Centuries: 5th century - 6th century - 7th century
Decades: 490s - 500s - 510s - 520s - 530s - 540s - 550s - 560s - 570s - 580s - 590s
Years: 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557
Events
- Silkworms are smuggled into the Byzantine Empire from China.
- Buddhism is introduced into Japan.
- Battle of Taginae: The Byzantine general Narses defeats and kills Totila, king of the Ostrogoths.
- Battle of Asfeld: Longobards under king Audoin defeat the Gepids
- Liang Yuan Di succeeds Liang Yu Zhang Wang as ruler of the Chinese Liang Dynasty.
- Cynric, king of Wessex, captures the fort at Old Sarum.
- The Buddhist goddess Benzaiten is said to have descended onto the island of Enoshima in Japan