This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of literature during the 6th through 9th centuries.
The list is chronological and does not include epigraphy or poetry. For poetry, see: 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th century in poetry. For early epigraphy, see List of languages by first written accounts.
During this period, a number of classical languages inherited from earlier epochs remain in active use (Chinese, Sanskrit, Latin, Greek, Persian, Hebrew). The same period also sees the rise of newly written vernaculars, partly replacing earlier literary languages (e.g. Old Hindi, Old French, Arabic, Germanic, Celtic, Turkic, etc.). Literary Chinese in Tang China Classical Sanskrit in the Middle kingdoms of India Latin in Western Europe Greek in the Byzantine Empire Middle Persian literature of the late Sassanid period Tiberian Hebrew as written by the Masoretes Classical Arabic in the Islamic Caliphate Classical Armenian literature of Medieval Armenia Old Georgian literature Old Turkic manuscript tradition, from the 8th century early Japanese literature, from the 8th century (Nara period) early Ge'ez literature early Dravidian (Tamil, and other Dravidian languages literatures) literature in South India (also Sri Lanka) early Celtic manuscript traditions (Old Irish, Old Welsh) early Germanic (Old High German, Old English, Old Saxon, Old Norse) literature, from the 8th century Old Church Slavonic, from the 9th century
Undated The bulk of literature in Classical Sanskrit dates to the early medieval period, but in most cases cannot be dated to a specific century.
The vocalized Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible developed during the 7th to 10th centuries.
The Old English Beowulf is dated to anywhere between the 8th and early 11th centuries.
Ecgbert, Archbishop of York c.732–766, establishes a notable library in the Northumbrian city of York.
6th century Arabic literature Antarah ibn Shaddad Aramaic literature (Jewish Babylonian Aramaic) Babylonian Talmud Indian Literature Sanskrit literature Aryabhata: Aryabhatiya Yativṛṣabha: Tiloyapannatti Varāhamihira: Pancha-Siddhantika, Brihat-Samhita Virahanka Jatasimhanandi: Varangacharita. Dharmakirti: Saṃbandhaparikṣhāvrtti, Pramāṇaviniścaya, Pramāṇavārttikakārika, PramāṇavārttikasvavrttiNyāyabinduprakaraṇa, Hetubindunāmaprakaraṇa, Saṃtānāntarasiddhināmaprakaraṇa, Vādanyāyanāmaprakaraṇa Bhāviveka: Madhyamakahṛdaya-karika, Prajñāpradīpa, Wisdom Lamp (Prajñāpradīpa) Śīlabhadra: Buddhabhūmivyākhyāna Udyotakara: Nyāyavārttika Prashastapada: Padārtha-dharma-saṅgraha, Praśastapāda Bhāṣya Vishakhadatta: Mudrārākṣasa, Devichandraguptam Bhatta Narayana: Venisamhara Sthiramati: Ratnagotravibhāga Dignāga: Pramāṇa-samuccaya, Hetucakra, Alambana-parīkṣā, Abhidharmakośa-marma-pradīpa, Trikāla-parikṣa, Nyāya-mukha Gaudapada: Māṇḍukya Kārikā, Durga Saptashati Tika, Uttara Gita Bhashya, Subhagodaya, Sri Vidyaratna Sutra bhasya Buddhapālita: Buddhapalitavrtti Tamil literature Bengali literature Bhusuku Pa: Charyapada (6, 21, 23, 