Earthquakes have affected some of our oldest human ancestors, from early hominids along the East African Rift to civilizations on the island of Cyprus. It’s possible that tectonic plate activity brought down entire civilizations, leaving behind only archaeological remains. Only in the last century have humans developed precise instruments to monitor seismic events. Any information on ancient quakes has been pieced together from historical records. These destructive events may have provided opportunities for life to flourish.