BCE550

BCE 550 refers to the year 550 before the Common Era, a date in the late 6th century BCE. The BCE designation is used in historical writing to count years backward from year 1 CE, and events from this period are often approximate due to variations in calendars and limited contemporaneous records.

In the Near East, 550 BCE is associated with the rise of Cyrus II of Persia. According to traditional chronology, Cyrus deposed the Median king Astyages and established the Achaemenid Empire around this time, initiating Persian expansion into western Asia. Subsequent campaigns extended Persian influence into Lydia and other regions, setting the stage for a durable imperial power that would shape regional politics for centuries.

In the Greek world, the year falls within the Archaic period, a time of growing city-states, colonization, and increasing political complexity. The Ionian city-states in Asia Minor faced pressure from Persian power, and the broader cultural landscape featured early philosophers of the pre-Socratic school. In East Asia, Chinese historical tradition places the birth of Confucius near 551 BCE, a date commonly cited in later sources.

Scholarly dating for a specific year like 550 BCE is often approximate and subject to revision as new inscriptions and archaeological evidence emerge. As such, BCE 550 is best understood within its wider historical context rather than as a single discrete event.