Ancient civilizations have always excited the minds of scientists, treasure hunters and lovers of historical puzzles. The Sumerians, Egyptians or Romans left plenty of evidence of their existence, but they were not the first on the planet. In addition to the legends about their rise and fall, there are still blank spots in history that have not yet been filled.

All these civilizations were outstanding in their time and in many ways surpassed not only their era, but also modern achievements. But, for various reasons, they disappeared from the face of the Earth, losing their greatness and power. We are talking not only about those empires that definitely flourished on the planet, but also about the cultures that may have existed. For example, the well-known Atlantis has not yet been found, but could it even exist?

The editors of InPlanet have compiled a list of ancient civilizations, the legacy of which still causes heated debate among historians. We present to your attention the 12 greatest empires that left behind many mysteries!

1 Continent of Lemuria / 4 million years ago

The origins of all ancient civilizations originate from the myth of the mysterious continent of Lemuria, which sank under water many millions of years ago. Its existence was repeatedly mentioned in the myths of different peoples and philosophical works. They spoke of a highly developed race of apes who had excellent education and advanced architecture. According to legends, it was located in the Indian Ocean and the main evidence of its existence is the island of Madagascar, inhabited by lemurs.

2 Hyperborea / before 11540 BC

The mysterious land of Hyperborea has been exciting the minds of scientists and researchers for many years who want to find at least some evidence of its existence. So, at the moment there is an opinion that Hyperborea was located in the Arctic and was inhabited by the ancestors of the Slavs. At that time the continent was not yet covered with ice, but was blooming and fragrant. And this, by the way, is possible, because scientists have established that 30-15,000 BC. The Arctic had a favorable climate.

It is worth noting that attempts to find Hyperborea have been practiced for a long time, for example, Germany and the USSR during the Second World War sent expeditions to search for the lost country. But it was never possible to establish whether the country that became the ancestor of the Slavs really existed.

3 Aroe Civilization / 13,000 BC

This civilization belongs to the category of mythical, despite the fact that there are a lot of buildings that prove the existence of peoples on the islands of Micronesia, Polynesia and Easter. Ancient cement statues dating back to 10,950 BC have been discovered in New Caledonia.

According to legends, the civilization of Aroe, or the Kingdom of the Sun, was formed in the Pacific Ocean after the disappearance of the continent of Lemuria. Among the indigenous inhabitants of these islands there are still legends about ancestors who were able to fly through the air.

4 Gobi Desert Civilizations / approximately 10,000 BC

Another mysterious civilization, the existence of which is debated. Now the Gobi Desert is the most sparsely populated place on the planet, arid and destructive. However, there is an opinion that many millennia ago a certain White Island civilization lived there, which stood on the same level as Atlantis. It was called the country of Agharti, the underground city, Shambhala and the land of Hsi Wang Mu.

In those years, the desert was a sea, and the White Island rose on it as a green oasis. Scientists have confirmed that this was indeed the case, but the date is confusing - the sea disappeared from the Gobi Desert 40 million years ago. Whether a settlement of sages could have existed there at this time, or later, has not been scientifically proven.

5 Atlantis / 9500 BC

This mythical state is perhaps the most famous in the whole world. There is no exact evidence that there really was an island that went under water along with a highly developed civilization. But until now, sailors, historians and adventure lovers are looking for an underwater city filled with the treasures of ancient Atlantis.

The main proof of the existence of Atlantis is the works of Plato, who described the war of this island with Athens, as a result of which the Atlanteans simply went under water along with the island. There are many theories and myths about this civilization and even entire scientific movements.

6 Ancient China / 8500 BC - our days

Chinese civilization is recognized as one of the oldest in the world. Scientists believe that its first beginnings appeared 8000 years ago BC. Written sources record the existence of a state called China 3,500 years ago. Therefore, archaeologists have discovered shards of pots in China dating back to 17-18,000 years BC. The ancient and rich history of China has shown that this state, ruled by dynasties for many millennia, was one of the most developed and powerful in the world.

7 Civilization of Osiris / before 4000 AD

Since this civilization cannot officially be considered to have existed, one can only guess about the dates of its heyday. According to legends, the Osirians were the progenitors of the Egyptian civilization and, accordingly, lived in the Mediterranean basin before their appearance.

Of course, all guesses about this civilization are based on unreliable facts, for example, that the Osirian civilization died due to the fact that the death of Atlantis provoked the flooding of the Mediterranean basin. There is no exact evidence of these events, so we can only consider the mass of flooded cities at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea as confirmation of a civilization that has gone under water.

8 Ancient Egypt / 4000 BC - VI-VII centuries AD

The ancient Egyptian civilization existed for about 40 centuries and reached its peak in the middle of this time period. To study this culture, there is a separate science of Egyptology, which studies the diverse history of this empire.

Ancient Egypt had everything it needed for development and prosperity - fertile land in the Nile River valley, religion, a government system and an army. Despite the fact that Ancient Egypt fell and was absorbed by the Roman Empire, there are still traces of this powerful civilization on the planet - the huge Sphinx, ancient pyramids and a lot of historical artifacts.

9 Sumerians and Babylon / 3300 BC - 1000 BC

For a long time, the Sumerian civilization was credited with the title of the first in the world. The Sumerians were the first to engage in crafts, agriculture, pottery and construction. In 2300 BC, this territory was captured by the Babylonians, who, led by Babylon, became the cultural and political center of the Ancient World. Both of these civilizations are the strongest states of Ancient Mesopotamia.

10 Ancient Greece / 3000 BC - I century BC.

This ancient state was called Hellas and was considered one of the most powerful in the ancient world. This territory was nicknamed Greece by the Romans, who captured Hellas in the first century BC. Over the three thousand years of its existence, the Greek empire left behind a rich history, a lot of architectural monuments and many literary masterpieces that are still popular today. Just look at the myths of Ancient Greece!

11 Maya / 2000 BC - XVI century AD

Legends about the power and greatness of this amazing civilization still circulate and push people to search for ancient treasures. In addition to countless riches, the Mayans had unique knowledge of astronomy, which allowed them to develop an accurate calendar. They also had amazing knowledge in construction, thanks to which their devastated cities are still included in the UNESCO heritage list.

