Before the world was properly divided into countries and cities; before ships and airplanes
allowed us to easily travel from one continent to another; there were ancient civilizations
that thrived in ways none of us could even fathom.
But for reasons still unknown, they vanished.
And archaeologists the world over are still scrambling to find out why.
So in this video we're going cover the the top 5 civilizations that mysteriously
vanished
Number five, the Indus Valley Civilization.
It was the most widespread of the big three civilizations of the Old World - along with
Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.
It had a highly-urbanized territory, with at least 100 cities that were so well mapped
out - it was considered more superior than some contemporary civilizations.
And yet, no one can confirm what happened to its over 5 million people.
The Indus Valley, or Harappa Civilization, was first discovered in 1921 in Harappa, at
the Punjab Region.
Its territory is said to span across parts of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran.
Excavations show this civilization existed as early as 5000BCE and rose to its peak at
around 2500 to 2000 BCE. They enjoyed advanced city life - with communities
well-equipped with bathrooms, wells, and underground drainage systems, among others.
Although self-sufficient, academics found Sumerian documents proving that they had some
sort of commercial and religious contact with the Near East, which is said to have stopped
around 1800BCE - the estimated time of their decline.
One theory says that the Indus Valley’s decline was caused by a massive Aryan migration,
which was then considered an invasion.
Archaeologists never found any evidence to say that the peaceful Harappans ever had a
military, or even arms to defend their cities – and so they might have easily been overpowered
by the Aryans.
However, one glaring fact disputes this claim – the Aryans are estimated to have arrived
at the Indus Valley around 1500BCE, 300 years after the Harappa Civilization is said to
have disappeared.
Some historians argue that the more possible cause was climate change.
They say continuous rains caused the Saraswati River to overflow and flood the surrounding
villages.
Yet others believe the opposite – that the river actually dried up, removing their main
source of water.
Researchers have yet to confirm which theory holds true, or if there might have been other
reasons for Harappa’s decline.
Although widely found on pottery, amulets, stamp seals and copper tablets, historians
are yet to understand their language.
And until someone gets to decipher these symbols, the reason for their decline will also remain
a mystery.
At number four, the Khmer Empire.
From 802 CE to 1431 CE, this great empire ruled over most of Southeast Asia.
At its peak, it spanned much of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and southern Vietnam.
Back in the 7th century, the great Mekong River, the seventh longest in Asia, was surrounded
by various territories and small kingdoms that were always at war against each other.
That was until a man named Jayavarman II led a series of campaigns that vanquished these
petty kingdoms and united them into one powerful empire.
The empire built its capital in Angkor, and continuously expanded throughout the years.
They were great builders and are widely known for creating monumental temples, the greatest
of which still stands today, and is a popular destination for tourists from around the world.
The Khmers are also known as genius engineers after successfully creating an extensive network
of water control systems to sustain its vast farmlands.
That's approximately 3,000 kilometers of canals and reservoirs, that took advantage of the
Mekong River and the monsoonal climate in the region.
Angkor's original name was Yashodharapura, literally glory-bearing city.
And at its height, it was the biggest city in the world, close to the size of modern
Los Angeles.
So why did it collapse?
No concrete evidence has ever been found to factually answer this question.
But researchers believe that interrelated political and natural factors ultimately brought
the empire down.
Studies show that the empire was constantly concerned with putting down rebellions, mainly
from nobles conspiring to take over the crown.
It is believed that this internal unrest weakened the empire.
On third spot, the Clovis Culture.
Named so after artifacts found near Clovis, New Mexico, they are believed to be the first
human inhabitants of the New World, who lived around 13,500 years ago.
Their remains were first identified in 1932.
Since then, archaeologists have found numerous Clovis sites across the United States, Mexico
and Central America.
The most common artifact found representing this culture is the Clovis point - distinctive
spearheads used to hunt large game.
They are indeed regarded as skilled big-game hunters and foragers.
And archaeologists have actually uncovered several mammoth remains mixed with Clovis
points.
More than the meat they got from these animals, which could have fed them for weeks, their
various parts were very useful to this ancient culture.
The hides, tusks, bones and pelts were most probably used for clothing, shelter, and household
tools.
