and like that they were gone welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten civilizations that mysteriously faded
civilizations that mysteriously faded
civilizations that mysteriously faded away before we begin we publish new
away before we begin we publish new
away before we begin we publish new videos every day so be sure to subscribe
videos every day so be sure to subscribe
videos every day so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list
for more great content for this list
for more great content for this list we’re looking at civilizations cities or
we’re looking at civilizations cities or
we’re looking at civilizations cities or groups of people that for one reason or
groups of people that for one reason or
groups of people that for one reason or another dwindled declined or gradually
another dwindled declined or gradually
another dwindled declined or gradually disappeared from the face of the earth
disappeared from the face of the earth
disappeared from the face of the earth due to reasons that aren’t always known
due to reasons that aren’t always known
due to reasons that aren’t always known or haven’t been fully confirmed number
or haven’t been fully confirmed number
or haven’t been fully confirmed number 10 the Aksumite Empire also known as the
10 the Aksumite Empire also known as the
10 the Aksumite Empire also known as the kingdom of Aksum this one is formed in
kingdom of Aksum this one is formed in
kingdom of Aksum this one is formed in the shape of a cross
the shape of a cross
the shape of a cross so as such it probably is from a a
so as such it probably is from a a
so as such it probably is from a a Christian family located in what is now
Christian family located in what is now
Christian family located in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea the kingdom of
Ethiopia and Eritrea the kingdom of
Ethiopia and Eritrea the kingdom of Aksum lasted for over 800 years emerging
Aksum lasted for over 800 years emerging
Aksum lasted for over 800 years emerging around 100 AD the civilization grew to
around 100 AD the civilization grew to
around 100 AD the civilization grew to become an important trading partner with
become an important trading partner with
become an important trading partner with the Roman and Persian empires their
the Roman and Persian empires their
the Roman and Persian empires their prosperity afforded them the opportunity
prosperity afforded them the opportunity
prosperity afforded them the opportunity to produce their own coinage becoming
to produce their own coinage becoming
to produce their own coinage becoming one of the first African cultures to do
one of the first African cultures to do
one of the first African cultures to do so however according to local legend the
so however according to local legend the
so however according to local legend the Empire was defeated in 960 AD by a
Empire was defeated in 960 AD by a
Empire was defeated in 960 AD by a mysterious Jewish queen who is said to
mysterious Jewish queen who is said to
mysterious Jewish queen who is said to have destroyed the AXA meit’s religious
have destroyed the AXA meit’s religious
have destroyed the AXA meit’s religious and cultural achievements this story is
and cultural achievements this story is
and cultural achievements this story is often debated by scholars with many
often debated by scholars with many
often debated by scholars with many instead blaming starvation climate
instead blaming starvation climate
instead blaming starvation climate change and a lack of trade for the
change and a lack of trade for the
change and a lack of trade for the decline of the Aksumite Empire just a
decline of the Aksumite Empire just a
decline of the Aksumite Empire just a very
very
very quiet epiphany moment when this journey
quiet epiphany moment when this journey
quiet epiphany moment when this journey has begun to really make sense
has begun to really make sense
has begun to really make sense number nine the Nabataeans the far side
number nine the Nabataeans the far side
number nine the Nabataeans the far side of the channel is completely scoured
of the channel is completely scoured
of the channel is completely scoured clean the Nabataeans emerged around the
clean the Nabataeans emerged around the
clean the Nabataeans emerged around the 4th century BC in what is now the
4th century BC in what is now the
4th century BC in what is now the countries of Jordan Syria Saudi Arabia
countries of Jordan Syria Saudi Arabia
countries of Jordan Syria Saudi Arabia and Israel they’re responsible for
and Israel they’re responsible for
and Israel they’re responsible for building the carved city of Petra which
building the carved city of Petra which
building the carved city of Petra which is a prime example of their
is a prime example of their
is a prime example of their architectural achievements it makes
architectural achievements it makes
architectural achievements it makes sense that they would adopt and adapt
sense that they would adopt and adapt
sense that they would adopt and adapt different architectural styles from a
different architectural styles from a
different architectural styles from a lot of their trading partners and it’s
lot of their trading partners and it’s
