600 (DC) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 600 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years. Events By place Europe King Chlothar II of Neustria is defeated by his nephews, Theudebert II and Theuderic II, at Dormelles (approximate date). Germanic and Slavic peoples have tremendous population growth, with the Slavs colonizing the Balkan Peninsula. Rome continues as part of the Byzantine Empire. The Italian mainland is divided into independent cities and duchies. Venice continues as an independent realm, having been built up from fishing villages and settled by fugitives. Dorestad, lying in a fork between two branches of the Rhine, is established by the Franks as a trade center. King Agilulf of the Lombards and Queen Theodelinda build a palace complex at Monza, northeast of Milan. Moravians gain independence, by holding off the attacks from the Avars and the Franks who try to invade. According to the Ynglinga saga, king Ingvar of Sweden invades Adalsysla (present day Lääne County in Estonia), but is killed by the locals (approximate date). Smallpox arrives in Western Europe for the first time (approximate date). Britain The Welsh bard, Prince Aneirin of the Pennines (North West of England), writes the poem, "Y Gododdin", recording the events of the Battle of Catraeth. The Britons of Strathclyde (Scotland), Wales and Cornwall are all separated by the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Asia The first of the Japanese embassies to Imperial China is sent (approximate date). The Persians begin to use windmills for irrigation (approximate date). Namri Songtsen becomes the new king of Tibet (approximate date). Chaturanga is played in its current form in India (approximate date). Yangdi, a Sui emperor, extends the Grand Canal. He reportedly assumes power by poisoning his father. Ma Shu-mou, aka Mahu, was one of the canal overseers and was said to have eaten a steamed 2-year-old child each day he worked on the canal. On completion the canal extended for 1,100 miles. 5.5 million people were pressed into service to complete the 1,550 mile canal. Quill pens, made from the outer feathers of crows and other large birds, became popular. The first books are printed in China. The oldest inscription in Mon language dated from 600 AD. later found at Wat Phorang, Thailand.