The civilization that is most commonly associated with a sudden disappearance is Tiahuanaco (or Tiwanaku). Tiwanaku was a significant cultural and political center located near Lake Titicaca in present-day Bolivia. It experienced a decline and eventual abandonment, which remains a subject of academic study and debate. Various factors, such as climate change, overpopulation, and resource depletion, may have contributed to this decline.
While the Inca civilization also faced significant challenges leading to its collapse, it did not simply disappear in the same way as Tiwanaku; instead, it was significantly impacted by Spanish conquest and colonization in the 16th century. The Aymara and other indigenous groups have continued to exist despite historical challenges, as have European civilizations, which have shown continuity and evolution over time.