Decades: 540s BC 530s BC 520s BC 510s BC 500s BC - 490s BC - 480s BC 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC 440s BC

Years: 497 BC 496 BC 495 BC 494 BC 493 BC - 492 BC - 491 BC 490 BC 489 BC 488 BC 487 BC

• First expedition of King Darius I of Persia against Greece, under the leadership of his son-in-law Mardonius. This marks the start of the campaign which culminated in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.

• Approximate date of Empedocles' birth in the Sicilian town of Acragas.