History bears evidence to some of the greatest civilizations of the world. While some have stood out for noble causes, others are famous for bringing about doom. Of course, we choose not to remember the latter, but it would be interesting to learn about how great empires broke and why. Here’s taking a look at some of the terrifying civilizations the world had to witness and now recount!
The Nazis
Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nationalist Socialist German Worker’s Party (NSDAP), and his Nazi Germany were undoubtedly one of the worst civilizations that wreaked havoc globally. Also popular as the Third Reich in Germany, Hitler smoothly executed the task of turning a democratic Republic into a totalitarian state.
With 4 million dying in the Holocaust and the worst war to have happened in the history of mankind, World War II under the reign of this one dictator, nothing much was left. Even the party’s symbol, Swastika, which is a symbol of Hitler’s civilization, is something people despise worldwide, and quite rightly so.
The Celts
One of the deadliest civilizations is the Celts as a group, which is perhaps unheard of for most people. The notorious hunters put the victim’s heads in chariots or front of their homes. Fearless and ruthless, these people had long iron swords as their tools for fighting with enemies, hung them on their chariots, and kept singing out of victory.
It might sound astonishing but fighting naked was their style, which was odd for opponents. For them, valiance was the hallmark. No wonder many preserved their achievements (the head, to be precise!) ad exhibited before the world with pride.
The Mongols
Akin to savages and barbarians, this civilization’s domination was mostly in Eurasia during the 13th and 14th centuries AD. The unification of Mongols and the tribes of Turks ultimately became symbolic of bloodshed under the dynamic leadership of Genghis Khan.
It would leave people speechless seeing how they organized themselves and achieved mastery in archery and horse riding. As per estimates, almost 30 million to 60 million people died for their conquests that started in 1207 and ended in 1472, thanks to their terror.
The Romans
The greatest empire to ever exist also had its share of fury. Think of some of the evilest men in history, and they turn out Romans without a doubt. Caligula, Nero, and a few others made for one of the worst civilizations in history. Emperor Nero, in 64 AD, persecuted Christians, with some thrown to starving dogs and others burnt alive. Initially ruled by divine emperors, the country soon became a Republic (their glorious days) and then an empire.
Perhaps only legend can explain how a small group of people fending wolves gathered a terrific military and administrative system and constituted Roman Empire or the very long ancient Rome. If you remember the deadly gladiator wars, it was the contribution of the Roman army. From England to Spain, France to Greece, the Middle East to North African coastal regions, all came under the territory of Rome and lasted for a whopping 2214 years. Truly, Rome was never built in a day!
Maori Civilization
Fear and Cruelty were pronounced aspects of Maoris, the indigenous Polynesian people who first settled in New Zealand before Europeans. Hardcore cannibals, this group of people consumed their enemies’ flesh or any outsider to their territory. For the unfortunate few victims to these savage warriors during one such attack, returning safely was impossible. What was disturbing for the horrified survivors who managed to flee but watched the Maoris devour their shipmates? This practice was to impart strength and other necessary skills to this civilization.
The Vikings
Vikings formed another terrifying civilization. North Germanic people raided, traded, plundered, and eventually settled down in parts of North Atlanta and Eurasia between the late 8th and mid 11th centuries.
The use of axes, swords, and spears was so famous that no one proved a worthy match to these super-valiant people. The only civilization whose religious beliefs rested in war, Vikings were outstanding on battlefields and fighting till the end of their lives.
Terrifying civilizations perished not due to external threats but because of internal weakness, corruption, or a failure to manifest the values and ideals they espoused.