27, 30, 41, 43 and 49 no para or verses) Byzantine literature PG 86a: Presbyter Timothy of Constantinople, Joannes Maxentius, Theodorus Lector, Procopius Deacon of Tyre, Theodorus Bishop of Scythopolis, Presbyter Timothy of Jerusalem, Theodosius I of Alexandria, Eusebius of Alexandria, Eusebius of Emesa, Gregentius of Taphar, Patriarch Epiphanius of Constantinople, Isaac of Nineveh, Barsanuphius of Palestine, Eustathius monk, Emperor Justinian, Agapetus the Deacon, Leontius Byzantinus PG 86b: Leontius Byzantinus (continuation), Patriarch Ephraim of Antioch, Paulus Silentiarius, Patriarch Eutychius of Constantinople, Evagrius Scholasticus, Eulogius of Alexandria, Simeon Stylites the Younger, Patriarch Zacharias of Jerusalem, Patriarch Modestus of Jerusalem, Anonymous on the siege of Jerusalem by the Persians, Jobius, Erechthius Bishop of Antioch in Pisidia, Peter Bishop of Laodicea. Secret History by Procopius Chinese literature (Early Middle Chinese) Emperor Jianwen of Liang Thousand Character Classic Latin literature (see Late Latin) Chronicle of Fredegar Commentary on Job by Pope Gregory I Etymologiae by Isidore of Seville Historia Regibus Gothorum Vandalorum et Suevorum by Isidore of Seville Historia Francorum by Gregory of Tours The Origin and Deeds of the Goths by Jordanes Patrologia Latina vols 63-80: Boetius, Ennodius Felix, Trifolius presbyter, Hormisdas I, Elpis, Fulgentius Ruspensis, Felix IV, Bonifacius II, Benedictus pater monachorum Occidentalium, Dionysius Exiguus, Viventiolus Lugdunensis, Trojanus Santonensis, Pontianus Africae, Caesarius Arelatensis, Fulgentius Ferrandus, Primasius Adrumetanus, Arator, Nicetius Trevirensis, Aurelianus Arelatensis, Cassiodorus, Gregorius Turonensis, Pelagius II, Joannes II, Benedictus I, Gregorius I, Eutropius Episcopus, Gregorius I, Paterius (Notarius Gregorii I), Alulfus Tornacensis, Maximus Caesaraugustanus Episcopus, Eutropius Episcopus, Tarra Monachus, Dinothus Abbas, Dynamus Patricius, Augustinus Apostolus Anglorum, SS Bonifacius IV, Concilium Romanum III, Bulgaranus, Paulus Emeritanus Diaconus, Tamaius De Vargas. Thomas, Gondemarus Rex Gothorum, Marcus Cassinensis, Warnaharius Lingonensis Episcopus, Columbanus Hibernus Agathias Evagrius Scholasticus Pahlavi literature Borzūya
7th century Arabic language Qur'an Indian Literature Sanskrit literature: Bhagavadajjukam (satirical play) Brahmagupta: Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta, Khandakhadyaka, Grahaṇārkajñāna Kumārila Bhaṭṭa: Shlokavartika, Tantravartika, Tuptika Chandragomin: Shisyalekha, Twenty Verses on the Bodhisattva Vow, Sarvatathāgataoṣṇīṣaśitātapatrā-nāmāparājitā-mahāpratyangirā-mahāvidyārājñī-nāma-dhāraṇi Bhāskara I: Āryabhaṭīyabhāṣya, Mahābhāskarīya, Laghubhāskarīya Bhutabali: Satkhandagama Madhava-kara: Rug-vinischaya Amaru: Amaru Shataka Mahendravarman I: Mattavilasa Prahasana (satire), Bhagavadajjukam Haribhadra: Anekāntajayapatākā, Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya, Ashtakaprakarana, Dharmabindu, Dhūrtākhyāna, Pañcāśaka, Ṣaḍdarśanasamuccaya, Samarāiccakahā, Sāstravārtāsamuccaya, Yogabindu, Yogaśataka, Sanmatti