700 bce

Communication

The first standard coinage is in use in Lydia (western Turkey), reputedly issued by King Croesus.

Rebuilt after a fire late in the seventh century, a five-story, 33-m (107 ft) pagoda dominates the Buddhist temple at Hōryūji near Nara, Japan.

Hezekiah's Tunnel is built as part of the waterworks for Jerusalem, primarily to provide water during an anticipated siege. Two teams had worked from opposite ends of the tunnel, but modern research suggests that they widened and straightened a natural passageway through the limestone that underlies the city rather than working through unbroken rock. See also 2200 bce Construction; 522 bce Construction.

Incubators are used in Egypt to hatch chicken eggs. See also 7000 bce Food & agriculture.

In Assyria (Iraq) the practice of digging underground tunnels, called qanats, to subterranean aquifers for irrigation purposes begins. The Romans and Arabs later spread this practice to the Mediterranean region. See also 1750 bce Food & agriculture.

A large-scale iron-manufacturing center grows up at what is now Hallstaat, Austria; another such center is in Meroë, Nubia (Sudan). See also 900 bce Materials.

Glaucus of Chios invents soldering with an alloy that melts easily. See also 2500 bce Materials.

In Greece, patients are treated at temples of the god Asklepios, whose staff with entwined serpents is still used as a symbol of medicine.

The true potter's wheel that can be rotated continuously is introduced. See also 3500 bce Tools.

The Assyrians use a sort of pulley. See also 390 bce Tools.

Water clocks begin to be used in Assyria.

The Phoenicians (or possibly the Greeks) introduce war galleys that have two banks of oars (biremes). These are more compact, sturdier, possibly more seaworthy, and less of a target to opposing rams, since the same number of rowers are used as in previous warships with single banks of rowers. One school of modern thought suggests that since the length of the ship is not increased by the Phoenicians, the bireme is top-heavy and easily capsized. See also 850 bce Transportation; 650 bce Transportation.

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