General
Population: Between 190 and 230 million*
- Deaths: Totila king of Ostrogoths
Asia
- China: Justinian sends missionaries to China and Ceylon to smuggle out silkworms – start of European silk industry
- Japan: Buddhism introduced into Japan by Emperor Shotoko Taishi – start of the Asuka period
Europe
- Italian States: Italy finally purged of Goths - Roman empire restored
- Spanish States: Totila king of Ostrogoths killed at battle of Taginae fighting Byzantines - Teias becomes last king of Ostrogoths
Throne of Archbishop Maximian created at Ravenna
Middle East
- Byzantine Empire: Monks smuggle silkworms to Constantinople