5 ancient cultures forgotten by history

The Kush Kingdom began around 8000 BC. As early as 2000 BC Kush society was complex, supported by large-scale agriculture. Egypt exploited and conquered Kush, then Kush conquered Egypt and for over 1000 years they ruled the Egyptians. They developed a form of writing called "meroitic". Their script remains untranslated casting most of their history in the dark. The Ethiopian kingdom of Askum is the subject of legend. Some say it is the lost kingdom of the Queen of Sheeba, others say it is the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. Askum lost its primary trade advantage over its neighbours and faded away.

The mysterious Nok culture lasted from around 1000 B.C. to A.D. 300 in what is today northern Nigeria. Evidence of the Nok was discovered by chance during a tin-mining operation in 1943. The mysterious land of Punt is a kingdom somewhere in Africa that traded with the ancient Egyptians. The two empires were exchanging goods from at least the 26th century B.C., during the reign of the pharaoh Khufu (the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza). The location of Punt is unknown to this day.

Temple wall art depicting an Egyptian expedition to the land of Punt.

The Etruscans were a society in northern Italy from about 700 B.C. to about 500 B.C. when they were absorbed by the Roman Republic. They developed a unique written language and left behind luxurious family tombs. Their goldwork is some of the finest in the ancient world.