Prakaran Budhasvamin: Bṛhatkathāślokasaṃgraha Bāṇabhaṭṭa: Harshacharita, Kadambari Daṇḍin: Kavyadarsha, Daśakumāracarita Bhamaha: Kâvyâlankâra Subandhu Mayurbhatta: Surya Satakam Ravisena: Padma Purana Manatunga: Bhaktamara Stotra Haridatta: Grahacaranibandhana Prakrit Literature Jinabhadra: Brihatsangrahani, Briharkshetrasamasa, Visheshanavati, Visheshavashyaka Bhashya, Dhyanashataka, Jitkalpa Sutra Tamil literature Byzantine literature PG 87a-87b: Procopius of Gaza PG 87c: Procopius of Gaza, Joannes Moschus, Sophronius, Alexander monk PG 88: Cosmas Indicopleustes, Constantine the Deacon, Joannes Climacus, Agathias Myrinæ, Gregory Bishop of Antioch, Joannes Jejunator (Patriarch John IV of Constantinople), Dorotheus the Archimandrite PG 89: Anastasius Sinaita, Anastasius of Antioch, Anastasius Abbot of Euthymius, Anastasius IV Patriarch of Antioch, Antiochus of Sabe PG 90: Maximus the Abbot PG 91: Maximus the Confessor, Thalassius the Abbot, Theodore of Raithu PG 92: Paschal Chronicle, George Pisides PG 93: Olympiodorus Deacon of Alexandria, Hesychius, Leontius Bishop of Neapolis in Cyprus, Leontius of Damascus Latin literature Chronicon Paschale Origo Gentis Langobardorum Patrologia Latina vols. 80-89: Aileranus Scoto Hibernus, Ethelbertus Anglorum, SS Adeodatus I, Sisebutus Gothorum, Bertichramnus Cenomanensis, Protandius Vesuntinus Archiepiscopus, SS Bonifacius V, Sonniatus Rhemensis Archiepiscopus, Verus Ruthenensis Episcopus, Chlotarius II Francorum Rex, SS Honorius I, Dagobertus Francorum Rex, Hadoinudus Cenomanensis Episcopus, Sulpicius Bituricensis Episcopus, Autbertus Cameracensis, SS Ioannes IV, Eutrandus Ticinensis Diaconus, Victor Carthaginensis Episcopus, Braulio Caesaraugustiani, Taio Caesaraugustianus Episcopus, Isidorus Hispalensis, Liturgia Mozarabica, Venantius Fortunatus, Crisconius Africanus, Sergius I, Joannes VI, Felix Ravennatensis, Bonifacius Moguntinus Hiberno-Latin Hisperica Famina Old English literature Cædmon: Cædmon's Hymn Middle Chinese (see Tang dynasty Chinese writers) Bianji (辯機) Li Dashi (李大師, 570–628) Yan Shigu (顏師古, 581–645) Chu Suiliang (褚遂良, 597–658) Fang Xuanling (Fang Qiao, 房喬 579–648) Li Qiao (李嶠, 644–713) Li Jing (李靖, 571–649) Li Baiyao (李百藥, 564–647) Li Chunfeng (李淳風, 602–670) Liu Zhiji (劉知幾, 661–721) Luo Binwang (駱賓王, c. 640–684) Ouyang Xun (歐陽詢, 557–641) Sun Simiao (孫思邈, 581–682) Yu Shinan (虞世南, 558–638) Wei Zheng (魏徵, 580–643) Sun Guoting (孫過庭, 646–691) Armenian Sebeos John Mamikonean Anania Shirakatsi Ge'ez Garima Gospels
8th century Indian Literature Sanskrit literature Gautama Siddha: Treatise on Astrology of the Kaiyuan Era Prajñāvarman: Devātiśāyastotraṭīkā, Udānavargavivara, Viśeṣastavaṭikā Shivamara II: Gajamathakalpana Bhavabhuti: Mahaviracharita, Malatimadhava, Uttararamacarita Vilwamangalam Swamiyar: Shree Krishna Karnamrutam, Sreechinham, Purushakaaram, Abhinava-Kausthubha-Maala, Dakshinaamoorthy-Sthavam, Kaalavadha Kaavyam, Durgaasthuthi, Baalakrishna Sthothram, Baalagopaala