This highly advanced civilization had advanced medicine, agriculture, water systems and a rich culture. Unfortunately, in the Middle Ages this empire began to fade away, and with the arrival of the conquistadors it completely disappeared.

12 Ancient Rome / 753 BC - V century AD

The Ancient Roman Empire was one of the most powerful in the history of the Ancient World. She left behind a bright mark in history, enslaved many small states and won a lot of bloody wars. Ancient Rome had its own mythology, a powerful army, a system of government and was, during its heyday, the center of civilization.

The Roman Empire gave the world a rich cultural heritage and history that still excites the minds of scientists. Like all ancient empires, it faded away due to exorbitant ambitions and plans to conquer the whole world.

All these ancient civilizations left behind a huge cultural heritage and a lot of mysteries that remain to be solved. Whether humanity will be able to find out whether some empires existed or not, time will tell. For now, we can only be content with guesses and existing facts.

At any moment, humanity can disappear, if not all, then part of it. This has happened before, and entire civilizations have disappeared as a result of wars, epidemics, climate change, military invasions or volcanic eruptions. Although in most cases the reasons remain mysterious. We offer an overview of 10 civilizations that mysteriously disappeared thousands of years ago.

Clovis

Lifetime:
11500 BC e.

Territory:
North America

Very little is known about the Clovis culture, the prehistoric Stone Age culture of the tribes that inhabited North America at the time. The name of the culture comes from the Clovis archaeological site, located near the city of Clovis, New Mexico. Among the archaeological finds found here in the 20s of the last century are stone and bone knives, etc. These people probably came from Siberia through the Bering Strait to Alaska at the end of the Ice Age. No one knows whether this was the first culture in North America or not. The Clovis culture disappeared as suddenly as it appeared. Perhaps members of this culture assimilated with other tribes.

Trypillian culture

Lifetime:
5500 – 2750 BC e.

Territory:
Ukraine Moldova and Romania

The largest settlements in Europe during the Neolithic period were built by representatives of the Trypillian culture, whose area was the territory of modern Ukraine, Romania and Moldova. The civilization consisted of about 15,000 people and was famous for its pottery art and for burning down its old settlements after living in them for 60-80 years before building new ones. Today, about 3,000 settlements of Trypillians are known, who had a matriarchy, and they worshiped the mother goddess of the clan. Their disappearance may have been the result of dramatic climate change leading to drought and famine. According to other scientists, Trypillians assimilated among other tribes.

Indus civilization

Lifetime:
3300-1300 BC e.

Territory:
Pakistan

The Indian civilization was one of the most numerous and significant in the territory of modern Pakistan and India, but, unfortunately, little is known about it. It is only known that representatives of the Indian civilization built hundreds of cities and villages. Each city had a sewer system and a treatment system. The civilization was non-class, not militant, because it did not even have its own army, but was interested in astronomy and agriculture. It was the first civilization to produce cotton fabrics and clothing. The civilization disappeared 4,500 years ago, and no one knew of its existence until the ruins of ancient cities were discovered in the 20s of the last century. Regarding the reasons for the disappearance, scientists put forward several theories, including climate change and sudden temperature changes from freezing to extreme heat. According to another theory, the Aryans destroyed civilization by attacking in 1500 BC. e.

Minoan civilization

Lifetime:
3000-630 BC

Territory:
Crete

The existence of the Minoan civilization was not known until the beginning of the 20th century, but then it was discovered that the civilization existed for 7,000 years and reached its peak of development by 1600 BC. e. Over the course of many centuries, palaces were built, completed and rebuilt, forming entire complexes. An example of such complexes is the palaces at Knossos, a labyrinth with which the legend of the Minotaur and King Minos is associated. Today it is an important archaeological center. The first Minoans used the Cretan Linear A script, which was later replaced by Linear B, both languages ​​based on hieroglyphs. It is believed that the Minoan civilization died as a result of a volcanic eruption on the island of Thera (Santorini island). It is believed that people would have survived if the eruption had not destroyed the vegetation and caused famine. The Minoan fleet was dilapidated and the trade-based economy was in decline. According to another version, civilization disappeared as a result of the Mycenaean invasion. The Minoan civilization was one of the most developed.

Mayan civilization

Lifetime:
2600 BC – 1520 AD

Territory:
Central America

The Mayans are a classic example of the disappearance of a civilization. Their majestic temples, monuments, cities and roads were swallowed up by the jungle, and their people disappeared. The Mayan language and traditions still exist, but the civilization itself experienced its peak in the first millennium AD, when the magnificent temples were built. The Mayans had writing, people studied mathematics, created their own calendar, engaged in engineering, and built pyramids. Among the reasons for the disappearance of the tribe is climate change, which lasted for 900 years and led to drought and famine.

Mycenaean civilization

Lifetime:
1600-1100 BC e.

Territory:
Greece

Unlike the Minoan civilization, the Mycenaeans flourished not only through trade, but also through conquest - they owned the territory of almost all of Greece. The Mycenaean civilization lasted for 500 years before its disappearance in 1100 BC. Several Greek myths are based on the stories of this particular civilization, for example, the legend of King Agamemnon, who led the troops during the Trojan War. The Mycenaean civilization was well developed both culturally and economically and left behind many artifacts. The cause of her death is unknown. Suggest earthquakes, invasions or peasant uprisings.

Olmec civilization

Lifetime:
1400 BC

Territory: Mexico
Once upon a time there was a powerful and prosperous civilization of the pre-Columbian period, the Olmec civilization. Archaeologists date the first finds belonging to her to 1400 BC. e. In the area of ​​the city of San Lorenzo, scientists have found two of the three main Olmec centers, Tenochtitlan and Potrero Nuevo. The Olmecs were skilled builders. During excavations, archaeologists found large monuments in the form of huge stone heads. The Olmec civilization became the ancestor of the Mesoamerican culture, which still exists today. They say that it was she who invented writing, the compass and the calendar. They understood the benefits of bloodletting, sacrificed people and came up with the concept of the number zero. Until the 19th century, historians knew nothing about the existence of civilization.

Nabatea

Lifetime:
600 BC e.

