The 7th century BC began the first day of 700 BC and ended the last day of 601 BC. The Neo-Assyrian Empire continued to dominate the Near East during this century, exercising formidable power over neighbors like Babylon and Egypt. In the last two decades of the century, however, the empire began to unravel as numerous enemies made alliances and waged war from all sides. The Assyrians finally left the world stage permanently when their capital Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC. These events gave rise to the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which would dominate the region for much of the following century. The Zhou Dynasty continues in China and the Late Period begins in Egypt with the 26th dynasty starting with the coronation of Psamtik I. The state of Văn Lang in Vietnam is also believed to be formed around the time. Events 690s BC 699 BC: Khallushu succeeds Shuttir-Nakhkhunte as king of the Elamite Empire. 697 BC: Death of King Huan of Zhou, King of the Zhou Dynasty of China. 696 BC: King Zhuang of Zhou becomes King of the Zhou Dynasty of China. 696 BC: The Cimmerians ravage Phrygia, possible migration of the Armenians. 691 BC: King Sennacherib of Assyria defeats king Humban-nimena of Elam in the Battle of Halule. 690 BC: Taharqa, a king of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty, ascends the throne of Egypt (approximate date). 690s BC: —W'rn Hywt of D'mt in Ethiopia appears in the inscriptional record and mentions the king of Saba', Karib'il Watar. c. 690 BC-664 BC—Sphinx of Taharqa, from Temple T, Kawa, Nubia, is made. Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt. It is now kept at The British Museum, London. 680s BC 689 BC: King Sennacherib of Assyria sacks Babylon. 687 BC: Gyges becomes king of Lydia. 687 BC: Hezekiah succeeded by Manasseh as king of Judah. 682 BC: Death of King Zhuang of Zhou, King of the Zhou Dynasty of China. 681 BC: King Xi of Zhou becomes King of the Zhou Dynasty of China. 681 BC: Esarhaddon succeeds Sennacherib as king of Assyria. 670s BC 677 BC: Death of King Xi of Zhou, King of the Zhou Dynasty of China. 677 BC: Esarhaddon leads the Assyrian army against rebellious Arab tribes, advances as far as the Brook of Egypt. 676 BC: King Hui of Zhou becomes King of the Zhou Dynasty of China. 675 BC: Esarhaddon begins the rebuilding of Babylon. 674 BC: Esarhaddon