eli5: Why were some ancient cities like Palmyra and Machu Picchu left to ruin and fall apart over hundreds of years instead of being repopulated?

Question

eli5: Why were some ancient cities like Palmyra and Machu Picchu left to ruin and fall apart over hundreds of years instead of being repopulated?

In: 1677

Answer 1

There’s a Youtube Channel, Fall of Civilizations, dedicated to just this question:

Macchu Pichu (Inca): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GkNOT2Q2hk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GkNOT2Q2hk)

I don’t think he’s done one on Palmyra, but there was a recent one on Petra, which is geographically and timeline wise kinda close:

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSfFq02pK4s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSfFq02pK4s)