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
- Zen Buddhists enter Vietnam from China.
- Buddhist Jataka stories are translated into Persian by order of the Zoroastrian king Khosrau.
- 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.
Significant persons
- Pope Gregory the Great (590-604)
- Arthur, defeated the Anglo-Saxons
- Justinian, Byzantine Emperor (527-565)
- Belisarius, last great Roman general
- Beowulf, (fictional?) king of the Geats
- Jordanes, author of the Getica.
- Procopius, a historian.
- Abraham Kidunaia
Inventions, discoveries, introductions
- Backgammon (nard) invented in Persia by Buzurgmihr
- Chess entered Persia from India and was modified
- Heavy plough in use in Po Valley, Italy
- Breast-strap horse harness in use in Frankish kingdom
- Byzantine Empire acquires silk technology from China