The 7th century BC began the first day of 700 BC and ended the last day of 601 BC .
Map of the Neo-Assyrian Empire at their apex in 671 BC The Neo-Assyrian Empire continued to dominate the Near East during this century, exercising formidable power over neighbors like Babylon and Egypt . In the last two decades of the century, however, the empire began to unravel as numerous enemies made alliances and waged war from all sides. The Assyrians finally left the world stage permanently when their capital Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC. These events gave rise to the Neo-Babylonian Empire , which would dominate the region for much of the following century.
The Zhou dynasty continues in China and the Late Period begins in Egypt with the Twenty-sixth Dynasty starting with the coronation of Psamtik I .
In Mesoamerica , the Zapotec civilization began to develop in the area later known as the Valley of Oaxaca .
A 16th-century depiction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon , by Martin Heemskerck , with Tower of Babel in the background.
699 BC : Khallushu succeeds Shuttir-Nakhkhunte as king of the Elamite Empire .697 BC : Death of King Huan of Zhou , king of the Zhou dynasty of China .696 BC : King Zhuang of Zhou becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China .696 BC : The Cimmerians ravage Phrygia , possible migration of the Armenians .691 BC : King Sennacherib of Assyria defeats king Humban-nimena of Elam in the Battle of Halule .690 BC : Taharqa , a king of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty , ascends the throne of Egypt (approximate date).690s BC : —W'rn Hywt of D'mt in Ethiopia appears in the inscriptional record and mentions the king of Saba', Karib'il Watar.c. 690 BC-664 BC —Sphinx of Taharqa, from Temple T, Kawa , Nubia , is made. Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt . It is now kept at The British Museum , London .
609 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 rump Assyrian state of Ashur-uballit II .609 BC : The Babylonians defeat the Assyrian army of Ashur-uballit II and capture Harran . Ashur-uballit, the last Assyrian king, disappears from history.609 BC : Jehoahaz succeeds his father Josiah as King of Judah , but is quickly deposed by Necho , who installs Jehoahaz's brother Jehoiakim in his place.607 BC : Death of King Kuang of Zhou , king of the Zhou dynasty of China .606 BC : King Ding of Zhou becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China .605 BC : Battle of Carchemish : Crown Prince Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeats the army of Necho II of Egypt , securing the Babylonian conquest of Assyria . The Babylonians pursue the Egyptians through Syria and Palestine .605 BC : Nebuchadnezzar II succeeds his father Nabopolassar as King of Babylon .601 BC : An alliance of Medes (from western Iran ) and Scythians (who originated from the Eurasian Steppe ) invade the northern and eastern parts of Assyria .600 BC : Foundation of Capua .600 BC : India —Age of the Mahajanapadas —16 polities rule India—Kasi , Kosala , Anga , Magadha , Vajji (or Vṛji), Malla , Chedi , Vatsa (or Vamsa), Kuru , Panchala , Matsya (or Maccha), Surasena , Assaka , Avanti , Gandhara , Kamboja 600 BC : Foundation of Milan by Celts (approximate date).600 BC : Foundation of Marseille by Phoceans (traditional date).600 BC : Smyrna sacked and destroyed.600 BC : Nebuchadnezzar builds the Hanging Gardens of Babylon .
Potts, D. T. (1999) "The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State" (Cambridge World Archaeology)
