When was minoan civilization established

It is tempting to see here the origins of bull-fighting, which became prevalent in southern Europe hundreds of years later. The influence of Minoan civilization spread to many places on the Mediterranean coast — on the Greek mainland, where it had a major impact on the emerging Mycenaean civilization; on the coast of Asia Minor; as far west as the coasts of Italy and Sicily; and in the east, on the Canaanite culture.

Minoan pottery has also been found in Egypt. Clearly Minoan traders and sailors journeyed far and wide in search for trade items, and, judging by the power and wealth apparent at Knossos, the Minoans came to dominate maritime trade in the eastern and central Mediterranean. Cypro Minoan Tablet from Enkomi in the Louvre. In about BCE, the archaeological evidence shows a sudden break in the historical record — the palace of Knossos collapsed, its inhabitants dispersed.

Modern scholars have linked this to a devastating earthquake and tsunami caused by a volcanic eruption on the nearby island of Thera. Palace-building returned after a little while, but on a smaller scale; and the script has changed — it is now one which scholars call Linear B. This script has, unlike Linear A, been deciphered, with most of the documents relating to routine trade and administration. Linear B was also used on the Greek mainland at this time, and this suggests that the centers of power in Crete had been taken over by conquerors from Greece.

These held sway for some two centuries before themselves vanishing. After that, there are no signs of palace building, nor of writing, nor of any other kind of high culture, for several centuries. When at last literate civilization returns to the island it is as part of the civilization of Classical Greece , an entirely different one from that of the Minoans.

A new chapter in the history of the world has begun. Subscribe for more great content — and remove ads. Upgrade to Premium to Remove Ads. Skip to content Home » Encyclopedia » Minoan civilization. Contents Introduction The rise of a Bronze Age civilization Bronze Age centers of power Palaces, towns and villas High culture Far-flung influence Decline and fall History map of the Minoan and neighboring civilizations Introduction The Minoans have an important place in world history , as building the first civilization to appear on European soil.

Bronze Age centers of power The long-distance trade networks of the Bronze Age were largely dominated by the rulers of well-placed chiefdoms and city-states which straddled the trade routes.

Palaces, towns and villas Palace complexes dotted ancient Crete. High culture The remains of Minoan palaces, especially Knossos, show an astonishing level of material culture for the time. British archaeologist Arthur Evans discovered extensive ruins on Crete in the early s. Archaeological evidence shows that during the third millennium B. Crete lay at the center of an extensive trading network dealing in copper from the Cyclades and tin from Asia Minor.

These materials were essential for producing bronze, a commodity that brought power and prestige to the Minoans. In the second millennium B. Evans excavated several of these structures, including the magnificent Palace of Knossos, seat of the legendary King Minos.

More recent archaeological digs have demonstrated that Crete was widely urbanized during this period and that Knossos exercised some kind of hegemony over other Cretan cities. The mid-second millennium B. It has never been firmly established whether Minoan Crete had a true royal dynasty, so these lavish palaces may have had mixed secular and religious roles.

Some archaeologists interpret these palaces more as civic centers from which to control and distribute raw materials, carry out rituals, mete out justice, maintain water distribution, and also organize festivals for the populace. Daily life was, for the majority, simple but comfortable. Islanders lived in houses made of stone, mud brick, and wood, and the domestic economy was based on viticulture and olive farming. The surrounding cypress forests provided timber for shipbuilding for the important Minoan fleet.

The Aegina Treasure is a trove of gold artifacts, like this two-headed pendant, featuring strong Minoan characteristics. Dating to between and B. It is believed that the pieces were originally from a Cretan necropolis, perhaps that of Chrysolakkos in Mallia. Little evidence has been found of city walls or fortifications built on ancient Crete during this time. This finding seems to suggest that either there were no serious threats to the island or—more likely—that patrolling ships were enough to guard its coastlines.

A maritime force would have also protected the trading routes, harbors, and strategic points, such as Amnisos, the port that served the capital, Knossos.

As Minoan culture and trade radiated across the Aegean, communities on the islands of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese near the coast of modern-day Turkey were radically changed through contact with Crete. Cretan fashions became very popular in the eastern Mediterranean.

