Who ruled
- Western Göktürk Khaganate Ashina Helu 651–657
And beyond the steppe
- China Tang Gaozong 649–683
- Iran Rashidun Uthman 644–656
- Korea Goguryeo Bojang 642–668
- Byzantium Heraclian Constans II 641–668
Eastern steppe
-
Environment · Late Antique Little Ice Age: the cold phase the Altai tree rings define from 536 to about 660 (536–660)
Climate and the steppe empires · First Göktürk Khaganate · Avars
The coldest decade in the Altai is the 540s
-
Environment · Lake Telmen stands 4.8 metres above its present level, a humid phase before the drying that follows (600–700)
Western steppe
-
Cheng Zhijie's campaign against Helu: the Karluks and the Chuyue beaten, the Chumukun city taken, Su Dingfang's first victory at the Yingsuo valley, and the massacre of Dadu city
Ashina Helu · On Oq · Tang
