqi placed on the throne of Jin.

656 BCE3 entries

  • Psamtik I extends his control over all Egypt. The Twenty-fifth Dynasty, and subsequent Nubian period, end in Ancient Egypt.
  • King Shamash-shum-ukin of Babylon forms a secret alliance with Arabs, Aramaeans, Elamites, Persians, and Egyptians against his half brother Ashurbanipal.
  • Thebes submits to the Egyptian ruler Psamtik I of Sais, who has allied himself with Gyges of Lydia and employs Libyan soldiers in a rebellion against Assyrian rule with help from Carian and Ionian mercenaries. Psamtik permits the city's mayor Mentuemhat to retain his position, who is not only the most powerful Theban but also the fourth prophet of Amon.

655 BCE2 entries

  • The Assyrian army invade Elam and overtake its twin capital cities Madaktu and Susa and install a king that is pro-Assyrian on the throne.
  • Stagira on the Chalkidiki peninsula is founded by Ionian settlers from Andros.

654 BCE3 entries

  • Traditional date of foundation of Akanthos by Andros.
  • Traditional date of foundation of Lampsacus by Phocaea.
  • Traditional date of the foundation of Abdera in Thrace by colonists from Clazomenae.

653 BCE3 entries

  • Elamite forces attack southern Babylon. A large Assyrian army sent by king Ashurbanipal defeat the Elamites, in the Battle of Ulai, and kill their king, Teumman. He is succeeded by his nephew Ummanigash.

652 BCE3 entries

  • Elam withdraws from her alliance with king Shamash-shum-ukin of Babylon, who launches a premature attack on his half brother Ashurbanipal at year's end without waiting for reinforcements that have been promised by the Egyptian king Psamtik I.
  • Guan Zhong, Chinese chancellor, urges Duke Huan of Qi to attack the small neighboring State of Xing which is under attack from Quan Rong nomads. Later, he advises the duke not to ally with a vassal ruler's son who wishes to depose his father.

651 BCE8 entries

  • The Li Ji Unrest ends, resulting in the deaths of Li Ji, Xian, Xiqi and Zhuozi. After the revolt Duke Hui of Jin becomes ruler of the State of Jin.
  • King Ashurbanipal defeats the Babylonian army of his half brother Shamash-shum-ukin and surrounds the fortified city of Babylon. Beginning a 3-year siege during which the Assyrians will defeat Shamash-shum-ukin's allies.
  • King Teispes of Anshan (Persia) sends help to Shamash-shum-ukin but his heirs will later be obliged to accept Assyrian overlordship.

650 BCE6 entries

  • Wine pitcher (oenochoe) from Rhodes is begun, finished in 625 BC. It is now at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
  • A climate change occurs in Europe, affecting all the Bronze Age cultures with colder and wetter climate, and tribes from Scandinavia migrate south into the European continent.
  • Second Messenian War ended in 650.