It is widely believed that mammoths, ground sloths, and giant bisons were already dwindling
in numbers during the time of the Clovis Culture.
The question is whether the people were the actual cause of their total extinction or
something else.
12,800 years ago, the Earth underwent an extreme cooling period called the Younger Dryas, which
coincided with the extinction of large game animals and the demise of the Clovis people.
This is a fact.
But what caused this phenomenon is the real mystery.
The theory is that a 4-kilometer comet crashed on Earth and ultimately resulted in a huge
climate change.
This was based on a carbon-rich black layer found on several sites across North America.
Number two, the Olmec Civilization.
It is Mesoamerica's first great civilization, which thrived along Mexico's Gulf Coast from
1200 to 400 BCE.
They had an organized writing system and a calendar that were later adapted by succeeding
cultures - such as the Mayans and the Aztecs.
They were traders, and were able to establish connections with contemporary civilizations
across Mesoamerica.
Above all, they were excellent stonemasons and sculptors, widely known for carving colossal
heads out of huge basalt boulders.
Buried for nearly 3,000 years, for reasons still unknown, 17 of them have been unearthed
from the 2 most important cities of the Olmec Civilization - San Lorenzo and La Venta – which
can now be found in the modern day Mexican States of Veracruz and Tabasco.
San Lorenzo is believed to have flourished on a large island by the river from 1200 to
900 BCE.
As it was declining, it was then replaced by La Venta, which prospered for another 500 years.
In 400 BCE, La Venta collapsed, and took the whole civilization with it.
What happened?
Scholars have theorized a number of causes - disease, war, famine, natural disaster,
and relocation, among many others.
Their greatest hypothesis is that human actions, combined with natural ecological changes,
ultimately caused its demise.
But since no records or even graves have ever been uncovered, researchers could only theorize.
On first place is the Minoan Civilization.
Some 2,000 years ago, Plato wrote about Atlantis, a mysterious civilization swallowed by sea,
never to be seen again.
For two millennia, we all thought that was a myth.
But archaeologists have uncovered evidence that might answer this mystery.
Around 3,000 BCE, the Minoan became the first great European civilization,
and created the first ever written European language now called Linear A.
This advanced society of artisans, merchants and engineers thrived at the Greek island
of Crete.
They invested highly on maritime trade and defense, and had a great troop of shipbuilders
and sailors.
The Minoans are said to have been very enigmatic people.
They worshipped snake priestesses and engaged in human sacrifice.
Their most notable king, Minos, ruled at the peak of the Civilization.
His leadership, though great, is clouded with controversy.
It is the basis of Greek mythology's minotaur, a half-bull half man that ate human flesh.
Historians say that little girls and boys from Athens were often offered as sacrifice.
Distinguishing the mythological King Minos from the real one has always been a problem
for researchers.
But what they find more mind-boggling is how this powerful civilization came to an end.
Around 1600 BCE, the most powerful volcanic eruption ever witnessed occurred around 100
miles off the island of Crete.
Mt. Thera's explosion was felt all the way to China and changed weather patterns in Greece
and neighboring countries for years.
Historians believe that this explosion caused the sudden demise of the Minoan civilization.
The only problem was, very few volcanic ashes from the explosion were discovered in Crete
And the more glaring fact is, the Minoan civilization disappeared only some 50 years after Mt. Thera's
eruption.
However, recent studies show that while the explosion did not cause the Minoan Civilization’s
downfall, the aftershocks did.
Uncovered soil sediments could prove that the eastern and northern coasts of Crete were
swallowed by waves and waves of 50-meter tsunamis that followed the eruption.
Soil samples showed deep sea microorganisms and species that have no way of making it
inland, unless a massive flow of water brought them there.
As to why the Minoan culture only disappeared decades later – Crete is a big island, and
historians say it is highly possible that the tidal waves only eradicated the eastern
and northern shores, leaving the rest of the island intact.
However, with their maritime fleet gone, the Minoans became easy prey for the invaders
who took advantage of the island's weakened defense to finally
take over.
Now archaeologists are desperate to know whether these new findings have anything to do with
Plato and the mythical Atlantis.