Family information unknown

General

Population: Perhaps 100 million*

• Births: Confucius born (K'ung Fu-tzu) to 497 (551 BC)
• Religion: Zoroastrianism founded in Persia (550 BC)
• Deaths: Zoroaster of Persia (553 BC)

Americas

• North America: Oaxaca center extablished at Monte Alban (550 BC)

Europe

• Britain: Hallstatt culture spreads (550 BC)
• Greece: Egyptian influence noted in Greek art (550 BC)

Middle East

• Lydia: Lydian empire taken by Cyrus of Persia (554 BC)
• Persia: Persian Empire founded by Cyrus (559 BC)
  Cyrus II the Great begins to rule (557 or 553 BC)
  Start of full Persian empire when Cyrus of Persia takes control of Medes (550 BC)
  Zoroastrianism founded (550 BC)