Vanished Cities. Part 1

Ancient Lost Cities

Capitals of the Golden Horde, Russia

The capitals of the Golden Horde, Sarai Batu (Old Sarai) and Sarai Berke (New Sarai), are the most famous cities of the Golden Horde. The culture and art of the Golden Horde are closely linked to the culture of these ancient capitals.

Due to the khans of the Golden Horde's orientation towards Islam and the urban lifestyle of Central Asian and Iranian types, a vibrant urban culture flourished in the steppe where the capitals of the Golden Horde were founded. The cities of the Golden Horde during their peak represented a mix of Central Asian mosques and minarets, tiles and glazed pottery with wooden huts and nomadic yurts. The mixed culture of the Golden Horde city manifested itself in housing construction and architecture. The cities of the Golden Horde were home to Polovtsians, Bulgarians, Slavs, and people from Central Asia, the Caucasus, Crimea, and others.

Initially, the main political center of the Golden Horde, its capital, was Sarai Batu or Old Sarai (located in the Selitrennoe village of the Astrakhan region) – a city built by Khan Batu (1243-1255) in 1254 (according to W. Rubruk). As a result of the internecine struggles of the khans and Timur's campaign (1395), the capital of the Golden Horde, Sarai Batu, suffered greatly. The city of Sarai Batu was finally destroyed in 1480.

The city of Sarai Berke (New Sarai, Sarai Al-Jedid) on the Akhtuba River (Tsarevskoye settlement near Volgograd) – the capital of the Golden Horde, built around 1260 by Khan Berke (1255 – 1266), brother of Batu. The name of Khan Berke is associated with the beginning of the Islamization of the Golden Horde. Under Khan Berke, the Golden Horde became effectively independent from the Mongol Empire. The peak of the city of Sarai Berke occurred in the first half of the 14th century. After 1361, Sarai Berke was repeatedly captured by various claimants to the khan's throne. In 1395, the city was destroyed by Timur.

Troy in Turkey

Troy is one of the most famous ancient cities, the ruins of which continue to attract the attention of not only historians, archaeologists, and local historians but also ordinary travelers, as everyone knows the Trojan Horse, which played a key role in the Trojan War.

Due to its strategic location (frequent wars) and earthquakes, Troy had to be rebuilt several times, so today Troy as an archaeological site consists of 9 layers, belonging to different eras.

According to archaeologists, Troy was abandoned in the 13th-12th centuries BC. Around 1180 BC, Troy experienced serious destruction due to an earthquake and apparently burned.

What exactly caused the Trojans to leave the once mighty city (war or natural disasters) remains unknown. Today, it is a well-known archaeological site.

The Ghost City of Pagan in Myanmar

In its relatively short life (11th – 13th centuries), the Pagan Kingdom managed to leave a unique legacy. Its capital – the city of Pagan (today known as the "ghost city") was destroyed by the Mongolian Khan Kublai and his army, and since then no attempts at restoration have been made; it was abandoned by its inhabitants. To this day, an incredibly large number of Buddhist temples, monasteries, and pagodas (over 5000) have been preserved in this area. Today, Pagan is a Buddhist Mecca for pilgrims and a source of endless interest for tourists.

Pompeii, Italy

How the residents of Pompeii spent their last day is imagined by every schoolchild thanks to the works of the artist Karl Bryullov. The picturesque ruins near Naples were once a thriving trading center, whose inhabitants were engaged in fishing and olive oil production. Unfortunately for them, in 79 AD, the volcano Vesuvius, at the foot of which Pompeii was located, unexpectedly erupted – with all the ensuing consequences. Pompeii was fully excavated only in the 20th century and turned into a well-preserved open-air museum.

Roman Carthage, Tunisia

Carthage in Phoenician means "New City." According to legend, it was founded by the Tyrian princess Elissa in 814 BC, who fled her hometown due to a palace coup.

Throughout its history, the inhabitants of Carthage were known for their ingenuity and business acumen. By the 3rd century BC, the city-state had become the largest in Africa, competing for dominance in the Mediterranean with the Roman Empire.

With the slogan "Carthage must be destroyed," in 146 BC, the Romans completely destroyed the city, sold the local inhabitants into slavery, and salted the ruins.

But a century later, Julius Caesar ordered the construction of a new city on this site, which gained fame as one of the three great ports of the Mediterranean. With a population of about 300,000, Roman Carthage became the second-largest city after Rome in the western empire.

In the 5th century, Carthage was captured and plundered by the Vandals. Public buildings fell into disrepair, and many temples were converted into residential houses. In 698, the Arabs finally destroyed the city, using its stones to build their settlement – Tunis. Today, Carthage is a suburb of Tunis with many ruins.