620s BC

Events and trends

*628 BC — King Josiah of Judah dies in the Battle of Megiddo against Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt, who is on his way north to aid the Assyrian state of Ashur-uballit II. Jehoahaz succeeds his father Josiah as King of Judah, but is quickly deposed by Necho, who installs Jehoahaz's brother Jehoiakim in his place.
* c. 627 BC — Death of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria; he is succeeded by Assur-etel-ilani.
* 626 BC — Nabopolassar revolts against Assyria, founds the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
* 625 BC — Medes and Babylonians assert their independence from Assyria and attack Nineveh (approximate date).
*c. 625 BC — Orientalizing period of vases ends in Ancient Greece.
* 624 BC — The Year 666 in the Mayan Calendar.
* 623 BC — Sin-shar-ishkun succeeds his brother Assur-etel-ilani as king of Assyria (approximate date).
* 622 BC or 621 BC — Text of Deuteronomy found in the Temple in Jerusalem.
*c. 620 BC — Archaic period in Greece starts.

ignificant people

* ? — Aesop
* 628 BC — Death of Duke Wen of Jin, China
* c. 626 BC — Jeremiah
* 625 BC — Death of Yuan Taotu, China
* c. 624 BC — Birth of Thales
* 621 BC — Death of Duke Mu of Qin, China