Territory:
Jordan

The Nabateans existed in southern Jordan, in the region of Canaan and Arabia, from the 6th century BC. The stunning cave city of Petra was built here in the red mountains of Jordan. The Nabataeans are known for their complexes of dams, canals and water reservoirs that helped them survive in desert conditions. There are no written sources confirming their existence. It is known that they organized an active trade in silk, tusks, spices, valuable metals, precious stones, incense, sugar, perfumes and medicines. Unlike other civilizations existing at that time, they did not keep slaves and equally contributed to the development of society. In the 4th century BC. e. The Nabataeans left Petra and no one knows why. Archaeological finds indicate that they did not leave the city in a hurry, that they did not survive the attack. Scientists think that the nomadic tribe moved north to better lands.

Aksumite kingdom

Lifetime:
100 AD

Territory:
Ethiopia

The kingdom of Aksum was formed in the first century AD. in the territory of modern Ethiopia. According to legend, the Queen of Sheba was born in this area. Aksum was an important trading center that traded ivory, natural resources, agricultural products and gold with the Roman Empire and India. The Aksumite kingdom was a wealthy society and the founder of African culture, the creator of its own currency, a symbol of power. The most characteristic monuments were in the form of steles, giant cave obelisks, which played the role of burial chambers for kings and queens. At the very beginning, the inhabitants of the kingdom worshiped many gods, among which was the supreme god Astar. In 324, King Ezana II converted to Christianity and began to promote Christian culture in the kingdom. According to legend, a Jewish queen named Yodit took over the kingdom of Aksum and burned churches and books. According to other sources, it was the pagan queen Bani Al-Hamriya. Others believe that climate change and famine led to the kingdom's decline.

Khmer Empire

Lifetime:
1000-1400 AD

Territory:
Cambodia

The Khmer Empire, one of the most powerful empires and largest lost civilizations, was located in modern-day Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Malaysia, Thailand and Laos. The capital of the empire, the city of Angkor, became one of the most famous archaeological centers in Cambodia. The empire, which at the time numbered up to a million inhabitants, flourished in the first millennium. The inhabitants of the empire professed Hinduism and Buddhism, built numerous temples, towers and other architectural complexes, such as the Angkor temple, dedicated to the god Vishnu. The decline of the empire was the result of several reasons. One of them was roads, along which it was convenient not only to transport goods, but also to advance enemy troops.

Believe it or not, a single nation can completely disappear in a few years. And this will not be the first time an entire civilization has disappeared. This has happened before, and was caused by wars, climate change, disease, and volcanic eruptions. But basically, all the reasons are big assumptions. Here are 10 mysteriously disappeared civilizations that existed on Earth thousands of years ago.

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10

Period: 13000 BC
Location: North America

We know little about Clovis culture. Scientists believe this prehistoric Native American culture existed in North America. Its name comes from an archaeological site that took place near the city of Clovis, New Mexico. Artifacts found at these excavations in the 1920s were mostly stone blades and bones.

It is believed that these people came to Alaska during the last ice age from Siberia through the Bering Strait. It is unknown whether this was the first culture in North America or whether there were even earlier ones. The Clovis culture disappeared fairly quickly. Is it because they got too carried away with hunting and destroyed their own food source? Or is it due to climate change, disease or predators? Or did members of this culture simply disperse and join other Indian tribes? Or was the reason for their disappearance due to the fall of a meteorite? The answers are still unknown.

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9

Cucuteni-Trypillian civilization

Period: between 5500 and 2750 BC
Location: Ukraine, Romania, Moldova

The largest Neolithic communities in Europe were located in Cucuteni-Trypillia, in what is now Ukraine, Romania and Moldova. The Cucuteni-Trypillia civilization, which numbered about 15 thousand people - a huge number for that time, mysteriously disappeared from the surface of the Earth.

The mysterious Cucuteni-Trypillia culture is famous for its ceramics. They also had a strange habit of burning their villages every 60-80 years, and then building new settlements on the ashes of the old ones. To date, about 3,000 archaeological sites of this matriarchal society worshiping the mother goddess have been found. The disappearance of the Trypillians may be related to dramatic climate change, which led to the worst droughts in European history. Other theories suggest that the people of this culture simply merged with other tribes.

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8

Harappan civilization

Period: 3300-1300 BC
Location: Pakistan

This huge lost civilization was located in the Indus River Valley in what is now Pakistan and western India. This is a fairly important ancient civilization. But there is very little reliable information about these people, partly because the language has not yet been deciphered. It is known that they built at least a hundred cities and villages, including such large ones as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Each city had its own sewers and indoor amenities. It seems that this civilization had no class division and did without an army; they achieved success in astronomy and agriculture. This is the first civilization where the production of cotton clothing began.

The Harappan civilization disappeared 4,500 years ago, and it was not known that it existed at all until its remains were discovered in the 1920s. Several theories try to explain its disappearance, such as changes in their environment, the drying up of the Ghaggar Hakra River, significant cooling and lack of rain. An alternative theory suggests that the region was visited around 1500 BC. e. The Aryans invaded, which led to the decline of the Harappan or Indus civilization.

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7

Period: 3000-630 BC
Location: Crete

The fact that the Minoan civilization once existed was not known until the beginning of the 20th century, but since then quite a lot of artifacts of this amazing civilization have been found. It turns out that it lasted for about 7,000 years and reached its peak around 1600 BC.
Archaeological finds indicate that over time, the cities and palaces that were the main focus of this culture and civilization became increasingly complex - for example, the palaces of Knossos or the labyrinth associated with the legend of King Minos. Currently, these places are major archaeological centers.

The first Minoans spoke a language called Linear A, which later evolved into Linear B. Both languages ​​are based on pictograms and have not yet been fully deciphered. Scientists believe that the Minoans were destroyed as a result of a volcanic eruption on the island of Thera (present-day Santorini). It is also believed that the Minoans could well have survived if the eruption had not destroyed all living plants, which caused famine. And the damage to the ships gradually led to an economic recession. Another hypothesis says that the Minoans were captured by the Mycenaeans. The Minoan civilization is considered one of the largest extinct civilizations that has ever existed on Earth.

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6

Period: 2600 BC - 1520 AD
Location: Central America

The Mayan civilization is a classic example of a civilization that mysteriously disappeared. Its great monuments, its cities and roads were swallowed up by the jungles of Central America, and its people scattered into small villages. The languages ​​and traditions of the Mayan people have survived to this day, but the peak of development of this civilization occurred in the first millennium AD, when their greatest architectural monuments were built.

