Arabia 500 BCE
What else is happening in the rest of the world...
Middle East history 500BCE
A succession of great empires - the Assyrian, the Babylonian, and now the Persian - have dominated the Middle East for the past few centuries
Africa history 500BCE
Bantu farmers from West Africa are beginning to spread out across the continent
India and South Asia history 500BCE
The return of urban civilization to ancient India has been followed by a creative period in its history, with the great world religion of Buddhism being founded
East Asia: China, Korea, Japan history 500BCE
The philosopher Confucius, whose teachings will influence millions of people down to the present day, lives at this time