Some of history’s greatest cities were once home to hundreds of thousands of people. Today, many survive only as archaeological ruins after being abandoned, buried, or reclaimed by nature.
1. Carthage
Founded on the coast of present-day Tunisia, Carthage became one of the Mediterranean’s greatest trading powers.
Its long rivalry with Rome led to the Punic Wars. After Rome captured the city in 146 BC, Carthage was largely destroyed, bringing one of the ancient world’s richest civilizations to an end.
2. Cahokia
Near present-day St. Louis, Cahokia was once the largest city north of Mexico.
At its peak around the 11th century, it may have been home to more than 20,000 people. By the 1300s, however, the city had been abandoned for reasons historians still debate, including environmental change and political instability.
3. Ani
Known as the “City of One Thousand and One Churches,” Ani was the capital of the medieval Armenian kingdom.
Located near today’s border between Türkiye and Armenia, it flourished as a major trading center before invasions, earthquakes, and changing trade routes gradually emptied the city.
4. Great Zimbabwe
Between the 11th and 15th centuries, Great Zimbabwe became the center of a wealthy African kingdom supported by gold trade.
Its enormous stone walls remain one of Africa’s greatest archaeological achievements, but the city was eventually abandoned as political and economic conditions changed.
5. Tikal
Hidden deep within the jungles of present-day Guatemala, Tikal was one of the largest cities of the ancient Maya civilization.
After centuries of growth, the city declined during the 9th century as many major Maya centers were abandoned throughout the region.
6. Angkor
Angkor, in present-day Cambodia, served as the capital of the Khmer Empire for hundreds of years.
At its height, it may have been one of the world’s largest urban areas. Political instability, environmental pressures, and shifting trade patterns eventually led the capital to move south, leaving Angkor to be reclaimed by the jungle.