This is one of the largest Mesoamerican lost civilizations. The Mayans had their own written language, used mathematics, developed a calendar and were excellent engineers, which allowed them to build their pyramids and hanging gardens. The reason for the disappearance of this very advanced civilization is one of the main archaeological debates. It is believed that civil strife combined with climate change in the Yucatan around 900 to reduce crop yields and create famine, causing residents to flee the cities.

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5

Period: 1600-1100 BC
Location: Greece

Unlike the Minoan civilization, the Mycenaean civilization flourished not only through trade, but also through the seizure of land, until their empire covered almost the entire territory of Greece. The Mycenaean civilization experienced five centuries of dominance before disappearing around 1100 BC. e. Several Greek myths are associated with the Mycenaeans, for example, about the legendary king Agamemnon, who led the Greek army during the Trojan War. The Mycenaean civilization was rich culturally and economically and left behind many artifacts. It is still not clear why they disappeared: either an earthquake, or an infection, or perhaps peasant riots could have caused the destruction of an entire civilization!

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4

Period: 1400 BC
Location: Mexico

The first mention of the great pre-Columbian Olmec civilization dates back to 1400 BC. San Lorenzo is one of the three main Olmec centers along with Tenochtitlan and Potrero Nuevo.

The Olmecs were good architects. In the territories of former Olmec settlements, remains of giant stone heads were found. This civilization laid the foundation for all subsequent cultures of Mesoamerica. The Olmecs are believed to have been the first to develop a writing system and were also likely the civilization that invented the compass and calendar. They knew that bloodletting leads to human casualties and invented the concept of the number zero. This civilization was discovered by historians only in the middle of the 19th century. Climate change caused by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and possibly poor agricultural practices led to the decline of the Olmecs.

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3

Period: 600 BC
Location: Jordan

The Nabatean civilization flourished in what is now Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia from the 6th century BC. The Nabateans, a group of Semitic tribes, built the amazing city of Petra, carved into sandstone cliffs. It is also known that the city was equipped with a complex system of dams, canals and reservoirs, which allowed the inhabitants of this desert region not to need water.

Not a single written record has survived about this culture, and we know almost nothing about it. However, due to their geographical location, it was a prosperous civilization, they created an entire system of exchange of spices, silk, precious metals and stones, ivory, incense, perfumes, sugar and medicines. Unlike other civilizations of the time, the Nabateans were not aware of slavery and each resident contributed to the development of the city.

In the 4th century BC, the Nabateans abandoned Petra, and to this day no one knows why. Archaeological research shows that their departure was not hasty, suggesting that they were not fleeing invaders. It is believed that the inhabitants of Petra migrated north because they wanted to find better working conditions.

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2

Period: 100 AD
Location: Ethiopia
The Aksumite kingdom began to establish itself in the first century AD. in the territory of modern Ethiopia. According to legend, the Queen of Sheba was born here. Aksum was a significant trading center, exporting ivory, various raw materials and agricultural products, and gold to the Roman Empire and India. It was a wealthy African community that was the first in Africa to issue its own currency, a sign of a great power in those days.

The most characteristic monuments of this civilization are the steles of Aksum - giant carved obelisks that act as funeral terminals for kings and nobles. At first, many gods were worshiped in Aksum, the main of which was Astar. Then, in 324, King Ezana was converted to Christianity, which he began to forcibly spread in Axum. According to local legend, a Jewish queen named Judith conquered the Aksumite Empire and burned the temples and books. Other theories explain the destruction of this crop by climate change and overuse of soil, which led to famine.

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1

Period: 1000-1400 AD
Location: Cambodia

The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires, and it is the largest of the lost civilizations. This civilization was located in Southeast Asia in the territory of modern Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Malaysia. Angkor, the capital of the Khmers, has become one of the most popular archaeological sites in Cambodia.

This empire, which numbered up to a million people, flourished during the 1st millennium AD. e. The Khmers preached Hinduism and Buddhism and built temples, towers and other complex structures such as Angkor Wat, a temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. The fall of the Khmer Empire was due to a combination of factors. Although most scientists believe that they were captured thanks to the roads built by the Khmers themselves to facilitate the transportation of goods and the movement of troops throughout the empire.

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Vanished civilizations of the world and the secrets of our ancestors

People have always been interested in the past, trying to unravel the secrets that ancient civilizations left us, which disappeared forever from the map of the earth. However, despite all attempts, there are still more questions than answers; the mysteries of our predecessors baffle even the most experienced scientists.

Olmec

The Olmecs lived in the tropical lowlands of what is now southern Mexico and were one of the first Meso-American societies. The main Olmec settlement was located in the city of San Lorenzo, where traces of them were found dating back to 1400 BC. The Olmecs knew how to build very well, since in every place significant to them they built ceremonial palaces, stone monuments (the famous huge head), and canonical pyramids. The Olmecs were also traders, they traded both among their own tribes and with other Meso-American peoples. Strangely, the fully developed Olmec civilization disappeared quite quickly - in 400 BC the eastern part of the lands where the Olmec tribes lived was deserted, it is very likely that this was due to climate change. According to another version, the Olmecs themselves left there due to volcanic activity. It was also suggested that they were captured, but it is not clear who did it.

Nabatean kingdom

The Nabateans were Semitic tribes that inhabited the territories of modern Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Syria. The most famous city among these tribes is Petra, which was their capital. The city was completely carved out of the rock. The Nabataeans were a very rich people, since important trade routes passed through the lands of their habitat; the Nabataeans traded ivory, precious metals, silk, spices, and medicines. Their culture was greatly influenced by Arabia, Assyria, Greece and Rome. It is noteworthy that in Nabatean kingdom there were no slaves, each member of society made his own contribution to its development. But in the 4th century AD. The Nabataeans left Petra for reasons still unclear. Judging by archaeological excavations, their departure was well organized, that is, the Nabateans left voluntarily. There is one version of why they left Petra - trade routes eventually moved north, and this civilization could no longer remain in the same place, since the Nabateans lived off trade.

Aksumite kingdom

The Aksumite civilization became known in the 1st century AD. and was located in what is now Ethiopia. Aksum was the main center that exported ivory, agricultural products and gold to the Roman Empire and Inia. Aksum, thanks to its thriving business, became the first African civilization to have settlement coins. The famous monuments of Aksum are steles and stone obelisks. The Aksumite civilization completely disappeared from the face of the earth. Some suggest that Aksumite was conquered by the Jewish queen Judith, who burned their libraries and temples, while others say climate conditions, famine and trade isolation contributed to the disappearance of the Aksumite kingdom.

