720s BC

Events and trends

• 728 BC—Piye invades Egypt, conquering Memphis, and receives the submission of the rulers of the Nile Delta. He founds the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt.
• 728 BC—Diocles of Corinth wins the stadion race at the 13th Olympic Games.
• 727 BC—Babylonia makes itself independent of Assyria, upon the death of Tiglath-Pileser III.
• 725 BC—Shalmaneser V starts a 3-year siege of Israel.
• 725 BC—Sparta conquers the neighboring region of Messenia and takes over the land.
• 724 BC—The Assyrians start a four-year siege of Tyre.
• 724 BC—The diaulos footrace is first introduced at the Olympics.

• 724 BC—Desmon of Corinth wins the stadion race at the 14th Olympic Games.
• 722 BC—In the fifth month of the year during the summer, Duke Zhuang of Zheng defeats his younger brother Gongshu Duan (共叔段) north of present-day Yanling County.
• 722 BC—Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by Assyrian king Sargon II.
• 722 BC—Duke Yin accedes to the throne of Lu in China, the first event recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals.
• 721 BC—The Assyrians conquer the tribes of northern Israel.
• 721 BC—Sargon II starts to rule. He builds a new capital at Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad).
• 720 BC—End of the Assyrian siege of Tyre.
• 720 BC—Orsippus of Megara wins the stadion race at the 15th Olympic Games.
• 720 BC—The "dolichos" footrace is introduced at the Olympics.
• 720 BC—Guardian figure (pictured, right), from the entrance to the throne room at palace of Sargon II is made. It is now kept in the Oriental Institute, Chicago.