Frequent wars and fires as well as human stupidity and carelessness have played a significant role in reducing the amount of cultural property that has actually survived until modern times.
Sagedased sõjad ja tulekahjud, aga ka inimlik rumalus ja hoolimatus on sajandite vältel tunduvalt kahandanud eelkäijate poolt loodud ja meieni jõudnud kultuurivarade hulka.