685-668. The second war between Sparta and Messenia.
660. [A] Prince Jimmu establishes Yamato as the capital of Japan. [See "PRINCE JIMMU FOUNDS JAPAN'S CAPITAL," i, 140.]
650.[A] The whole of Egypt united under Psammetichus I, founder of the XXVI dynasty. He frees Egypt from Assyrian rule and opens the country to the Greeks.
645-628. The Messenians make an unsuccessful attempt to throw off the yoke of Sparta.
[A] Date uncertain.
640. Birth of Thales, one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece. He taught the spherical form of the earth and the true causes of lunar eclipses; discovered the electricity of amber. The Seven Sages, or Wise Men, are commonly made up of Thales, Solon, Bias, Chilo, Cleobulus, Periander, and Pittacus.
Media becomes independent of Assyria; she appears as a single united kingdom.
625. Media, Assyria, and Syria have a great irruption of Scythians in their borders.
623. [FOUNDATION OF BUDDHISM," See i, 160.]
621. [B](624). Date of the legislation of Draco, at Athens.