560 BC – 550 BCs

Events in 560 BC – 550 BC 2

• 559 BC – 530 BC Cyrus the Great Founder of the Persian Empire Cyrus the Great united the Persians and Medes and conquered Lydia and Babylon to build the first Persian empire. Famed for his tolerance, he freed the Jews from Babylonian captivity, and the Cyrus Cylinder recording his policies is often called the first charter of human rights.
• 551 BC – 479 BC Confucius 551–479 BC — founder of Confucianism Kong Qiu (Confucius) was born in the state of Lu in 551 BC. His teachings on social harmony, filial piety, ritual propriety and benevolent government became the foundation of Chinese civilisation for 2,500 years. His conversations were recorded by disciples in the Analects. Confucianism shaped Chinese government, education, family structure and ethics more profoundly than any other single thinker.