5 Ancient Societies that Collapsed When the Water Ran Dry

From Mesa Verde to the Mayans, these ancient societies collapsed without water.

By Sara Novak
Sep 6, 2022 8:00 PMSep 15, 2022 4:39 PM
Mesa Verde
(Credit:Sopotnicki/Shutterstock)

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Climate change has forced a number of states across the nation to face growing water shortages. From California to Colorado and everywhere in between, droughts combined with growing populations are causing communities to worry about having enough water in the near future.

Countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia are also particularly vulnerable to a growing drought crisis. But this isn’t the first time a lack of water has negatively impacted society. Throughout our history, societies have been built and then collapsed around water. These ancient societies fell when the water ran dry.

1. Mesa Verde

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