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6th Century BCE historical figures

Explore historical figures who lived in the 6th Century BCE. Read concise biographies, learn key facts, and play a quiz focused on this collection.

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People connected to 6th Century BCE

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7 figures

Statue depicting the philosopher Pythagoras

Pythagoras

Greece · c. 570–c. 495 BCE

Philosopher & mathematician

Portrait of Confucius from the Tang Dynasty

Confucius

China · c. 551–c. 479 BCE

Philosopher

Relief believed to depict Cyrus the Great

Cyrus the Great

Iran · c. 600–530 BCE

Founder of the Achaemenid Empire

Relief depicting Darius the Great

Darius the Great

Iran · 550–486 BCE

King of the Achaemenid Empire

Achaemenid Persian artifact associated with the era of Xerxes I

Xerxes I

Iran · c. 518–465 BCE

King of the Achaemenid Persian Empire

Statue of a helmeted Spartan hoplite associated with Leonidas I

Leonidas I

Greece · c. 540–480 BCE

King of Sparta

Chinese characters for the name Laozi

Laozi

China · traditionally 6th century BCE

Philosopher