What do we know about ancient societies? Basically, speaking of the past, we recall several large civilizations and their characteristic features.
For example, in Ancient Egypt there were pyramids, the ancient Romans had aqueducts, and the bloodthirsty Vikings had long ships. But to think that history consists only of powerful empires is wrong. It is much more diverse and richer.
There are still many gaps in historical science associated with the study of extinct ancient societies, about which we know very little. In this case, the story can be thought of as a book with several pages missing. Important pages that can surprise us and show humanity from different angles.
Mayan civilization
One of the oldest. However, due to the fact that she was in the jungles of South America, little information about her has survived. Some evidence has been destroyed by nature itself.
We know that representatives of this culture created an impressive calendar, architectural wonders, but it remains a mystery to us how exactly they disappeared. The empire collapsed 1000 years ago, leaving behind a ghost town.
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Some modern researchers believe that the changed climate is to blame. A group of scientists from Cambridge examined the water that got into the minerals found in Lake Chichankanab, and came to the conclusion that the Maya was destroyed by drought.
Nabta Playa
The civilization to which the ancient astronomers of the Nubian Desert were involved. It existed over 11,000 years ago. And it was the first civilization to leave behind evidence of astronomical research. Nabta Playa has created countless stone structures to track the movement of the stars. Perhaps their scientific knowledge formed the basis of the knowledge of other ancient civilizations that continued to study. The people of Nabta Playa lived in the harsh conditions of the desert.
This helps to understand why information about them has not reached us. Historians suggest that representatives of this culture became the ancestors of those civilizations that later arose in the Nile Valley.
Sanxingdui
While China's history seems to be well documented, there are still some gaps. These include history related to the Sanxingdui culture. Researchers suggest that this was a powerful empire in ancient China, which left behind a small amount of physical evidence and was wiped off the face of the earth about 3000 years ago.
Modern geological research has shown that a strong earthquake occurred at a time when civilization disappeared. This could lead to climatic changes and the disappearance of the water source. The rest was a matter of time.
The mysterious land of Punt
An almost mythical civilization known to the ancient Egyptians, mentioned in folklore and mythology. Egyptian records speak of many trade expeditions, but until today no archaeologist has been able to figure out where the country was located.
Punt was apparently rich in treasures and resources that could well rival the Egyptians, but there is little evidence that they traded and fought with anyone other than Egypt. Some historians suggest that Punt traded with Arabia and was located in the Horn of Africa. Disputes about its location continue.
Others point to the Red Sea coast: to what is now Somalia and Eritrea.
Back in the days of Ancient Egypt, Punt in the minds of the Egyptians themselves turned into a land of legends. So he migrated to Greco-Roman mythology.
Civilization of the peoples of the sea
The peoples of the sea are some of the most warlike in history. They were a group of naval invaders who held the Mediterranean region at bay for nearly a century from 1276 to 1178 BC.
Reflection by the Egyptians of the invasion of the peoples of the sea.
The Hittites and Egyptians were their main targets. Nobody knows exactly where they came from. Sources say that they came out of nowhere, took everything they have, and sailed away to no one knows where. They came back and wreaked havoc again.
Historians suggest that these were the migrated peoples of the Mediterranean: Achaeans, Philistines, Phrygians, Sherdans. That is, the ancient pre-Indo-European population of Europe.
Pavel Romanutenko
