Another research has confirmed: an abrupt climate change caused the decline of city dwelling civilizations of the Indus Valley.Around 1700 BCE most of the mega-cities were abandoned leaving the cultural and economic output of over a millenium, behind.
The late 17th century BC climatic disturbances are also considered to have some influence on an uneasy period in Egyptian, Mesopotamian and Minoan cultures. Egypt was conquered by Asian tribes known as the Hyksos, Babylon was sucked by Hittie Empire, and the Minoans were conquered by the Mycenaeans.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have come to the conclusion that an abrupt weakening of the summer monsoon could be a major factor in the fall of northwest India civilization (Harrappa and Mohenjo-daro), 4,100 years ago.
Records in tree-rings all over the world has shown that from 1627 BC world climate started to cool for several years. It might have been caused by the Minoan eruption of Thera, which exact date is still disputed. Radiocarbon dates, including analysis of an olive tree buried beneath the lava flow from the volcano gave a date between 1627 BCE and 1600 BCE.
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| Archeological site on ancient Santorini - Thera |
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| The ruins of Mohenjo-daro in present-day Sindh, Pakistan |
sources: Heritage Daily; images: Wikipedia
