Name Location Approximate Dates Cultural Characteristics Notable Achievements Reason for Decline Maias Yucatan Peninsula 2000 BC - 1500 AD Advanced agriculture, mathematics, and astronomy Pyramids, writing system Spanish conquest, climate change Cahokia Illinois, USA 600 AD - 1400 AD Mound-building culture, urban planning Largest city in pre-Columbian North America Resource depletion, political strife Atlantis Location Unknown Approx. 9600 BC Advanced technology, immense wealth Naval power, architecture Natural disaster, hubris Indus Valley Civilization Modern Pakistan & Northwest India 2500 BC - 1900 BC Urban planning, drainage system Standardized weights, grid city layout Possible climate change, invasion Harappan Civilization Modern Pakistan 2600 BC - 1900 BC Agricultural, trade-oriented society Urban centers, advanced crafts Environmental changes, decline of trade Cretan Civilization / Minoans Crete, Greece 3000 BC - 1400 BC Maritime culture, art, trade Palace of Knossos, frescoes Invasion, volcanic eruption Etruscans Italy 800 BC - 100 BC Metalwork, urbanization, religious customs Architecture, sculptures Roman expansion, assimilation Norse Greenland Greenland 1000 AD - 1500 AD Viking culture, agriculture Settlements, trade Climate change, isolation Olmec Mexico 1200 BC - 400 BC Colossal heads, ritual ballgames Early writing, artistic influence Social upheaval, environmental changes Ancestral Puebloans Southwestern USA 100 AD - 1300 AD Cliff dwellings, kivas Architectural innovations, irrigation Drought, resource depletion Sumerians Mesopotamia (Iraq) 4500 BC - 1900 BC Cuneiform writing, city-states Wheel, mathematics Invasions, environmental factors Babylonian Civilization Mesopotamia (Iraq) 1894 BC - 539 BC Hammurabi's Code, astronomy Legal systems, mathematics Conquered by Persians, internal strife Phoenicians Eastern Mediterranean 1500 BC - 300 BC Maritime trading power, alphabet invention Trade networks, red dye Conquests by Persians, Romans Maya Central America 2000 BC - 1500 AD Complex society with city-states Astronomy, calendars Warfare, environmental changes Chavin Peru 900 BC - 200 BC Religious site, artworks Ceramic, metallurgy Social upheaval, environmental factors Tibetan Empire Tibet 618 AD - 842 AD Buddhism, culture, trade Cultural exchanges, military conquests Internal conflict, external pressures Great Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 1100 AD - 1450 AD Stone structures, trade Gold trade, architecture Economic decline, political instability Aksum Ethiopia 100 AD - 940 AD Christian kingdom, trade Minting coins, architectural achievements Trade disruptions, resource depletion Songhai Empire West Africa 1430 AD - 1591 AD Trade, Islam, urban centers Learning centers, military power Invasions, internal strife City of Petra Jordan 5th century BC - 2nd century AD Rock-cut architecture, water conduit system Trade hub, architecture Destruction, decline of trade Byzantine Empire Eastern Mediterranean 330 AD - 1453 AD Christianity, art, law Justinian code, architecture Ottoman conquest, internal strife Khmer Empire Cambodia 802 AD - 1431 AD Hindu and Buddhist influence, architectural innovation Angkor Wat, water management Climate changes, invasion Incan Empire Andes Mountains 1438 AD - 1533 AD Advanced agriculture, road systems Architecture, quipu Spanish conquest, civil war Teotihuacan Mexico 100 BC - 550 AD Urbanity, pyramids Pyramid of the Sun, trade Resource depletion, conflict Chaco Canyon Culture New Mexico, USA 650 AD - 1150 AD Kivas, trade networks Astronomical alignments, architecture Drought, resource depletion Mississippian Culture North America 800 AD - 1600 AD Mound-building societies Cahokia, extensive trade networks Climate change, European contact Teotihuacan Mexico 100 BC - 550 AD Multi-ethnic urban center Pyramids, murals Mysterious decline, possibly conflict Persian Empire Iran 550 BC - 330 BC Largest empire of its time, advanced administration Royal Road, architectural feats Conquered by Alexander the Great Roman Empire Mediterranean 27 BC - 476 AD Extensive road systems, law Architecture, engineering Barbarian invasions, internal corruption Babylon Iraq 1894 BC - 539 BC Famous for Hanging Gardens, legal systems Astronomy, mathematics