Mycenae

The Mycenaean people appeared in southern Greece in 1600 BC. Many ancient Greek myths tell about Mycenae, for example, the legend of Agamemnon, who commanded the Greeks during the Trojan War. The Mycenaean civilization had a good fleet, which they used both for trade with other nations and for warfare. The Mycenaeans were good artisans, because due to the lack of natural resources in their lands, they imported many goods from other lands, which they turned into products for everyday use. For what specific reason Mycenae disappeared, no one knows, there is only an assumption that the civilization disappeared due to the cessation of trade, the invasion of the Dorians from the north or other peoples from the sea.

Khmer Empire

The Khmer Empire was located in what is now Cambodia. The Khmer Empire arose in the 9th century AD and was the most powerful power in all of Southeast Asia. The Khmers were a very rich civilization. Their disappearance was influenced by several factors, the main ones being the reign of different kings and the construction of trade routes that made it easier for the conquerors to approach. The Khmer Empire left us a huge cultural heritage, which scientists are still exploring without stopping - this is the giant Angkor temple complex near the city of Siem Reap. This complex is built so strong that it has been standing for 1000 years, and the main temple of Angkor Wat amazes with its grandeur. One of the main mysteries of this complex is the image of dinosaurs carved into stone, because dinosaur skeletons have never been found in Southeast Asia, but ancient khmers they knew about them anyway, and the image is so detailed that if anyone knows what this type of dinosaur was called, they will definitely name it correctly!

Trypillian culture

This interesting culture existed from 5500 to 2750 BC. Tribes of the Trypillian culture created the largest Neolithic settlements on the territory of modern Europe, some tribes reached a population of 15,000 people! The mystery of this civilization is that every 60-80 years the Trypillians burned a village and built a new one on top of the burned one. Previously, it was believed that the disappearance of the Trypillian culture was due to the fact that it was captured by the Kurgan culture; now it is believed that the Trypillian people became extinct due to a sharp change in climatic conditions.

Clovis culture

This is a prehistoric Indian people, its tribes lived on the southern and central plains of North America. The main occupations of the tribes were hunting and gathering, this is confirmed by archaeological finds of bones of bison, mammoths, mastadons and other animals. The Clovis people used approximately 125 species of plants and animals. Their disappearance is associated with cooling during the Younger Dryas.

Minoan civilization

The Minoan culture is a famous civilization in Europe. But it is named after the mythical king Minos, who owned the labyrinth built by Daedalus. All that remains of this civilization are palaces and some artifacts found. Many scientists say that the Minoan civilization was destroyed by a volcanic eruption, although there is evidence that the Minoans survived, but the eruption damaged all the flora and ships, so the Minoans were not able to rebuild their country.

Anasazi

The Anasazi civilization is the predecessor of prehistoric Indian culture; it existed in the southwest of the modern United States, forming a kind of quadrangle (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico). The Anasazi people were characterized by a certain style of ceramics and housing construction. In 1300 AD they left their homes, scientists attribute this to the advance of enemies.

Indus or Harappan civilization

It is one of the three most ancient civilizations of mankind, along with the ancient Egyptian or Sumerian, but the Indus civilization occupied the largest area. In terms of size, it was equal to Syria, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Asia Minor, Iran, Phenicia and Palestine combined. But little is known about the Indus civilization. They developed construction, small sculpture, and bronze metallurgy. There were private property relations, and agriculture was based on irrigation farming. The first public toilets known to archaeologists and the city's sewage system were discovered here. The fertile soil, high moisture content, and rich flora of the Indus civilization contributed to the early development of agriculture, which was supplemented by hunting and fishing. Sunset Indus civilization falls on the 18-17th century BC, the bulk of the population moved to the east and lost its former level of development. Scientists say that this was caused by deteriorating natural conditions and the invasion of the Aryans, but the true reason why this civilization disappeared has never been found.

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Like Indiana Jones, solo archaeologist David Hatcher Childress has made many incredible journeys to some of the most ancient and remote places on earth. Describing lost cities and ancient civilizations, he published six books: a chronicle of travels from the Gobi Desert to Puma Punka in Bolivia, from Mohenjo-Daro to Baalbek. We found him preparing for another archaeological expedition, this time to New Guinea, and asked him to write the following article specifically for Atlantis Rising magazine.

1. Mu or Lemuria

According to various secret sources, the first civilization arose 78,000 years ago on a giant continent known as Mu or Lemuria. And it existed for an amazing 52,000 years. The civilization was destroyed by earthquakes caused by the shift of the Earth's pole, which occurred approximately 26,000 years ago, or 24,000 BC.

While the Mu civilization did not achieve as much technology as other later civilizations, the people of Mu succeeded in constructing mega-stone buildings that were able to withstand earthquakes. This building science was Mu's greatest achievement.

Perhaps in those days there was one language and one government throughout the entire Earth. Education was the key to the prosperity of the Empire, every citizen was versed in the laws of the Earth and the Universe, and by the age of 21 he was given an excellent education. By the age of 28, a person became a full citizen of the empire.

2. Ancient Atlantis

When the continent of Mu sank into the ocean, today's Pacific Ocean was formed, and water levels in other parts of the Earth dropped significantly. The islands in the Atlantic, small during Lemuria, increased significantly in size. The lands of the Poseidonis archipelago formed an entire small continent. This continent is called Atlantis by modern historians, but its real name was Poseidonis.

Atlantis had a high level of technology, superior to modern technology. In the book “The Dweller of Two Planets,” dictated in 1884 by philosophers from Tibet to the young Californian Frederick Spencer Oliver, as well as in the 1940 continuation “The Earthly Return of the Dweller,” there is a mention of such inventions and devices as: air conditioners for purifying the air from harmful vapors; vacuum cylinder lamps, fluorescent lamps; electric rifles; transport by monorail; water generators, a tool for compressing water from the atmosphere; aircraft controlled by antigravity forces.

The clairvoyant Edgar Cayce spoke of the use of planes and crystals in Atlantis to generate enormous energy. He also mentioned the misuse of power by the Atlanteans, which led to the destruction of their civilization.