lot of their trading partners and it’s worth noting that slavery was not as
worth noting that slavery was not as
worth noting that slavery was not as widely practiced among the Nabataeans as
widely practiced among the Nabataeans as
widely practiced among the Nabataeans as it was among other civilizations of the
it was among other civilizations of the
it was among other civilizations of the time little is known about why the
time little is known about why the
time little is known about why the Nabataeans disappeared possibly because
Nabataeans disappeared possibly because
Nabataeans disappeared possibly because they were a secretive culture to begin
they were a secretive culture to begin
they were a secretive culture to begin with however it has been suggested that
with however it has been suggested that
with however it has been suggested that over the years they may simply have
over the years they may simply have
over the years they may simply have melted into the larger greco-roman
melted into the larger greco-roman
melted into the larger greco-roman culture that surrounded them it sends a
culture that surrounded them it sends a
culture that surrounded them it sends a message to anybody who sees it that this
message to anybody who sees it that this
message to anybody who sees it that this is a place of wealth and power number 8
is a place of wealth and power number 8
is a place of wealth and power number 8 the cucuteni tribe piglia culture that
the cucuteni tribe piglia culture that
the cucuteni tribe piglia culture that built their homes like this with
built their homes like this with
built their homes like this with defensive walls and in the center a
defensive walls and in the center a
defensive walls and in the center a circle it was a kind of an arena where
circle it was a kind of an arena where
circle it was a kind of an arena where they organised different activities
they organised different activities
they organised different activities we’re going way way way back with this
we’re going way way way back with this
we’re going way way way back with this one the cucuteni tribe pileus society
one the cucuteni tribe pileus society
one the cucuteni tribe pileus society prospered between approximately 5,500 bc
prospered between approximately 5,500 bc
prospered between approximately 5,500 bc and 3,000 BC and they had some
and 3,000 BC and they had some
and 3,000 BC and they had some traditions that would be considered
traditions that would be considered
traditions that would be considered bizarre by today’s standards their
bizarre by today’s standards their
bizarre by today’s standards their settlements were quite large with
settlements were quite large with
settlements were quite large with thousands of structures and populations
thousands of structures and populations
thousands of structures and populations in the tens of thousands however every
in the tens of thousands however every
in the tens of thousands however every 60 to 80 years they would intentionally
60 to 80 years they would intentionally
60 to 80 years they would intentionally burn these settlements to the ground and
burn these settlements to the ground and
burn these settlements to the ground and build new ones on top of them but for
build new ones on top of them but for
build new ones on top of them but for nearly 2,500 years the cucuteni try
nearly 2,500 years the cucuteni try
nearly 2,500 years the cucuteni try piglia culture flourished until of
piglia culture flourished until of
piglia culture flourished until of course they mysteriously declined some
course they mysteriously declined some
course they mysteriously declined some believe they were conquered by the
believe they were conquered by the
believe they were conquered by the neighbouring Corgan’s who had an
neighbouring Corgan’s who had an
neighbouring Corgan’s who had an affinity for violent confrontations
affinity for violent confrontations
affinity for violent confrontations while others postulate that it was due
while others postulate that it was due
while others postulate that it was due to severe climate change number 7
to severe climate change number 7
to severe climate change number 7 turquoise mountain also known as fetus
turquoise mountain also known as fetus
turquoise mountain also known as fetus cool turquoise mountain was the capital
cool turquoise mountain was the capital
cool turquoise mountain was the capital city of the gooded dynasty located in
city of the gooded dynasty located in
city of the gooded dynasty located in modern-day Afghanistan it was said to
modern-day Afghanistan it was said to
modern-day Afghanistan it was said to have been a pillar of prosperity in the
have been a pillar of prosperity in the
have been a pillar of prosperity in the region thus it
region thus it
region thus it was a melting pot of different ethnic
was a melting pot of different ethnic
was a melting pot of different ethnic and religious cultures but that didn’t
and religious cultures but that didn’t
and religious cultures but that didn’t stop it from flourishing for hundreds of
stop it from flourishing for hundreds of
stop it from flourishing for hundreds of years today all that’s left of turquoise
years today all that’s left of turquoise
years today all that’s left of turquoise mountain is a massive stone structure in
