6th century AD - Definition and Overview

(5th century — 6th century — 7th century — other centuries)

Events

• The first academy of the east the Academy of Gundeshapur founded in Persia by the Persian Shah Khosrau I.
• Irish colonists and invaders, the Scots, began migrating to Caledonia (later known as Scotland)
• Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland founded by St. Kevin
• Zen Buddhists enter Vietnam from China.
• Buddhist Jataka stories are translated into Persian by order of the Zoroastrian king Khosrau.
• Buddhism introduced to Japan from Baekje (Korea) in 552, thus contributing to the changes that occurred in the Asuka period.
• Outbreak of bubonic plague in Constantinople and the rest of the Roman Empire.
• Establishment of Karantania, first stable and independent state of Slovenians and of Slavs.
• The Kutriguri Bulgars move into modern Romania.
• Jewish influence in Aksum.
• Nubia is largely converted to Coptic Christianity.
• The area of modern Aargau falls to the Franks.
• The Kingdom of Funan dies out.

Significant persons

• Pope Gregory the Great (590-604)
• Arthur, defeated the Anglo-Saxons
• Justinian, Byzantine Emperor (527-565)
• Belisarius, last great Roman general
• Beowulf, (fictional?) king of the Geats
• Jordanes, author of the Getica.
• Procopius, a historian.

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

• Backgammon (nard) invented in Persia by Buzurgmihr
• Chess entered Persia from India and was modified
• Heavy plough in use in Po Valley, Italy
• Breast-strap horse harness in use in Frankish kingdom
• Byzantine Empire acquires silk technology from China

Decades and years