3. Rama's Empire in India

Fortunately, the ancient books of the Indian Rama Empire have survived, unlike the documents of China, Egypt, Central America and Peru. Nowadays, the remains of the empire are swallowed up by impenetrable jungles or rest on the ocean floor. Yet India, despite numerous military devastations, managed to preserve much of its ancient history.

Indian civilization was thought to have emerged not much earlier than 500 AD, 200 years before the invasion of Alexander the Great. However, in the last century, the cities of Mojenjo-Daro and Harappa were discovered in the Indus Valley in what is now Pakistan.

The discovery of these cities forced archaeologists to move the date of the emergence of Indian civilization thousands of years ago. To the surprise of modern researchers, these cities were highly organized and represented a brilliant example of urban planning. And the sewage system was more developed than it is now in many Asian countries.

4. The civilization of Osiris in the Mediterranean

During the times of Atlantis and Harappa, the Mediterranean basin was a large fertile valley. The ancient civilization that flourished there was the progenitor of dynastic Egypt, and is known as the Osiris Civilization. The Nile previously flowed completely differently than it does today and was called Styx. Instead of emptying into the Mediterranean Sea in northern Egypt, the Nile turned west, formed a huge lake in the area of ​​the central part of the modern Mediterranean Sea, flowed out of a lake in the area between Malta and Sicily, and entered the Atlantic Ocean at the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar). When Atlantis was destroyed, the waters of the Atlantic slowly flooded the Mediterranean basin, destroying the Osirians' large cities and forcing them to migrate. This theory explains the strange megalithic remains found at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.

It is an archaeological fact that at the bottom of this sea there are more than two hundred sunken cities. Egyptian civilization, along with Minoan (Crete) and Mycenaean (Greece) are traces of one large, ancient culture. The Osirian civilization left huge earthquake-resistant megalithic buildings, owned electricity and other amenities that were common in Atlantis. Like Atlantis and the empire of Rama, the Osirians had airships and other vehicles, mostly electrical in nature. Mysterious routes in Malta, which were found underwater, may be part of the ancient transport route of the Osirian civilization.

Probably the best example of the high technology of the Osirians is the amazing platform found in Baalbek (Lebanon). The main platform is made up of the largest hewn rock blocks, weighing between 1200 and 1500 tons each.

5. Civilizations of the Gobi Desert

Many ancient cities of the Uyghur civilization existed during the time of Atlantis on the site of the Gobi Desert. However, now the Gobi is a lifeless, sun-scorched land, and it’s hard to believe that ocean waters once splashed here.

So far no traces of this civilization have been found. However, vimanas and other technical devices were not alien to the Uiger region. The famous Russian explorer Nicholas Roerich reported his observations of flying disks in the region of northern Tibet in the 1930s.

Some sources claim that the elders of Lemuria, even before the cataclysm that destroyed their civilization, moved their headquarters to an uninhabited plateau in Central Asia, which we now call Tibet. Here they founded a school known as the Great White Brotherhood.

The great Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu wrote the famous book Tao Te Ching. As his death approached, he traveled west to the legendary land of Hsi Wang Mu. Could this land be the possession of the White Brotherhood?

6. Tiahuanaco

As with Mu and Atlantis, construction in South America reached megalithic proportions in the construction of earthquake-resistant structures.

Residential houses and public buildings were built from ordinary stones, but using a unique polygonal technology. These buildings still stand today. Cusco, the ancient capital of Peru that was probably built before the Incas, is still quite a populated city, even thousands of years later. Most of the buildings located in the business part of the city of Cusco today are united by walls that are many hundreds of years old (while younger buildings built by the Spaniards are being destroyed).

A few hundred kilometers south of Cusco lie the fantastic ruins of Puma Punka, high in the Bolivian altiplano. Puma Punka - near the famous Tiahuanaco, a massive mahalic site where 100-ton blocks are scattered everywhere by an unknown force.

This happened when the South American continent was suddenly hit by a huge cataclysm, probably caused by a pole shift. The former sea ridge can now be seen at an altitude of 3900 m in the Andes mountains. Possible evidence of this is the abundance of oceanic fossils around Lake Titicaca.

The Mayan pyramids found in Central America have twins on the Indonesian island of Java. The Sukuh Pyramid on the slopes of Mount Lawu near Surakarta in central Java is an amazing temple with a stone stele and a step pyramid, the place of which is more likely to be in the jungles of Central America. The pyramid is virtually identical to the pyramids found at the site of Washaktun near Tikal.

The ancient Mayans were brilliant astronomers and mathematicians whose early cities lived in harmony with nature. They built canals and garden cities on the Yucatan Peninsula.

As pointed out by Edgar Cayce, the records of all the wisdom of the Mayans and other ancient civilizations are found in three places in the earth. Firstly, this is Atlantis or Poseidonia, where some of the temples may still be discovered under long-term bottom deposits, for example in the Bimini region off the coast of Florida. Secondly, in temple records somewhere in Egypt. And finally, on the Yucatan Peninsula, in America.

It is assumed that the ancient Hall of Records could be located anywhere, probably under some kind of pyramid, in an underground chamber. Some sources say that this repository of ancient knowledge contains quartz crystals that are capable of storing large amounts of information, similar to modern compact discs.

8. Ancient China

Ancient China, known as Han China, like other civilizations, was born from the vast Pacific continent of Mu. Ancient Chinese records are known for descriptions of celestial chariots and jade production, which they shared with the Mayans. Indeed, the ancient Chinese and Mayan languages ​​seem very similar.

The mutual influences of China and Central America on each other are obvious, both in the field of linguistics and in mythology, religious symbolism, and even trade.

The ancient Chinese invented everything from toilet paper to earthquake detectors to rocket technology and printing techniques. In 1959, archaeologists discovered aluminum tapes made several thousand years ago; this aluminum was obtained from raw materials using electricity.

9. Ancient Ethiopia and Israel

From the ancient texts of the Bible and the Ethiopian book Kebra Negast, we know about the high technology of ancient Ethiopia and Israel. The Temple in Jerusalem was founded on three giant blocks of cut stone similar to those at Baalbek. An earlier Temple of Solomon and a Muslim mosque now exist on the site, whose foundations apparently date back to the civilization of Osiris.