Fall to Persia, geopolitical changes Egyptian Civilization Egypt 3100 BC - 30 BC Pyramids, hieroglyphics Architecture, mathematics Roman conquest, economic decline Carthage Tunisia 814 BC - 146 BC Maritime power, trade Punic Wars, trade networks Defeated by Rome, destruction Malayan Empire Southeast Asia 700 AD - 1500 AD Maritime trade, Islam influence Trade networks, cultural diffusion Colonial pressures, economic changes Chola Dynasty India 300 BC - 1279 AD Maritime power, temple architecture Cultural advancements, trade Internal conflicts, invasions Urartu Armenia 860 BC - 590 BC Fortifications, metallurgy Architectural achievements, inscriptions Conquered by Medes, geopolitical changes Numidia North Africa Numidian Kingdoms before 46 BC Formidble cavalry, agriculture Military tactics, alliances Roman conquest, internal divisions Zhou Dynasty China 1046 BC - 256 BC Feudal states, Confucius arose Mandate of Heaven, philosophy Internal conflict, warfare Muisca Confederation Colombia 600 AD - 1600 AD Confederation of tribes, agriculture El Dorado legend Spanish conquest, societal changes Nabataean Kingdom Jordan 4th century BC - 106 AD Trade routes, rock-cut architecture Petra, trading networks Roman annexation, changing trade routes Mississippian Culture Eastern USA 800 AD - 1600 AD Mound builders, agricultural societies Cahokia, trade networks European arrival, conflict Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Easter Island 300 AD - 1868 AD Polynesian culture, moai statues Stonework, navigation Environmental changes, isolation Qin Dynasty China 221 BC - 206 BC First Imperial dynasty, Great Wall Unified China, centralized state Internal conflict, succession crisis Kirman Empire Iran 600 AD - 800 AD Cultural confluence and trade Metallurgy, architecture Steppe nomadic invasions Macronesian Cultures Pacific Islands 1000 BC - ongoing Maritime trade Navigational prowess, art Isolation, European arrival Silla Kingdom Korea 57 BC - 935 AD Buddhism, gold craftsmanship Buddhist art, cultural achievements Unification of Korea, invasions Phrygian Kingdom Turkey 1200 BC - 700 BC Independent kingdom, literacy Mythology, architecture Conquered by Lydians and Greeks Bactria Central Asia 2500 BC - 1200 AD Cultural exchange, trade Silk Road contributions Conquered by various empires Alans Eurasia 1 AD - 500 AD Nomadic pastoralists Military prowess, trade connections Conquered by Huns and others Parthian Empire Iran 247 BC - 224 AD Cultural syncretism, Silk Road trade Empire rivaling Rome Internal strife, economic decline Seljuk Empire Middle East 1037 AD - 1194 AD Cultural renaissance, trade Architecture, administration Fragmentation, Mongol invasions Ottoman Empire Turkey 1299 AD - 1922 AD Multi-ethnic empire, trade Architecture, administrative systems World War I, rise of nationalism Shang Dynasty China 1600 BC - 1046 BC Early Chinese writing, bronze casting Chinese writing system, agriculture Overthrown by Zhou Zulu Kingdom South Africa 1816 AD - 1897 AD Warrior culture, agricultural society Military organization, resistance Colonial pressures, warfare Viking Age Society Scandinavia 793 AD - 1066 AD Seafaring warriors, raiders Exploration, trade Christianization, settlement Manchu Qing Dynasty China 1644 AD - 1912 AD Last imperial dynasty, multiethnic Cultural exchanges, empire Revolutions, colonialism Welsh Kings and Princes Wales 5th century AD - 12th century AD Celtic culture, local governance Local wars, culture preservation English conquest, fragmentation Chola Dynasty India 300 BC - 1279 AD Maritime empire, Tamil culture Temple architecture, trade Invasions, internal strife Rashidun Caliphate Middle East 632 AD - 661 AD Islamic expansion, administration Rapid territorial expansion Succession disputes, internal factions Sassanid Empire Iran 224 AD - 651 AD Cultural renaissance, trade Art, architecture Islamic conquest, internal issues Inuit Culture Arctic regions 2000 BC to present Nomadic lifestyle, sustainable practices Hunting technology, art forms Climate change, modern pressures Kushite Kingdom Sudan 800 BC - 350 AD Egyptian influence, pyramids Pyramids of Meroe, trade Conquered by Aksum, resource depletion Norse settlements in Vinland North America 1000 AD - 1500 