Ancient history

What ancient civilizations were destroyed by war?

Many ancient civilizations have been destroyed or significantly impacted by war and conflict throughout history. Here are a few notable examples:

Ancient Egypt: Repeated foreign invasions and internal power struggles contributed to the decline of Ancient Egyptian civilization. Notable conflicts include the fall of the Old Kingdom due to internal strife and the Persian conquest of Egypt in the 6th century BCE.

The Indus Valley Civilization: The once-thriving Bronze Age civilization in present-day Pakistan and India experienced a gradual decline around 1900 BCE. While the exact reasons are still debated, warfare and environmental factors may have played a role.

The Trojan War: While the historicity of the Trojan War, as depicted in Homer's Iliad, is uncertain, it reflects a period of conflict and competition among ancient city-states in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Late Bronze Age.

The Assyrian Empire: The powerful Assyrian Empire faced numerous conflicts and rebellions throughout its history, eventually falling to a coalition of Babylonians and Medes in 612 BCE.

The Maya Civilization: The Maya civilization in Mesoamerica experienced a series of political upheavals, wars, and droughts, leading to the collapse of many Maya city-states around the 9th century CE.

The Byzantine Empire: The Byzantine Empire, centered in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), faced numerous conflicts, including the Crusades, the rise of Islam, and internal dynastic struggles, leading to its eventual fall to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 CE.

The Roman Empire: While internal political instability, economic decline, and cultural factors contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire, external pressures from invading Germanic tribes and attacks from the East also played a role.

These are just a few examples among many. War and conflict have been persistent factors throughout human history, shaping the rise and fall of civilizations.