Local island elites first acquired Cretan pottery and textiles as a symbol of prestige. Perhaps the clearest sign of Minoan influence was the appearance of its writing system in the languages of later cultures. One of the oldest was discovered by Arthur Evans and is now known as Linear A.

Despite not yet being deciphered, scholars believe it is the local language of Minoan Crete. But it must have been an important regional common language of its day, as Linear A has been found inscribed on many of the clay vessels discovered on islands across the Aegean.

The other script, called Linear B, evolved from Linear A. Deciphered in the s, Linear B is recognized as the oldest known Greek dialect. The Minoans also maintained trading relationships with Egypt, Syria, and the Greek mainland.

Their trade routes may have extended as far west as Italy and Sicily. Certain locations had especially close ties with Crete and its sailors. The city of Akrotiri on the island of Thera modern-day Santorini is one of the best preserved of these Minoan settlements. A volcanic eruption around the 16th century B. Its walls boasted stunning murals of brightly colored, stylized images of sparring boxers, climbing monkeys, swimming dolphins, and flying birds. Perhaps because life was good, worship and communication with deities was not stressed.

They built no great temples. Female goddesses who protected the household, the crops, and the animals dominated their religion. The Minoans may have practiced human sacrifice at one time. There is a famous Greek myth of a minotaur, half man, half bull, who lived in a labyrinth beneath the palace.

Young people were sacrificed to the minotaur each year. The high priest or king may have worn a bull mask for the sacrifice, creating the illusion of half man, half animal. They believed in an afterlife and buried the dead with food and possessions that would be of use. Double-headed axe symbol carved into stone at Knossos, Crete The Minoans developed a hieroglyphic writing system around BCE, perhaps following trading contact with the Egyptians.

Illustration of the bull-leaping fresco from Knossos Surviving artwork shows the people of Crete engaging in the sport of bull jumping.

The significance of this activity is not known. Young men and women are depicted approaching a charging bull, grabbing it by the horns, and somersaulting over its back to land behind it. The everyday life of the Minoans was pleasant and relatively free of war and unrest, as witnessed by the richness and exuberance of their frescos, wall paintings, and decorative objects.

Pithos jars in the storage magazines, Knossos, Crete The great palace at Knossos was also a giant warehouse. The distribution of food and other goods may have been organized from here. The only king whose name survives was Minos. It may be that the word minos referred to the office, not the man, like the Egyptian term pharaoh. Restored section of the Palace of Knossos, Crete Consisting of over a thousand rooms, this administrative center had running water, sewers made of clay pipes, multiple stories with porticoes, and vast storage facilities.

At its height, perhaps , people lived in the Palace and the dwellings in the surrounding area. Rubble placed between walls may have been used to make them more earthquake-proof by absorbing the shock of the tremors. Distinctive architectural features were carved from alabaster, like the built-in seat in the Throne Room the benches are made of gypsum.

Double-headed axe or labrys, symbol of Cretan royalty The Minoans had little apparent need for an army, relying instead on their navy to keep any enemies from approaching. Minoan ships were galleys, manned by rowers on both sides. Narrow galleys were fast and maneuverable, allowing them to overtake slower sailing ships of the day. They did not employ rams at this early date, according to the evidence of surviving artwork. Minoan ruins preserved in ash from the eruption on Thera - Akrotiri, Island of Santorini, Greece The idyllic life of the Minoans was disrupted by natural disasters.

The archaeological remains indicate that the palace of Knossos was destroyed by an earthquake in BCE and rebuilt. The nearby island of Thera was partially sunk by a volcanic eruption, and the resulting tidal wave probably struck Crete, causing extensive damage. The Minoan culture suffered from recurrent earthquakes and the Thera explosion, but the extent of the damage and its effect on their civilization is debated.

Minoan tombs, Armeni, Crete There are two main scenarios for the end of the Minoan culture. According to the oldest theory, mainland Greeks invaded around BCE, essentially destroying the culture, although it lingered for years more until mainland Greece itself was overrun.