Sthuthy, Sreekrishna Varadaashtakam, Vrindaavana Sthothram, Bhaavanaamukuram, Raamachandraashtakam, Ganapathy Sthothram, Anubhavaashtakam, Mahaakaalaashtakam, Kaarkotakaashtakam, Krishnaleelaa-Vinodam, Sankara-Hridayamgamaa, Subanda-Saamraajyam, Thinganda-Saamraajyam, Kramadeepika Akalanka: Laghiyastraya, Pramānasangraha, Nyāyaviniscaya-vivarana, Siddhiviniscaya-vivarana, Astasati, Tattvārtharājavārtika Dharmottara: Nyāyabinduṭīkā Lalla: Jyotiṣaratnakośa, Śiṣyadhīvṛddhidatantra Acharya Vamana: Kavyalankara Sutra Kamalaśīla: Bhāvanākrama, Madhyamālaṃkāra-panjika Padmapadacharya: Pañcapādikā Śālikanātha: Prakaraṇapañcikā, Rjuvimalāpañcikā, Dīpaśikhāpañcikā Śāntarakṣita: Tattvasaṅgraha, Tattvasaṅgraha Shantideva: Śikṣāsamuccaya, Bodhicaryavatara Virūpa: Amṛtasiddhi Adi Shankara: Commentaries on , Aitareya Upaniṣad, Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, Īśa Upaniṣad, Taittirīya Upaniṣad, Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad, Kaṭha Upaniṣad, Kena Upaniṣad, Chāndogya Upaniṣad, Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad, Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad, Praśna Upaniṣad, BhagavadgītaVishnu Sahasranama, Sānatsujātiya, Gāyatri Mantraṃ; Philosophical works: Vivekacūḍāmaṇi, Upadeśasāhasri, Pañcīkaraṇa, Ātma bodha, Aparokṣānubhūti, Nirvāṇa Ṣaṭkam, Manīśa Pañcakaṃ Vākya vṛtti Vidyananda: Ashtasahasri Vimalamitra: Vima Nyingthig. Sridhara: Trisatika, Pāṭīgaṇita Byzantine literature PG 94–95: John of Damascus PG 96: John of Damascus, John of Nicæa, Patriarch John VI of Constantinople, Joannes of Eubœa PG 97: John Malalas (6th century), Andrew of Crete, Elias of Crete and Theodore Abucara PG 98: Patriarch Germanus I of Constantinople, Cosmas of Jerusalem, Gregory of Agrigento, Anonymus Becuccianus, Pantaleon Deacon of Constantinople, Adrian monk, Epiphanius Deacon of Catania, Pachomius monk, Philotheus monk, Patriarch Tarasios of Constantinople PG 99: Theodore of Studion Latin literature Bede (Patrologia Latina vols. 90–95), Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum etc. Anonymous, Vita Sancti Cuthberti Stephen of Ripon, Vita Sancti Wilfrithi Paulus Diaconus, Historia Langobardorum John of Damascus Patrologia Latina vols. 96-101 Hildefonsus Toletanus, Julianus Toletanus, Leo II, Carolus Magnus, Ludovicus I, Lotharius, Rudolphus I, Paulinus Aquileiensis, Theodorus Cantuariensis, Alcuinus Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis (Voyage of St Brendan the abbot) 'Codex Amiatinus', earliest surviving complete manuscript of the Vulgate, produced at Monkwearmouth–Jarrow Abbey and gifted in 716 to the Pope Celtic literature Immram Brain (maic Febail) (The Voyage of Bran [son of Febail]) Immram Maele Dúin (The Voyage of Máel Dúin) Arabic literature Ibn Ishaq Khalil ibn Ahmad Wahb ibn Munabbih Ibn al-Muqaffa' Middle Chinese (see Tang dynasty Chinese writers) Du Huan (杜環, fl. 8th century) Du You (杜佑, 735–812) Li Bai (李白, 701–762) Liu Zhi (劉秩, fl. 8th century) Lu Yu (陸羽, 733–804), The Classic of Tea (茶經, chájīng, c. 760–62) Qian Qi (錢起, 710–782)