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Sumer Middle East 5000s-2000s BCE Probable cause of demise: Invasion Pictured: U.S. Soldiers climb the steps of the Ziggurat of Ur, a Sumerian monument built during the Early Bronze Age (21st century BC).![02_minoan_bull]()
Minoan Southern Europe 2700s-1500s BCE Probable cause of demise: Natural disaster, invasion Pictured: A fresco found at the Minoan site of Knossos, indicating a sport or ritual of "bull leaping", the red skinned figure is a man and the two light skinned figures are women.![03_harappa_coach]()
Harappa Indian Subcontinent 3300s-1300s BCE Probable cause of demise: Environmental collapse Pictured: A Harappan coach driver, ~2000 BCE![04_nok_sculpture]()
Nok Africa 1000s BCE-500s CE Probable cause of demise: Unknown Pictured: Nok sculpture. Terracotta, 6th century BCE–6th century CE, Nigeria.![05_mayan_acropolis]()
Maya Central America 2600s BCE-900s CE Probable cause of demise: Environmental collapse, overpopulation Pictured: North Acropolis, Tikal, Guatemala.![06_anasazi_dwelling]()
Anasazi North America 1200s BCE-1300s CE Probable cause of demise: Environmental collapse, overpopulation Pictured: Remains of multistory dwellings constructed into the side of the canyon wall at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico.![07_pitcairn_island]()
Polynesians of the Pitcairn Islands South Pacific 1000s-1400s Probable cause of demise: Invasions, disease Pictured: NASA Satellite Image of Pitcairn Island in the Pacific Ocean.![08_aztec_pyramid]()
Aztec Central America 1200s-1500s Probable cause of demise: Invasions, disease Pictured: The Aztec Pyramid at St. Cecilia Acatitlan, Mexico State.![09_inca_machupicchu]()
Inca South America 1200s-1572 Probable cause of demise: Disease, overpopulation Pictured: Machu Picchu Temple of the Sun (also named "the watch tower"), located in the Cusco Region of Peru, South America.![10_rapa_nui_moai]()
Rapa Nui South Pacific 300s-1800s Probable cause of demise: Environmental collapse, overpopulation Pictured: Moai, monolithic human figures carved from rock, at Rano Raraku, Easter Island.![11_beothuk_museum]()
Beothuk North America 1500s-1829 Probable cause of demise: Invasion, disease Pictured: A Beothuk archaeological site and museum in northeastern Newfoundland.11 lost civilizations and how they might have fallen
When ancient civilizations fall, the reasons for their demise often remain a mystery. But modern science has helped us paint a clearer picture of what may have brought a few of the most famous cultures to extinction. For more fascinating facts, check out Listomania.
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- 11 lost civilizations and how they might have fallen