mountain is a massive stone structure in
mountain is a massive stone structure in central Afghanistan known as the minaret
central Afghanistan known as the minaret
central Afghanistan known as the minaret of gem so what happened to this
of gem so what happened to this
of gem so what happened to this seemingly bustling metropolis most
seemingly bustling metropolis most
seemingly bustling metropolis most except that Genghis Khan’s son destroyed
except that Genghis Khan’s son destroyed
except that Genghis Khan’s son destroyed it in the 13th century AD but we may
it in the 13th century AD but we may
it in the 13th century AD but we may never know for sure number six the Olmec
never know for sure number six the Olmec
never know for sure number six the Olmec civilization located in what is now
civilization located in what is now
civilization located in what is now Mexico and Guatemala the Olmec
Mexico and Guatemala the Olmec
Mexico and Guatemala the Olmec civilization was the first of its kind
civilization was the first of its kind
civilization was the first of its kind to emerge in that particular region
to emerge in that particular region
to emerge in that particular region beginning around 1500 BC and lasting
beginning around 1500 BC and lasting
beginning around 1500 BC and lasting until roughly 400 BC the Olmecs were
until roughly 400 BC the Olmecs were
until roughly 400 BC the Olmecs were skilled artisans and are responsible for
skilled artisans and are responsible for
skilled artisans and are responsible for constructing the now famous colossal
constructing the now famous colossal
constructing the now famous colossal heads massive stone carvings that still
heads massive stone carvings that still
heads massive stone carvings that still exist to this day brock against rock
exist to this day brock against rock
exist to this day brock against rock widely regarded as the first
widely regarded as the first
widely regarded as the first Mesoamerican civilization the Olmecs are
Mesoamerican civilization the Olmecs are
Mesoamerican civilization the Olmecs are often credited with popularizing such
often credited with popularizing such
often credited with popularizing such cultural staples as a calendar the
cultural staples as a calendar the
cultural staples as a calendar the concept of zero and even a basic
concept of zero and even a basic
concept of zero and even a basic ballgame the jury is still out on why
ballgame the jury is still out on why
ballgame the jury is still out on why this thriving society ultimately
this thriving society ultimately
this thriving society ultimately disappeared although one theory is that
disappeared although one theory is that
disappeared although one theory is that a volcanic eruption forced them to leave
a volcanic eruption forced them to leave
a volcanic eruption forced them to leave number 5 Jedi Luke every house would
number 5 Jedi Luke every house would
number 5 Jedi Luke every house would have its own entrance from above yes
have its own entrance from above yes
have its own entrance from above yes considered one of the oldest settlements
considered one of the oldest settlements
considered one of the oldest settlements ever discovered
ever discovered
ever discovered Chetta Luke is believed to have existed
Chetta Luke is believed to have existed
Chetta Luke is believed to have existed between 7500 BC and 57 hundred b c–
between 7500 BC and 57 hundred b c–
between 7500 BC and 57 hundred b c– this Neolithic society was situated in
this Neolithic society was situated in
this Neolithic society was situated in what is now southern Turkey a region
what is now southern Turkey a region
what is now southern Turkey a region that’s home to another mysterious
that’s home to another mysterious
that’s home to another mysterious ancient wonder the temple of Gobekli
ancient wonder the temple of Gobekli
ancient wonder the temple of Gobekli Tepe what I’d like to know is why did
Tepe what I’d like to know is why did
Tepe what I’d like to know is why did these people undertake such an
these people undertake such an
these people undertake such an extraordinarily big and difficult task
extraordinarily big and difficult task
extraordinarily big and difficult task in the first place while this was an
in the first place while this was an
in the first place while this was an illiterate society this didn’t stop them
illiterate society this didn’t stop them
illiterate society this didn’t stop them from creating works of art and complex
from creating works of art and complex
from creating works of art and complex structures in fact the layout of the
structures in fact the layout of the
structures in fact the layout of the proto city was quite unique
proto city was quite unique
proto city was quite unique instead of Rhodes the homes were built
instead of Rhodes the homes were built
instead of Rhodes the homes were built side-by-side with ladders and sidewalks
side-by-side with ladders and sidewalks
side-by-side with ladders and sidewalks built along the rooftops
built along the rooftops
built along the rooftops why did chattel Hook mysteriously
why did chattel Hook mysteriously
why did chattel Hook mysteriously disappear
disappear
disappear no one knows and few clues exist to make
