List of 7 Forgotten Kingdom That Are Lost In History

Kazi Nasir | Nov 11, 2025, 20:20 IST

History of Human Civilizations

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Human history is full of lost civilisations that once shaped the world but vanished into the sands of time. From the meticulously planned cities of the Indus Valley to the mighty Khmer Empire, these ancient kingdoms reveal stories of innovation, power and mystery. Each fell due to war, climate change, or shifting trade routes, leaving behind ruins and legends that still fascinate historians.

Human history is similar to a rollercoaster, mighty empires rose to power and greatness only to vanish from the memory of people, leaving behind ruins and only a few lines in the pages of history books. Exploring these lost kingdoms can help one understand how power, politics, culture and geography intersect and then perish in the vast ocean of time. Here in this article we will take a look at seven mighty kingdoms that are forgotten today.

1. Indus Valley Civilisation (3300–1300 BCE)

Civilizations of History

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This civilisation is considered one of the world's largest early urban cultures. People of that time planned cities and what makes the world fascinated is their remarkable underground drainage systems. The decline of this civilisation remains dubious, some says it is due to external aggression and some say it's due to climate change.

2. Akkadian Empire (2334–2154 BCE)

Traditional Architecture

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This empire is often considered the world's first true empire, was founded by Sargon of Akkad. The collapse of this empire is expected due to drought and invasions. What would you like to think about this empire? Are they truly unlucky, as they faced external aggression during the time of environmental catastrophe?

3. Minoan Civilisation (2700–1100 BCE)

This civilisation is considered Europe's earliest advanced civilisation as the Minoans successfully built huge places and maritime networks. Experts estimate that this civilisation ended with the volcanic eruption of Thera which paved way for the people of Mycenaeans to rise.

4. Hittite Empire (1600-1178 BCE)

Ancient People

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It is said that, Hittite people are the ones who learned to smelt iron from its ore. They were a powerful Bronze Age kingdom from Anatolia (Turkey) and were skilled in diplomacy. As the Bronze Age collapsed they also collapsed due to war, famine and other upheavals.

5. Kingdom of Kush (1070 BCE–350 CE)

This kingdom was located in Nubia or modern Sudan. Amazing thing is, at one point this empire ruled as Egypt's 25th Dynasty and is said to built pyramids. As the trade routes changed and rival of this empire rised Kingdom of Kush collapsed.

6. Aksum Empire (1st – 7th century CE)

This empire was known for its powerful trading kingdom in Northeast Africa which today is known as Ethiopia and Eritrea. Alongside Persia, Rome and China, it is considered one of the four great powers of the ancient world. This mighty empire collapesed in the 10th century due to rise of Islam.

7. Khmer Empire (802–1431 CE)

This mighty empire existed from 802 to 1431 CE in Southeast Asia, whose capital was at Angkor, today known as Cambodia. It was a major regional power that controlled much of today's Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. The reason of declining is due to factors like environmental change and internal pressures.

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Kazi Nasir