10. The Olmec
One of the first Mesoamerican societies, the Olmec inhabited the tropical lowlands of south-central
Mexico.
The first signs of the Olmec are around 1400 BC in the city of San
Lorenzo, the main Olmec settlement which was supported by two other
centers, Tenochtitlan and Potrero Nuevo. The Olmec were master builders
with each of the major sites containing ceremonial courts, house mounds,
large conical pyramids and stone monuments including the colossal head
that they are most known for. The Olmec
civilization relied
heavily on trade, both between different Olmec regions and with other
Mesoamerican societies. Because they were one of the earliest and most
advanced Mesoamerican cultures at the time, they are often considered
the mother culture of many other Mesoamerican cultures.
Where did they go?
Around 400 BC the eastern half of the Olmec’s lands was depopulated-
possibly due to environmental changes. They may have also relocated
after volcanic activity in the area. Another popular theory is that they
were invaded, but no one knows whom the invaders might be.
9. The Nabateans
The Nabateans were a Semitic culture that inhabited parts of Jordan,
Canaan and Arabia from around the sixth century BC. They are most widely
known as the builders of the city of Petra, which served as their
capital. Petra is an
impressive city carved
out of the cliff side with the crown jewel being the Khazneh, or
Treasury, a giant Greek inspired building. The Nabateans’ wealth was
gained by being a major stop on a complex trading network, through which
they traded ivory, silk, spices, precious metals, gems, incense, sugar
perfume and medicine. Because of the extent of the trade route, the
Nabatean culture was highly influenced by Hellenistic Greece, Rome,
Arabia and Assyria. Unlike other societies of their time, there was no
slavery and every member of society contributed in the work duties.
Where did they go?
During the fourth century AD, the Nabateans abandoned Petra and no
one really knows why. Archeological evidence proves that their exodus
was an organized one that was unrushed, which leads us to believe that
they were not driven out of Petra by another culture. The most likely
explanation is that when the trade routes they relied on moved north
they could no longer sustain their civilization and left Petra behind.
8. The Aksumite Empire
The Aksumite Empire began in the first century AD in what is now
Ethiopia and is believed to be the home of the Queen of Sheba. Aksum was
a major trade center with exports of ivory, agricultural resources and
gold being traded throughout the Red Sea trade network and onward to the
Roman Empire and east towards India. Because of this, Aksum was a very
wealthy society and was the first African culture to issue its own
coinage, which in ancient times was a sign of great importance. The most
recognizable monuments of Aksum are the stelae, giant carved obelisks
that acted as the grave markers of kings and nobles. Early Aksumites
worshipped several gods but their main god was called Astar. In 324 AD,
King Ezana II was converted to Christianity and from then on Aksum was a
zealously Christian culture, and is even allegedly the home of the Ark
of the Covenant.
Where did they go?
According to local legend, a Jewish Queen named Yodit defeated the
Aksumite Empire and burned its churches and literature. However, others
believe that southern pagan queen Bani al-Hamwiyah led to the Aksumite
decline. Other theories include climate change, trade isolation and over
farming leading to starvation.
7.The Mycenaeans
Growing out of the Minoan civilization, the Myceanaeans merged around
1600 BC in southern Greece. Being spread out over two islands and the
southern mainland, the Myceaneans built and invaded many major cities
like Mycenae, Tiryns, Pylos, Athens, Thebes, Orchomenus, Iolkos and
Knossos. Many Greek myths are centered around Mycenae including the
legend of King Agamemnon, who led the Greek forces during the Trojan
War. The Myceaneans were a dominant naval power and used their naval
prowess for trade with other nations as well as for military endeavors.
Because of a lack of natural resources, the Myceaneans imported many
goods and turned them into sellable items and therefore became master
craftsmen, known throughout the Aegean for their weapons and jewelry.
Where did they go?
No one knows for sure, but one theory is that unrest between the
peasant class and the ruling class led to the end of the Myceaneans.
Other point to disruptions in trade routes, or natural factors like
earthquakes. But the most popular theory is that they were invaded by a
civilization from the north like the Dorians (who settled in the area
after the fall of the Myceaneans) or the Sea People (who at the time
were migrating from the Balkans to the Middle East).
6. The Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire grew out of the kingdom of Chenla in what is now Cambodia around the 9
th century
AD and became one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The
empire is known to most people as the civilization that built Angkor,
Cambodia’s capital city. The Khmer were an incredibly powerful and
wealthy culture who were open to several belief systems including
Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism, which were the
empire’s official religions. Their power also included military might as
they fought many wars against the Annamese and Chams.
Where did they go?
The decline of the Khmer Empire can be attributed to any combination
of several factors. The first being that the empire was ruled by a
devarajo or god king, but with introduction of Theravada Buddhism, which
teaches self enlightenment, the government was challenged. This led to a
lack of a desire to work for the devarajo which impacted the amount of
food being produced. During the reign of Jayavarman VII, an elaborate
road network was built to make it easier to transport goods and troops
throughout the Empire. But some scholars believe that these roads worked
against them, making it easier for invaders like the Ayuthaya to get
straight to Angkor.
