Centuries:	5th century - 6th century - 7th century
Decades:	500s 510s 520s 530s 540s 550s 560s 570s 580s 590s

This Buddhist stela from China, Northern Wei period, was built in the early 6th century.

The 6th century is the period from 501 - 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era.

Events

The first academy of the east the Academy of Gundeshapur founded in Iran by Khosrau I of Persia.
Irish colonists and invaders, the Scots, began migrating to Caledonia (later known as Scotland)
Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland founded by St. Kevin
The monastery on Iona is founded by St. Columb
Zen Buddhists enter Vietnam from China.
Buddhist Jataka stories are translated into Persian by order of the Zoroastrian king Khosrau.
537: Battle of Camlann, final battle of King Arthur
Buddhism introduced to Japan from Baekje (Korea) in 552, thus contributing to the changes that occurred in the Asuka period.
Outbreak of bubonic plague in Constantinople and the rest of the Roman Empire.
Establishment of Karantania, first stable and independent state of Slovenians and of Slavs.
The Kutriguri Bulgars move into modern Romania.
Jewish influence in Aksum.
Nubia is largely converted to Coptic Christianity.
The area of modern Aargau falls to the Franks.
The Kingdom of Funan dies out.
Black Death raged over south east Asia.
Silk Road farther into Europe.
589-618: Sui Dynasty of China

Significant persons

Dionysius Exiguus creates the Anno Domini system, inspired by the birth of Jesus, in 525. This is the system upon which the Julian calendar, Gregorian calendar, and Common Era systems are based.
Backgammon (nard) invented in Persia by Burzoe
Chess entered Persia from India and was modified
Breast-strap horse harness in use in Frankish kingdom
Byzantine Empire acquires silk technology from China
Susrata, Vaghbata, Indian medical books

The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_century under GFDL