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691 BCE
Buddhism becomes state religion of China
The official acceptance of Buddhism was a major landmark in this faith becoming one of the major religions in the world. -
651 BCE
Islamic conquest of Persia
After about 20 years of warfare, the Sassanian Empire collapses, allowing the Islamic caliphate to take control of most its territory. This is one of the most important events in the expansion of Islam. -
622 BCE
Hegira
The period when the Prophet Muhammad and his followers leave the city of Mecca, establishing themselves in Medina. This is a key point in the development of the Islamic religion. -
618 BCE
Tang Dynasty begins
Li Yuan leads a rebellion against the Sui Dynasty in China and becomes the first emperor of the Tang. His descendants would rule China for nearly 300 years, an era that was noted for its prosperity and stability, and a high point in Chinese civilization. -
590 BCE
Gregory the Great becomes Pope
Gregorius Anicius is elected Pope, taking the name Gregory I. He would reign until 604, and would undertake a series of measures that strengthened the role of the Papacy and spread the Christian religion. -
563 BCE
St Columbus founds Iona
The Irish missionary Columba and 12 companions set up a monastery on the Isle of Iona, just off the Scottish coast. This event marks an important point in the development of Christianity in the British Isles and the rise of monasticism in Western Europe. -
541 BCE
Plague of Justinian
A major pandemic that struck the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, causing the estimated deaths of 25 million people -
529 BCE
Code of Justinian issued
A set of laws created during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it is considered an important milestone in the history of law. -
525 BCE
Anno Domini calendar invented
A monk named Dionysius Exiguus creates this new dating system as part of his efforts to understand the dating of Easter. It wanted the year 1 AD to be the date when Jesus Christ was born, although later calculations show that his birth occurred before this. Gradually use of this calendar became more widespread, and is now the most widely accepted system for counting years in the world. -
523 BCE
Boethius writes The Consolation of Philosophy
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius, a Roman senator and official, is imprisoned by King Theodoric the Great. As he awaits his trial, Boethius writes this philosophical treatise, which examines various questions, including why bad things happen to good people. It has since become a major work of philosophy.