5.The Cucuteni-Trypillian Culture
In Romania they are the Cucuteni, in the Ukraine they are the
Trypillians and in Russia they are the Tripolie: a late Neolithic
culture that flourished between 5500 BC and 2750 BC. At their height,
the Cucuteni-Trypillian society built the largest Neolithic settlements
in Europe, with some housing up to 15,000 people. One of the biggest
mysteries of this culture is
that every 60 to 80 years they would burn their entire village and
reconstruct it on top of the old one. The Cucuteni-Typillian culture was
matriarchal, the women were the heads of the household and also did the
agricultural work and made pottery, textiles and clothing. The men were
hunters, tool makers and were responsible for looking after domestic
animals. Their religion was centered around the Great Mother Goddess who
was a symbol of motherhood and agricultural fertility. They also
worshipped the bull (strength, fertility and the sky) and a snake
(eternity and eternal movement).
Where did they go?
One of the main theories about the end of the Cucuteni-Trypillian
culture is the Kurgan hypothesis, which states that they were conquered
by the warlike Kurgan culture. However, more recent archeology points to
a dramatic climate change which could have led to one of the worst
droughts in European
history- devastating for a culture that relied heavily on farming.
4. Clovis
A prehistoric Native American people, the Clovis culture dates back
to 10,000 BC. Centered in southern and central plains of North America
they are archeologically recognized by chipped flint points called
Clovis points. They used these points on the end of spears to hunt big
game like mammoth and bison and small game like deer and rabbits. The
Clovis people were the first human inhabitants of the New World and are
considered the ancestors of all North and South American indigenous
cultures. Many scholars believe that they crossed the Beringia land
bridge from Siberia to Alaska during the ice age and then headed south
to warmer climates.
Where did they go?
There are several theories around the disappearance of the Clovis
culture. The first states that a decrease in megafauna along with less
mobility in their culture led them to branch off and form new cultural
groups, like the Folsom culture. Another theory is that the mammoth and
other species became extinct due to over hunting, leaving the Clovis
without a viable food source. The final theory revolves around a comet
that crashed to the earth around the Great Lakes region and
significantly affected the Clovis culture.
3.The Minoans
Named after the legendary King Minos, the Minoans inhabited what is
now Crete from 3000 to 1000 BC. In Greek mythology, Minoa was the land
of Cretan Bull and it’s son, the Minotaur- a mythical half-man-half-bull
that lived in the labyrinth and killed anyone who entered. In reality,
the Minoans were the first known civilization in
Europe.
Today all that is left of the Minoan civilization are their palaces and
the artifacts found within. The Minoan civilization was one of social
organization, art and commerce. Early Minoans spoke a language that we
call Linear A, which during later periods was replaced by Linear B, both
of which were based on pictographs. There is no evidence of any
military culture found in the Minoan palaces and it seems their power
was purely economical. Even though the Minoans fell, their culture was
inherited first by the Myceaneans and from there by the Hellenistic
Greeks.
Where did they go?
Many scholars believe that the Minoans were wiped out by a volcanic
eruption on the island of Thera (now Santorini), but there is evidence
that they survived. However, the eruption would have killed all plant
life thus leading to starvation, and damaged their ships leading to
economic decline. It is also believed that during this time they were
invaded, possibly by the Myceaneans.
2.The Anasazi
The Anasazi or Ancestral Puebloans were a Native American culture
that emerged in the Four Corners area of the United States (where New
Mexico, Arizona, Colordo, and Utah meet) around 1200 BC. The early
Puebloans were hunters and gatherers who lived in shallow pit houses.
Later they developed horticulture and began farming maize, beans and
squash. Also found at Anasazi archeological sites are greyware pottery,
elaborate baskets, reed sandals, rabbit fur robes, grinding stones and
bows and arrows. In the Pueblo II and Pueblo III eras the Anasazi carved
whole towns out of nearby cliffs like those at Mesa Verde and Bandelier
or they constructed them out of stone or adobe mud like Chaco Canyon.
These towns hosted many cultural and civic events and were connected to
each other by hundreds of miles of roadways.
Where did they go?
Around 1300 AD the Ancestral Puebloans abandoned their cliff houses
and scattered. Many scholars believe that, after a population explosion,
poor farming methods and a regional drought made it difficult to
produce enough food. Due to this lack of food, the Anasazi moved either
along the Rio Grande or on the Hopi mesas, and therefore many modern
Pueblo Indians believe that they are the descendants of the Anasazi.
Recent studies prove that this climate change could not explain the
decline of the Anasazi alone and suggest that social and political
factors like a violent conflict led to their end, instead.
1. The Indus Valley Civilization
Once inhabiting an area about the size of western Europe in what is
now Pakistan and western India, the Indus Valley or Harappan
Civilization thrived from 3300 to 1300 BC, although the area was settled
all the way back to 7000 BC. Despite being one of the largest ancient
civilizations, not much is known about the Harappan civilization, mostly
because their language has never been deciphered. We do know that they
built over one hundred towns and villages including the cities of
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, each of which was built with an organized
layout, and a complex plumbing system with indoor toilets. Evidence
suggests that the Harappan had a unified government and that there were
no social classes. There is also no evidence of military activity so it
is likely that they lived in peace. They were skilled astronomers and
were well versed in agriculture, growing wheat, barley, peas, melons,
sesame and cotton (becoming the first civilization to produce cotton
cloth) and domesticating several animals including cattle and elephants.
Where did they go?
There are several theories as to what happened to the Indus Valley
civilization. Some people believe that they declined because of changes
to their environment, such as a decrease in the size of the Ghaggar
Hakra river system or the cooler, drier temperatures that are also
evident throughout the Middle East. Another popular theory was that the
Aryans invaded them around 1500 BC.
(Source:
flipthepyramid)
Posts