AD Viking culture, agriculture Exploration, crafts Conflicts with Indigenous populations Ancient Israel Middle East 1200 BC - 500 AD Cultural and religious influence Hebrew Bible, Judaism Conquered by empires, diaspora Creek Confederacy Southern USA 1700 AD - 1830 AD Southeastern Native American culture Fur trade, agriculture U.S. expansion, forced relocation Mesoamerican Cultures Central America 1500 BC - 1500 AD Complex societies, pyramids Astronomy, calendars Conquests and diseases Albanian Principalities Balkans 12th century AD - 15th century AD Medieval culture Resistance against Ottomans Ottoman conquests, fragmentation Uralic Sami Culture Northern Europe Prehistoric - ongoing Nomadic reindeer herding Cultural resilience, music Modern pressures, environmental changes Bosnian Kingdom Bosnia Mid 12th century - 1463 AD Slavic culture, feudal system Local governance, cultural flourishing Ottoman conquest, fragmentation Muisca Confederation Colombia Pre-Columbian - 16th century AD Confederation of tribes, agriculture Goldsmithing, trade Spanish conquest, colonial impacts Angkor Empire Cambodia 802 AD - 1431 AD Hindu and Buddhist influences Angkor Wat, advanced irrigation Climate changes, invasions Sicilian Kingdom Italy 1130 AD - 1194 AD Norman influence, cultural mosaic Architectural achievements Hohenstaufen succession crisis, strife Alfonso of Aragon Mediterranean 12th century - 15th century Conqueror, cultural integration Multiethnic governance Internal conflicts, power shifts Zapotec Civilization Oaxaca, Mexico 700 BC - 1500 AD Agriculture, city-building Monte Albán, monumental architecture Social upheaval, Spanish conquest Frankish Kingdom Western Europe 5th century - 9th century Feudalism, integration of tribes Charlemagne's empire, legal codes Fragmentation, invasions Alanic Society Eurasia 1st century - 5th century Nomadic lifestyle, warrior culture Cultured horsemen Conquests by competing tribes Bermudian Civilizations Bermuda 1300 AD - 16th century AD Colonial settlements, agriculture Developed agriculture Loss to European powers, dispossession Hutt River Province Australia 1970 - 2020 Micro-nation, anti-centrism Self-declared independence Legal disputes, dissolution efforts Ming Dynasty China 1368 AD - 1644 AD Cultural flourishing, trade Great Wall reconstruction, voyages of Zheng He Manchu invasions, internal strife Tang Dynasty China 618 AD - 907 AD Cultural renaissance, Silk Road trade Expansion, cosmopolitan culture Revolts, provincial fragmentation Achaeans Greece 1600 BC - 1100 BC Mycenaean culture, trade Linear B writing, early Greek civilization Dorian invasion, internal strife Mauryan Empire India 322 BC - 185 BC First large empire in India Ashoka's edicts, trade Weak successors, internal conflict Gothic Kingdoms Europe 300 AD - 700 AD Warlike tribes, migration Fall of Western Roman Empire Fragmentation, invasions Skara Brae Orkney, Scotland 3100 BC - 2500 BC Neolithic village, stone structures Advanced architecture Climate change, abandonment Sumer Mesopotamia (Iraq) 4500 BC - 1900 BC City-states, cuneiform writing First cities, inventions Invasions, trade decline Celtic Tribes Europe 1200 BC - Roman Conquest Druidic culture, tribal societies Iron Age, complex societies Roman conquest, cultural assimilation Iberian Peninsula Cultures Spain/Portugal Prehistoric - Roman conquest Diverse tribal cultures Trade networks with Mediterranean Roman expansion, internal conflicts Timurid Empire Central Asia 1370 AD - 1506 AD Cultural revival, architecture Timur's conquests, arts Fragmentation after Timur's death Armada of Exploration Various 16th century - 18th century Maritime exploration, colonization Mapping of new regions Resource depletion, conflicts Denmark Vikings Scandinavia 800 AD - 1100 AD Seafaring raiders and traders Exploration, settlements Christianization, cultural change Huns Eurasia 4th century - 5th century Nomadic conquerors Militarism, migration Defeated by Germanic tribes Slavic Principalities Eastern Europe 700 AD - 1200 AD Cultural blending, feudalism Cultural diversity, literature Rise of neighboring powers Mississippian Culture North America 800 AD - 1600 AD Mound-building society Trade networks, monumental architecture Resource depletion, contact