no one knows and few clues exist to make
no one knows and few clues exist to make an educated guess number four the Minoan
an educated guess number four the Minoan
an educated guess number four the Minoan civilization but in my nine times if you
civilization but in my nine times if you
civilization but in my nine times if you wanted not just to survive to build a
wanted not just to survive to build a
wanted not just to survive to build a civilization you had to reach out across
civilization you had to reach out across
civilization you had to reach out across the horizons to make new connections
the horizons to make new connections
the horizons to make new connections this ancient civilization is often
this ancient civilization is often
this ancient civilization is often credited as the first of its kind in
credited as the first of its kind in
credited as the first of its kind in Europe located in present-day Greece the
Europe located in present-day Greece the
Europe located in present-day Greece the Minoans occupied the island of Crete as
Minoans occupied the island of Crete as
Minoans occupied the island of Crete as well as many other Aegean islands they
well as many other Aegean islands they
well as many other Aegean islands they existed between 2600 BC and 1100 BC and
existed between 2600 BC and 1100 BC and
existed between 2600 BC and 1100 BC and were considered the preeminent traders
were considered the preeminent traders
were considered the preeminent traders and artists of their particular region
and artists of their particular region
and artists of their particular region in fact they left behind numerous
in fact they left behind numerous
in fact they left behind numerous artifacts and buildings that still exist
artifacts and buildings that still exist
artifacts and buildings that still exist today the Minoans were unlikely to have
today the Minoans were unlikely to have
today the Minoans were unlikely to have been a military power and that fact is
been a military power and that fact is
been a military power and that fact is key to one suggestion about why they
key to one suggestion about why they
key to one suggestion about why they disappeared some theorize they were lost
disappeared some theorize they were lost
disappeared some theorize they were lost to both a Mycenaean invasion and a
to both a Mycenaean invasion and a
to both a Mycenaean invasion and a massive volcanic eruption number 3 the
massive volcanic eruption number 3 the
massive volcanic eruption number 3 the Rapa Nui also known as Easter Island
Rapa Nui also known as Easter Island
Rapa Nui also known as Easter Island civilization probably a couple of years
civilization probably a couple of years
civilization probably a couple of years of work completely loyal and gone Easter
of work completely loyal and gone Easter
of work completely loyal and gone Easter Island is noted for its remoteness
Island is noted for its remoteness
Island is noted for its remoteness scarce population and the 887 monolithic
scarce population and the 887 monolithic
scarce population and the 887 monolithic stone statues of human faces that dot
stone statues of human faces that dot
stone statues of human faces that dot its coastline but did you know that it
its coastline but did you know that it
its coastline but did you know that it was once home to a bustling and
was once home to a bustling and
was once home to a bustling and prosperous civilization the island was
prosperous civilization the island was
prosperous civilization the island was settled by Polynesians between 700 AD
settled by Polynesians between 700 AD
settled by Polynesians between 700 AD and 1100 AD and at one point may have
and 1100 AD and at one point may have
and 1100 AD and at one point may have had up to 15,000 people living there the
had up to 15,000 people living there the
had up to 15,000 people living there the Polynesians were famous for their
Polynesians were famous for their
Polynesians were famous for their maritime navigation skills as well as
maritime navigation skills as well as
maritime navigation skills as well as their seemingly unexplainable ability to
their seemingly unexplainable ability to
their seemingly unexplainable ability to create massive stone monuments however
create massive stone monuments however
create massive stone monuments however their populations soon dwindled it’s
their populations soon dwindled it’s
their populations soon dwindled it’s been theorized that they used up all the
been theorized that they used up all the
been theorized that they used up all the islands resources to the point that
islands resources to the point that
islands resources to the point that there were simply no more trees
there were simply no more trees
there were simply no more trees available with European arrival Peruvian
available with European arrival Peruvian
available with European arrival Peruvian slave trading and diseases likely
slave trading and diseases likely
slave trading and diseases likely exacerbating the situation number two
exacerbating the situation number two
exacerbating the situation number two the Indus Valley also known as the head
the Indus Valley also known as the head
the Indus Valley also known as the head of a civilization I’m standing in is