Solomon's Temple, another example of megalithic construction, was built to house the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant was an electrical generator, and people who carelessly touched it were electrocuted. The ark itself and the golden statue were taken from the King's Chamber in the Great Pyramid by Moses during the Exodus.

10. Aroe and the Kingdom of the Sun in the Pacific Ocean

While the continent of Mu sank into the ocean 24,000 years ago due to the pole shift, the Pacific Ocean was later repopulated by many races from India, China, Africa and America.

The resulting Aroe civilization on the islands of Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia built many megalithic pyramids, platforms, roads and statues.

Cement columns dating back to 5120 BC have been found in New Caledonia. to 10950 BC

The Easter Island statues were placed in a clockwise spiral around the island. And on the island of Pohnpei a huge stone city was built.

The Polynesians of New Zealand, Easter Island, Hawaii and Tahiti still believe that their ancestors had the ability to fly and traveled by air from island to island.

11. "Avalon"

In Celtic mythology, Avalon is a mysterious island in the Yellow Sea. King Arthur, after completing his healing from a war injury, is said to have fallen asleep but not died in Avalon. It is believed that he will "sleep" until Britain takes up her sword again

In the 12th century, the monks of Glastonbury Abbey allegedly found the remains of King Arthur and his queen, as well as his excalibur (King Arthur's sword), on the island. They also stated that the island was full of apples (in Welsh, Avalon means "Apple").

However, historians have questioned this claim. In other versions of the legend: Avalon is the location of the Fairy Morgana. The fairy Melusine was raised on Avalon

There is another interesting point of view about the location of the Country under the waves, which largely reconciles supporters of the geographical and unearthly location of Avalon...

12. Eldorado

The conquerors of the New World saw many strange things. Eldorado means "golden place" in Spanish. This is a mythical South American country (or city) made of gold and precious stones. In their fruitless search for El Dorado, 16th-century conquistadors such as Aguirre and Orellana blazed new trails into the interior of South America.

The starting point for the creation of legends about Eldorado could be the custom of the Chibcha Indian tribe, when during the coronation the leader was coated with clay and sprinkled with gold sand until he turned into a “golden man.” After which he swam in the lake, leaving precious gifts at its bottom.

The Spanish conquerors plundered and depleted the kingdom of Eldorado, but did not find what they were looking for. The legends of El Dorado have attracted numerous explorers over the centuries to search for the treasures stored there, but instead they have lost their property and become beggars. However, treasure hunters still believe that El Dorado is in Colombia.

Using the Google Earth service, scientists were able to discover traces of an ancient civilization, which may turn out to be the legendary Eldorado! Researchers say they have found more than 200 massive earthworks in the upper Amazon basin on the border of Brazil and Bolivia. In satellite photographs, they look like large geometric figures “carved” into the ground, but scientists believe that these are the remains of roads, bridges, ditches, streets and squares. The authors of the scientific work note that in the heart of an ancient civilization, in a space 155 miles long, they could about 60 thousand people live. The approximate dating of the buildings so far ranges from the 3rd century BC to the 13th century AD.

13. Buyan Island and Belovodye

In Slavic mythology, Buyan Island is described as a magical island that appears and disappears in the ocean. Three brothers live on it - the western, eastern and northern winds. According to some myths, the island is the root of all changes in weather. In another myth, on an island in an egg located in an oak tree, a needle is hidden, at the tip of which lies the death of the Koshchei. Some people believe that the island is, in fact, the German island of Rügen of the Russian Old Believers, there is a concept of “Belovodye”, which in every way resembles the theosophical Shambhala - a land of justice and true piety.

While in 1877 on the shores of the “wandering” lake Lob-nor, north of the Tarim River in Western China (Xinjiang), the famous Russian traveler Nikolai Przhevalsky recorded the story of local residents about how a party of Altai Old Believers came to these places in the late 1850s more than a hundred people. The Old Believers were looking for the Belovodsk “promised land.”

Belovodye is another mystery of Central Asian history. Modern researchers believe that this is “not a specific geographical name, but a poetic image of a free land, a figurative embodiment of the dream of it.”
Therefore, it is no coincidence that Russian Old Believers searched for this “happy peasant country” over a vast area - from Altai to Japan and the Pacific Islands and from Mongolia to India and Afghanistan.

In the second half of the 18th century, the name Belovodye was borne by two settlements in the Bukhtarminskaya and Uimonskaya valleys of southeastern Altai. The power of the “bosses” and priests - persecutors of Old Believers who did not accept the church reform of Patriarch Nikon - did not reach here.
This “neutral land” between the Russian and Chinese empires was incorporated into Russia in 1791. It was then, according to Chistov, that the legend of Belovodye arose, but the greatest interest is reported about the Central Asian routes of Belovodye seekers (Mongolia - Western China - Tibet)

14. Shambhala

According to ancient legends, Shambhala is hidden in the Himalayas, in a quiet and green and beautiful holy land. This place is mentioned in religious Tibetan and Indian texts.

After the 17th century, when Westerners heard about this place, they went on one of the most dangerous adventures in search of this place. Some people think that Shambhala actually belongs to China, others that it is hidden in the mountains of Kazakhstan.

In Blavatsky’s view, Shambhala is the last refuge of the Atlantean race who survived the global catastrophe:

“...Numerous caves and ruins are found in the Americas, as well as in the West Indian Islands, all of which are associated with the sunken Atlantis. While the hierophants of the Old World during the time of Atlantis were connected with the New World by land routes, the magicians of the now non-existent country had a whole network of underground corridors diverging in all directions..."
“... there is not a single cave temple in this country that does not have its own underground passages radiating in all directions, and that these underground caves and endless corridors, in turn, have their own caves and corridors...”

In 1920, a Soviet secret expedition and diplomats conducted an unsuccessful expedition to find the site. Nowadays, most Buddhists believe that Shambhala is a metaphor for inner peace, loving peacefulness. In the West, Shambhala was given another name: “Shangri-La”.

Shambhala was sought by people seeking unlimited power over the world. Everyone who stands at the top and has valid information knew and knows about the existence of this monastery, about the existence of the powerful knowledge that is contained in it. They understand perfectly well that real power over the world is concentrated in Shambhala, which is why many have sought and are still seeking it, see more in the article by modern theosophist Nadezhda Urikova...

