616 Age of Pharaoh Necho; Tyrians in his service sail round Africa.

607 Nineveh taken by the Medes and Babylonians.

604 Age of Pittacus (general of Mitylene); Sappho (Greek poetess).

594 Age of Ezekiel.

591 Pythian Games begin; Age of Thales (philosopher); Æsop (fabulist).

588 Nebuchadnezzar takes Jerusalem; End of the kingdom of Judah; Beginning of the Babylonish captivity; 572 Nebuchadnezzar takes Tyre after a siege of thirteen years.

570 Voyage of Hanno along the west coast of Africa; about the same time Himilco sails to Britain.

560 Union of the Medes and Persians; Cyaxares king of the Medes.

559 Persian empire founded by Cyrus; Age of Anaximander, inventor of globes and charts.

548 Cyrus defeats Crœsus at Thymbra; Takes Sardis; Conquers Lydia.