850s BC

This article concerns the period 859 BC – 850 BC.

Events and trends

 * 859 BC—Assurnasirpal II dies.
 * 859 BC—Shalmaneser attacks Syria and Israel.
 * 858 BC—Aramu becomes king of Urartu.
 * 858 BC—Shalmaneser III succeeds Assurnasirpal II as king of Assyria.
 * 854 BC or 853 BC—Shalmaneser III battles a Syrian coalition (including king Ahab of Kingdom of Israel and Hadadezer) in the battle of Qarqar.
 * 850 BC—Takelot II succeeds Osorkon II as King of Egypt.
 * c. 850 BC—Homer composes the Iliad and Odyssey.
 * c. 850 BC—Mesha erects the Mesha Stele, the Moabite Stone; the story is 34 lines, nearly complete and reveals the name 'Israel', a story of Mesha's revolt against the Kingdom of ancient Israel.
 * Nazarites and Rechabites establish early temperance movement.

Births

 * Shamshi-Adad V, king of Assyria, is born (approximate date).

Deaths

 * Feizi, 1st Ruler of Qin