640s BC

Centuries: 8th century BC - 7th century BC - 6th century BC

Decades: 690s BC 680s BC 670s BC 660s BC 650s BC - 640s BC - 630s BC 620s BC 610s BC 600s BC 590s BC

Events and trends

* Assyrian king Ashurbanipal founds library, which includes our earliest complete copy of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
* 649 BC - Indabigash succeeds Tammaritu as a king of the Elamite Empire.
* 649 BC - Babylonian revolt under Shamash-shuma-ukin is crushed by the Assyrians.
* 648 BC - Pankration becomes an event at the Ancient Olympic Games.
* April 6, 648 BC - Earliest Greek-chronicled solar eclipse.
* 647 BC - King Assurbanipal of Assyria sacks Susa.
* 642 BC - Ancus Marcius becomes the fourth king of Rome (traditional date).
* 640 BC - Great victory of Assyria over Elamite Empire.

Significant people

* 645 BC - Death of Guan Zhong, Prime Minister of the Chinese state of Qi.
* 645 BC - Death of Archilochos, Greek poet (approximate date).
* 643 BC - Death of Manasseh of Judah.
* 641 BC - Josiah becomes king of Judah.
* 640 BC - Birth of Stesichorus, Greek poet (approximate date).

Rate this Article

Was this article helpful?

Not at all Definitely                  1 2 3 4 5