with Europeans Lombard Kingdom Italy 568 AD - 774 AD Germanic kingdoms, feudal culture Integration of Roman and Germanic elements Conquered by Franks, assimilation Turkic Khanates Eurasia 600 AD - 1200 AD Nomadic lifestyle, military structure Cultural exchanges along Silk Road Mongol invasions, fragmentation Yaqui Tribe Mexico Pre-Columbian - present Agricultural societies, resistance Strong spiritual beliefs, customs Colonial impacts, modern pressures Brahmin Estates India Ancient times - ongoing Hindu traditions, priestly roles Religious and cultural preservation Modern challenges, reforms Unknown West African Kingdoms West Africa Pre-colonial times Diverse tribal cultures, rich traditions Trade, artistic contributions Colonial disruptions, resource exploitation Peaceful Utterlike Society Eurasia 2500 BC - 2000 BC Largely social structures, self-sufficiency Cultural resilience, innovation Displacement, environmental changes Lapita Culture Oceania 1600 BC - 500 BC Maritime voyaging, pottery Cultural foundation of Polynesia Climate effects, cultural shifts Mi'kmaq Nation Canada Precolonial - ongoing Indigenous governance, sustainable practices Ecological knowledge, adaptability Colonial impact, demographic changes Cossack Hetmanate Ukraine 17th century - 18th century Military culture, autonomy Anti-imperialism, cultural legacy Russian expansion, integration Carolingian Empire Western Europe 800 AD - 888 AD Cultural renaissance, feudalism Cultural unification under Charlemagne Fragmentation after Charlemagne Viking Greenlands Greenland 800 AD - 1300 AD Norse cultural heritage, farming Settlements, seafaring Climate change, isolation Quechua Culture Peru Prehistoric - present Andean civilization, agriculture Textile arts, agricultural practices Modern economic challenges Scythian Culture Eurasia 800 BC - 200 AD Nomadic warrior society, horseback riding Art, trade networks Pressure from invasions, assimilation Ottoman Empire Turkey 1299 AD - 1922 AD Cultural diversity, imperial governance Architecture, trade Nationalism, World War I Maori Culture New Zealand Polynesian settlement - present Agricultural and maritime societies Oral traditions, language preservation Colonial impact, modern challenges Babylonian Civilization Mesopotamia (Iraq) 1894 BC - 539 BC Significant in early civilization, trade Hammurabi's Code, ziggurats Conquered, trade disruptions Fremantle Society Australia 1840 - 1900 Colonial settlement culture Architectural developments, maritime trade Displacement, modern shifts Persian Empire Iran 550 BC - 330 BC Largest empire, cultural achievements Royal Road, Persepolis Conquests, administrative difficulties Chaco Culture North America 850 AD - 1150 AD Pueblo culture, advanced astronomy Cultural and trade networks Climate factors, resource depletion Three Kingdoms of Korea Korea 1st century BC - 7th century AD Cultural exchange, rivalry Buddhism, military conflict Unification, external pressures Sevran-Villes France Late 20th century Post-colonial settlements Diversified communities Economic pressures, local conflicts Late Neolithic Society Southeast Asia 4500 BC - 3000 BC Gathering and agriculture Cultural foundations, trade Rural to urban shifts Fraudulent Decadent Society Pacific Islands 19th century Cultural encounters, colonization Assimilation of outside cultures Split identities in modernity Mayapan Yucatan, Mexico 1200-1450 AD Maya city-state Cultural and trade hub Political strife, environmental changes Teotihuacan Mexico 150 BC - 650 AD Cosmopolitan society, cultural center Pyramid of the Sun, urban planning Internal conflict, resource depletion Ammonite Civilization Jordan Prehistoric - 5th century BC Ancient tribal societies, nomadic Resistance against empires, trade Decline through conquest, assimilation Gallienus Feudal Kingdoms Europe Post Roman Empire - ongoing Tribal governance, feudalism Local powers resisted centralization Fragmentation, conquest Manchu Qing Dynasty China 1644 AD - 1912 AD Multi-ethnic empire, trade Silk and porcelain trade, administrative systems Decline due to revolutions and modernization Sidama Kingdom Ethiopia Pre-20th century Traditional culture, agriculture Cultural practices and systems Colonial pressures, modern influences