612. Conspiracy of Cylon at Athens.
609.[B] Josiah is slain at Megiddo, when Necho, the Egyptian King, crushes the power of Judah.
607.[B] Nineveh taken by the Medes and Babylonians, who overthrow the Assyrian monarchy.
605.[B] Nebuchadnezzar defeats Necho at Carchemish. Necho maintained a powerful fleet; the Phoenician ships under his order rounded the Cape of Good Hope. Herodotus says that twice during this voyage the crews, fearing a lack of food, after landing, drew their ships on shore, sowed grain and waited for a harvest. It will be noticed that this was over two thousand years before Vasco da Gama, to whom is usually given the credit of first circumnavigating Africa.
597.[B] Jerusalem captured by Nebuchadnezzar, who carries away the principal inhabitants.
595. The Delphic Games in Greece. [See "PYTHIAN GAMES AT DELPHI," i, 181.]
594. Adoption of the Constitution of Solon at Athens. [See "SOLON'S EARLY GREEK LEGISLATION," i, 203.]
586.[B] Nebuchadnezzar captures and destroys Jerusalem; puts an end to the kingdom of Judah. The Babylonish captivity.
570.[B] Egypt attacked by Nebuchadnezzar, who dethrones Hophra (Apries); he places Amasis on the throne.
560. Tyranny of Pisistratus at Athens. The Grecian poor were still getting poorer, notwithstanding Solon's legislation; they clamored for relief, placed Pisistratus at their head, and passed a decree allowing him to have a body-guard of fifty men armed with clubs. Pisistratus then threw off all disguise and established himself in the Acropolis as tyrant of Athens.