500s BC

Centuries: 7th century BC - 6th century BC - 5th century BC Decades: 550s BC - 540s BC - 530s BC - 520s BC - 510s BC - 500s BC - 490s BC - 480s BC - 470s BC - 460s BC - 450s BC

---

\nEvents and Trends\n* 509 BC - Foundation of the Roman Republic\n* 508 BC - Office of pontifex maximus created in Rome\n* 507 BC - Cleisthenes, Greek reformer, took power and increased democracy\n* 505 BC - First pair of Roman consuls elected\n* 502 BC - December 4 Solar eclipse darkens Egypt. (computed, no clear historical record of observation)\n* 502 BC - The Latin League defeats the Etruscanss under Lars Porsenna at Aricia.\n* 501 BC - Cleisthenes reforms the democracy in Athens.\n* 501 BC - Naxos is attacked by the Persian Empire.\n* 501 BC - In response to threats by the Sabines, Rome creates the office of dictator.\n* 501 BC - Confucius is appointed governor of Chung-tu.\n* 501 BC - Gadir (present-day Cádiz) is captured by Carthage. (approximate date) Significant People\n* 502 BC - Death of Anaximenes of Miletus, philosopher