of a civilization I’m standing in is
of a civilization I’m standing in is long and deep the Wyatt cutthroat Eli
long and deep the Wyatt cutthroat Eli
long and deep the Wyatt cutthroat Eli was to enthrall this civilization was
was to enthrall this civilization was
was to enthrall this civilization was one of the largest in existence during
one of the largest in existence during
one of the largest in existence during the Bronze Age it began around 3300 BC
the Bronze Age it began around 3300 BC
the Bronze Age it began around 3300 BC and lasted for roughly 2,000 years
and lasted for roughly 2,000 years
and lasted for roughly 2,000 years in the area that is now Pakistan in
in the area that is now Pakistan in
in the area that is now Pakistan in parts of India and Afghanistan the Indus
parts of India and Afghanistan the Indus
parts of India and Afghanistan the Indus had a knack for city building and at one
had a knack for city building and at one
had a knack for city building and at one point claim to rule hundreds of
point claim to rule hundreds of
point claim to rule hundreds of different towns these towns were
different towns these towns were
different towns these towns were extremely complex with running water
extremely complex with running water
extremely complex with running water plumbing and indoor toilets at its
plumbing and indoor toilets at its
plumbing and indoor toilets at its height the Indus Valley Civilisation had
height the Indus Valley Civilisation had
height the Indus Valley Civilisation had a population that numbered in the
a population that numbered in the
a population that numbered in the millions
millions
millions however seemingly out of the blue this
however seemingly out of the blue this
however seemingly out of the blue this once thriving society disappeared many
once thriving society disappeared many
once thriving society disappeared many postulate that it was due to climate
postulate that it was due to climate
postulate that it was due to climate change
change
change which led to long lasting droughts in
which led to long lasting droughts in
which led to long lasting droughts in the area just another unexplained
the area just another unexplained
the area just another unexplained mystery of history the kind of Earth’s
mystery of history the kind of Earth’s
mystery of history the kind of Earth’s we have here is clearly dried-up
we have here is clearly dried-up
we have here is clearly dried-up riverbed number one the Maya
riverbed number one the Maya
riverbed number one the Maya civilization as one of the most
civilization as one of the most
civilization as one of the most sophisticated societies to have ever
sophisticated societies to have ever
sophisticated societies to have ever existed the Maya made incredible strides
existed the Maya made incredible strides
existed the Maya made incredible strides in mathematics astronomy writing and
in mathematics astronomy writing and
in mathematics astronomy writing and architecture their massive pyramids
architecture their massive pyramids
architecture their massive pyramids still stand to this day in what is now
still stand to this day in what is now
still stand to this day in what is now southern Mexico for over 2,000 years the
southern Mexico for over 2,000 years the
southern Mexico for over 2,000 years the Mayan people ruled with unquestioned
Mayan people ruled with unquestioned
Mayan people ruled with unquestioned authority until one day they didn’t much
authority until one day they didn’t much
authority until one day they didn’t much has been made of their gradual demise
has been made of their gradual demise
has been made of their gradual demise with many questions and very few answers
with many questions and very few answers
with many questions and very few answers however their rapid decline around the
however their rapid decline around the
however their rapid decline around the ninth century is believed to have been a
ninth century is believed to have been a
ninth century is believed to have been a reaction to drastic climate change and
reaction to drastic climate change and
reaction to drastic climate change and political collapse that triggered tribal
political collapse that triggered tribal
political collapse that triggered tribal warfare which in turn caused them to
warfare which in turn caused them to
warfare which in turn caused them to abandon their great cities Spanish
abandon their great cities Spanish
abandon their great cities Spanish conquest is said to have taken the last
conquest is said to have taken the last
conquest is said to have taken the last independent Maya City in the late 17th
independent Maya City in the late 17th
independent Maya City in the late 17th century though some small villages
century though some small villages
century though some small villages remained for a while longer the Maya
remained for a while longer the Maya
remained for a while longer the Maya were not a Western society they didn’t
were not a Western society they didn’t
were not a Western society they didn’t do anything the way that Europeans do do
do anything the way that Europeans do do
do anything the way that Europeans do do you agree with our pics check out these
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