One hundred years, from 700 BC to 601 BC
The7th century BC began the first day of700 BC and ended the last day of601 BC .
Map of theNeo-Assyrian Empire at their apex in 671 BC TheNeo-Assyrian Empire continued to dominate theNear East during this century, exercising formidable power over neighbors likeBabylon andEgypt . In the last two decades of the century, however, the empire began to unravel as numerous enemies made alliances and waged war from all sides. The Assyrians finally left the world stage permanently when their capitalNineveh was destroyed in 612 BC. These events gave rise to theNeo-Babylonian Empire , which would dominate the region for much of the following century.
TheZhou dynasty continues inChina and theLate Period begins in Egypt with theTwenty-sixth Dynasty starting with the coronation ofPsamtik I .
InMesoamerica , theZapotec civilization began to develop in the area later known as theValley of Oaxaca .
A 16th-century depiction of theHanging Gardens of Babylon , byMartin Heemskerck , withTower of Babel in the background. 699 BC :Khallushu succeedsShuttir-Nakhkhunte as king of theElamite Empire .697 BC : Death ofKing Huan of Zhou , king of theZhou dynasty ofChina .696 BC :King Zhuang of Zhou becomes king of theZhou dynasty ofChina .696 BC : TheCimmerians ravagePhrygia , possible migration of theArmenians .691 BC : KingSennacherib ofAssyria defeats kingHumban-nimena ofElam in theBattle of Halule .690 BC :Taharqa , a king of theTwenty-fifth Dynasty , ascends the throne ofEgypt (approximate date).690s BC : —W'rn Hywt ofD'mt inEthiopia appears in the inscriptional record and mentions the king of Saba', Karib'il Watar.c. 690 BC-664 BC —Sphinx of Taharqa, from Temple T,Kawa ,Nubia , is made.Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt . It is now kept atThe British Museum ,London . The ruins of the pyramid ofTaharqa atNuri Relief depictingAssurbanipal in a chariot, inspecting booty and prisoners fromBabylon . Relief depicting the Assyrians besieging theElamite city ofHamanu in 646 BC The Fall of Nineveh , byJohn Martin 609 BC : KingJosiah ofJudah dies in theBattle of Megiddo againstPharaoh Necho II ofEgypt , who is on his way north to aid the rumpAssyrian state ofAshur-uballit II .609 BC : TheBabylonians defeat theAssyrian army ofAshur-uballit II and captureHarran . Ashur-uballit, the lastAssyrian king, disappears from history.609 BC :Jehoahaz succeeds his fatherJosiah asKing of Judah , but is quickly deposed byNecho , who installs Jehoahaz's brotherJehoiakim in his place.607 BC : Death ofKing Kuang of Zhou , king of theZhou dynasty ofChina .606 BC :King Ding of Zhou becomes king of theZhou dynasty ofChina .605 BC :Battle of Carchemish :Crown Prince Nebuchadnezzar ofBabylon defeats the army ofNecho II ofEgypt , securing theBabylonian conquest ofAssyria . TheBabylonians pursue the Egyptians throughSyria andPalestine .605 BC :Nebuchadnezzar II succeeds his fatherNabopolassar as King ofBabylon .601 BC : An alliance ofMedes (from westernIran ) andScythians (who originated from theEurasian Steppe ) invade the northern and eastern parts ofAssyria .600 BC : Foundation ofCapua .600 BC :India —Age of theMahajanapadas —16 polities rule India—Kasi ,Kosala ,Anga ,Magadha ,Vajji (or Vṛji),Malla ,Chedi ,Vatsa (or Vamsa),Kuru ,Panchala ,Matsya (or Maccha),Surasena ,Assaka ,Avanti ,Gandhara ,Kamboja 600 BC : Foundation ofMilan byCelts (approximate date).600 BC : Foundation ofMarseille byPhoceans (traditional date).600 BC :Smyrna sacked and destroyed.600 BC :Nebuchadnezzar builds theHanging Gardens of Babylon .[ edit ] See:List of sovereign states in the 7th century BC .
