– Neo-Elamite period 1087 BC – Babylon destroyed by Assyrians 1070 BC to 350 AD – Cushites, an ancient African Nubian kingdom in Sudan 1102 to 850 BC – estimated period in which Homer lived 1069 to 664 BC – Third Intermediate Period of Egypt 1050 to 930 BC – Kingdom of Israel 1041 BC – King David captures Jerusalem, designates it the capital of the united Kingdom of Israel 1004 BC – King Solomon lays the foundation for the First Temple 1st millennium BC 927 BC – Jerusalem becomes the capital of the (southern) Kingdom of Judah after the split of the United Monarchy 884 to 858 BC – Ashurnasirpal II, king of Assyria, embarked on a vast program of expansion, known for his harshness, moved his capital to the city of Kalhu (Nimrod) 884 to 612 BC – Neo-Assyrian Empire 800 to 480 BC – Archaic period in Greece with the rise of the city-states, Greek colonies, and Epic Greek poetry: onset of Classical Antiquity 776 BC – first Olympic Games 745 to 727 BC – Tiglath-Pileser III, king of Assyria who introduced advanced civil, military, and political systems into the empire 711 BC – Sargon II conquers the kingdom of Israel and exiles the inhabitants of Samaria 710 BC – Sargon II captures Babylonia 689 BCE – Babylon destroyed by Sennacherib, king of the Assyria 677 BC – Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, defeats the rebellion of Abdi-Milkutti, the king of the Phoenician state of Sidon 678 to 549 BC – Median Empire 672 to 525 BC – Twenty-sixth dynasty of Egypt 667 BC – Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria, defeated the 25th Dynasty king Taharqa near Memphis 626 to 539 BC – Chaldean Empire (Neo-Babylonian Empire) 624 to 545 BC – Thales of Miletus, first philosopher in Ancient Greek philosophy, founder of the Milesian school 612 BC – Fall of Nineveh by a coalition Babylonians, Medes, Persians, Chaldeans, Scythians, and Cimmerians, leading to the destruction of the Neo-Assyrian Empire 605 BC – Battle of Carchemish between the Babylonians and the Egyptians allied with the remnants of the Assyrian army 609 BC – Battle of Megiddo (609 BC) between Necho II and Josiah of Judea 597 BC – King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon capturing Jerusalem 587 BC – King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon destroys Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple 570 to 495 BC – Pythagoras, founder of Pythagoreanism 600 or