The Quran

وَسَكَنتُم في مَساكِنِ الَّذينَ ظَلَموا أَنفُسَهُم وَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُم كَيفَ فَعَلنا بِهِم وَضَرَبنا لَكُمُ الأَمثالَ

Muhammad Asad

And yet, you dwelt in the dwelling-places of those who had sinned against their own selves [before your time],¹ and it was made obvious to you how We had dealt with them: for We have set forth unto you many a parable [of sin, resurrection and divine retribution]."²

I.e., "you lived on the same earth, and in basically the same human environment, as those earlier generations who offended against all ethical values and thereby brought destruction upon themselves: hence, their tragic fate should have been a warning to you".
Lit., "the parables", i.e., the parables in the Qur'an which illuminate the idea of resurrection and of God's final judgment (Rail). See also note 37 above.