http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_civilisation

#10 Note from a wife to her husband. You lazy bum! I know your out seeing That woman again. Just you know you’ll be hearing from me when you get back. Oh, and pick up milk and eggs while your out.

9# They obviously were trying to curry favor with the traders of the time by passing themselves off as the Real city of Atlantis. So..Poseidon scragged them.

8# Bog people. Again..oh soo obvious. Too many twinkies. Do you know how many preservatives they put in those things? Why they got stomped. Sharing, we must learn the idea of sharing with our neighbors. Most particularly when they are a bloodthirsty lot like theirs obviously were.

7 # Pissed off the mountain God is my guess. You mess with the bull, you get the horns.

6 # Carnac Stones? Think about it.. Carnac. As in Carnac the Great! Wonderful magician! I caught his act in Vegas years ago. These must have been his ancestors. And they are not earthquake detectors. It’s the very first domino trick. Got to remember. The folks back then had no TV or radio. And lots and lots of time on their hands.

5 # Wait a minute… I know that guy! And he owes me money!

4 # The lost legion. Now…you ladies KNOW we guys just absolutely Never Ever ask for directions.

3 # Ok.. now this one I’m not sure about. But I’ve got a notion. I’m thinking crop circle diagrams.

2 # Another bunch of them Roman’s is my guess. Told you we hate to ask for directions!

1 # Indus Valley Civilization. Now this one has me worried, as I have only one possible explanation for it. A perfect society suddenly gone. Good manners, good toilets and then just poof? I’m sadly thinking they their stupid government gave away huge sums of money to corrupt banks with no verification nor accountability put upon those bankers. They got scared into thinking the economy would collapse unless they did so. The bankers of course retired to the Bahamas.

Ah, lady liberty. I’ve loved you well. Served you even when I was not called upon to do so and seen your glory fade through years of corruption, lies, and prevarications.

Got to say though, your going out like a lady. Rome itself could not have done better under the circumstances. And who knows. We may just pull you out of this yet.

If we follow the advise of good old William S and hang all the lawyers. We might just make it out.

P.S. For those who read this and are not having apoplectic seizures. I hope it lightened your day. You other lot. Lighten up! We’re not all historians.

Sincerely, John.

I studied Minoan art and architecture breifly a few years ago. I fell in love with the Minoans, and thinking about their demise breaks my heart! The late Minoan period rose in the era that marked the first great Western civilizations. The Minoans built theaters and elaborate palaces (including the Minotaur’s Labyrinth) and at Knossos they even built terracotta pipes under their buildings for rainwater drainage. Their frescoes were beautiful depictions of Minoan life — fresh, charming, and lively. They were prosperous and seemed very happy-go-lucky. Some of their art even resembles our modern, abstract pieces. The ferscoe pictured on this list is of the Minoan ceremony of bull-leaping — a nonviolent game. They respected and loved nature and animals, and fathered what is believed to be the first pure landscape painting.

The theory that cataclysmic eruption of Thera killed the Minoans was widely beleived and accepted until scientists were able to pinpoint its actual date (1628 BCE). The volcano theory is basically discredited.

There is now evidence that the Mycenaeans had already moved onto Crete and established themselves at Knossos where they ruled from for at least half a century (maybe much longer) before destroying the palaces. Through Mycenaean art and architecture, we can see a strong contrast in the two civilizations. The Mycenaeans were stronger, more defensive, and not nearly as concerned with the earthly pleasures the Minoans indulged in. The Minoans and Mycenaeans were both prosperous, but by observing their nature, maybe it’s no wonder the Mycenaeans were able to defeat the Minoans.