Several civilizations throughout history have been devastated—or even wiped out—by tsunamis and earthquakes. Some of the most notable include:
1. Minoan Civilization (Crete, Greece) – c. 1600 BCE
• Disaster: The Thera (Santorini) eruption caused massive tsunamis and earthquakes.
• Impact: The tsunamis hit the Minoan stronghold of Knossos, severely weakening the civilization.
• Result: While the Minoans didn’t vanish immediately, their weakened state made them vulnerable to Mycenaean conquest.
2. Helike (Ancient Greece) – 373 BCE
• Disaster: A massive earthquake followed by a tsunami submerged the Greek city of Helike into the Gulf of Corinth.
• Impact: The city disappeared overnight and was never rebuilt.
• Result: Helike became a lost city and was only rediscovered in the 20th century.
3. Port Royal (Jamaica) – 1692
• Disaster: A catastrophic earthquake triggered a liquefaction event and tsunami.
• Impact: Two-thirds of Port Royal, a major pirate hub, sank into the sea.
• Result: The disaster destroyed the city, and it never fully recovered.
4. Mohenjo-Daro (Indus Valley Civilization) – c. 1900 BCE
• Disaster: Some theories suggest that earthquakes and shifting river courses led to its decline.
• Impact: Environmental changes caused mass migration.
• Result: The city was abandoned, contributing to the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization.
5. Lima & Callao (Peru) – 1746
• Disaster: A 9.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a massive tsunami destroyed Callao and much of Lima.
• Impact: Over 90% of Callao was wiped out.
• Result: The city was later rebuilt, but the disaster permanently altered Peru’s coastal settlements.
6. Kamakura (Japan) – 1293 & 1703
• Disaster: The 1293 Kamakura earthquake and the 1703 Genroku earthquake triggered tsunamis.
• Impact: The 1293 event killed 23,000+ people, while the 1703 disaster devastated the region.
• Result: Kamakura, once a political center, declined in importance.
7. Atlantis (Mythical Civilization)
• Disaster: Some theories suggest Atlantis was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami, possibly inspired by the fall of Minoan Crete.
• Impact: The legend describes a great city sinking into the sea.
• Result: While Atlantis remains mythical, it may have been based on real disasters.