According to legend, the city of Is was one of the most beautiful in the world. It was built on the coast of Brittany, below sea level, protected by a dam and gates. Legend has it that the city's rulers were deceived by the devil and opened the gates during a storm. The city was flooded.

Almost all the inhabitants of Isa died, and their souls remained under water. Only King Gradlon and his daughter were saved, who decided to cross the sea riding the sea horse Morvarh. However, on the way, Saint Gwenole appeared to them, accusing Dahut of the destruction of the city. He ordered Gradlon to throw his daughter into the sea, after which she turned into a mermaid.

Having escaped, Gradlon founded the city of Quimper, which became his new capital. After his death, in Quimper, between the two towers of St. Corentyne's Cathedral, a statue was erected to him, which has survived to this day.

According to Breton legends, the bells of Isa can sometimes be heard ringing, warning of the approaching storm.

After the destruction of Isa, the Franks renamed Lutetia Paris, since in Breton "Par Is" means "like Isa". According to Breton beliefs, Is will float when Paris is swallowed up by water.

16. Bermeya

Old maps often show islands and lands that cannot be found today. Some of them are called "fantasy islands", perhaps caused by a mistake at the birth of the geographical craft. But it is believed that Bermeya really existed. Due to a natural disaster, the island disappeared. On ancient American maps, this island was located off the northwestern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2009, the Mexican government attempted to locate Bermea in hopes of expanding its oil exploration plans. But they still have not managed to find this legendary island

17. Hyperborea, Arctida or the Unknown Southern Land

Hyperborea (ancient Greek Ὑπερβορεία - “beyond Boreas”, “beyond the north”) - in ancient Greek mythology and the tradition that follows it, this is the legendary northern country, the habitat of the blessed people of the Hyperboreans..

This is the land around the South Pole, depicted on most maps from ancient times to the second half of the 18th century. The outlines of the continent were not depicted accurately; mountains, forests and rivers were often depicted. Name options: Unknown Southern Land, Mysterious Southern Land, sometimes simply Southern Land. In theory, South Earth corresponds to Antarctica, although no data about it existed at that time.

A map of this fabulous continent really exists. Aristotle said that what is now the Pacific Ocean was once a continent.

Hyperborea corresponded to another supercontinent that existed simultaneously with Gondwana 200 - 135 million years ago - Laurasia, which began to split into separate continents (North America, Eurasia, individual continental masses in the Arctic) in the Early Cretaceous era (140 - 135 million years back). However, for a long time after this, there was a land connection between North America and Eurasia through the Arctic (the islands of Arctic Canada, Greenland, the central and eastern part of the Arctic, which was then dry land). The northern part of Hyperborea was the habitat of the white gods (Adityas, Gandharvas, Apsaras (and here), etc.), and later - their human descendants, the Aryans

There is one place on Earth where white clouds float across the blue sky, where, surrounded by mountains, there is an archaeological site long forgotten by people. This place is characterized by pink and purple sunsets and sunrises, and the stars at night are striking in their clarity. Sometimes you can see a galloping deer, and sometimes a whole herd of wild boars. There is some kind of unusual cleanliness there, it smells of olives and the fragrance of fig tree flowers, you can breathe easily, and you get the feeling that you are standing where more than one page of a history book has been flipped through. The voice of the wind and the chirping of birds only sometimes drown out the prayer singing coming from the mosques of the surrounding villages. Archaeologists suggest that the remains of the buildings date back to the Byzantine period, but most likely they belong to an even more ancient time, since they were dug deep from the ground. This place is called Kfar Rut (that is, the village of Rut). It is indicated on the map by a mosaic on one of the ancient synagogues in Israel. Who were these people, and why did their civilization disappear? We may never know, but we will be able to experience this period while being there, because this whole place breathes ancient history.

19. Ancient China and Pacifida-Mu

Ancient China, known as Han China, like other civilizations, was born from the vast Pacific continent of Mu. As for the continent or continent of Mu, it could be North America after its separation from Eurasia 135 million years ago... Pacifida (or Pacifida, also the Continent of Mu) is a hypothetical sunken continent in the Pacific Ocean. Ancient myths of different peoples often mention an island or land on the site of the Pacific Ocean, but the “information” varies... Ancient Chinese records are known for descriptions of celestial chariots and jade production, which they shared with the Mayans. Indeed, ancient Chinese and Mayan languages ​​seem very similar

The mutual influences of China and Central America on each other are obvious, both in the field of linguistics and in mythology, religious symbolism, and even trade. The ancient Chinese invented everything from toilet paper to earthquake detectors to rocket technology and printing techniques. In 1959, archaeologists discovered aluminum tapes made several thousand years ago; this aluminum was obtained from raw materials using electricity.

20. Europeans of the Tarim Basin

1000 years before any relationship was established between East and West, hundreds of human mummies were unveiled in the Chinese desert. In 1988, American scientist Victor Mayer went to a provincial Chinese museum. He had no particular goal, a researcher of ancient Chinese texts just wanted to find something interesting to work on. But what he found amazed him and turned modern ideas about the history of China upside down.

In one of the halls of the museum there were mummies. The bodies looked like they had died recently, but the museum said they were several thousand years old. Found in the late 1970s by a Chinese expedition in the Tarim Basin between the cities of Urumqi and Loulan, they remained unexplored. The most famous of them: the so-called Cherchensky man and the Loulan beauty. Where were these people from who looked like the European race? Why were they buried in China? How did they end up with tools that did not exist at that time in any part of the globe and what was their earthly purpose?

This is how the theory of migration of peoples into the Tarim Basin around 2500 BC arose. e. These peoples brought with them various elements of civilization: the spoked wheel, bronze, thereby having a great influence on the Mongoloid tribes. The theory has a lot of evidence: in Chinese, the words for horse, cow, and cart clearly contain Indo-European roots. In addition, in local folklore there are legends about blue-eyed, fair-haired people who were the first rulers of the Celestial Empire.

Before the discovery of the burials in 1977, it was believed that Chinese culture was unique and formed autonomously. However, these finds cast doubt on known historical facts - the mummies were found next to ruins, indicating that there was an entire city built by white people, and these ruins go along the Great Silk Road. It turns out that it was strangers who built the Great Silk Road, and not the Chinese, as previously thought.