Seafaring Traders: The Minoans and Phoenicians

Buddhism spread to Southeast Asia and to East Asia mainly through Buddhist traders. In the Mediterranean, the same process took place: traders carried many new ideas from one society to another. Two of these peoples are the following: MINOANS and the PHOENICIANS

Minoans Lived in Crete on the southern edge of the Aegean Sea Dominated trade from 2000 BC to 1400 BC

Minoans Produced finest pottery of time With their trade, exported culture, art, and architecture Dolphin in their art HUGE influenced on Greece

Minoan Capital Knossos-capital Minoans named after King Minos

King Minos and the Minotaur

King Minos and the Minotaur Legend says that he kept the Minotaur in a labyrinth He would sacrifice children to the Minotaur

According to Greek myth, Theseus kills the Minotaur

Bull Leaping of Knossos Enjoyed sports like boxing, wrestling Bull leaping Athletic people who loved nature

Minoan Women Mother Earth Goddess and priestesses indicate women were important

Animal Sacrifices Animal sacrifices (bulls as example) One male sacrificed

Minoan Culture’s End 1700 BC-earthquake but rebuilt 1470 BC earthquake followed by volcano on neighboring island and tidal wave Minoans never recover from disasters Invaders from Greece take Minoan lands End in 1200 BC

Why would historians use art to draw conclusions about Minoan society?

Phoenicians After Crete’s decline, Phoenicians in 1100BC were the most powerful traders along Mediterranean. Modern day Lebanon City-states Byblos, Tyre, Sidon NOT a united country

Phoenician Traders Great shipbuilder and seafarers 1st Mediterranean people to sail through Strait of Gibraltar Evidence of sailing: Around Africa Southern coast of Britain

Phoenician Purple Dye Sidon and Tyre known for red/purple dye from murex (a snail) 60,000 snails could produce 1 pound of dye

Phoenician Outposts Byblos known for trading papyrus

Phoenician Colonies Colonies along coast of Africa about 30 miles apart Distance a ship could sail in a day Carthage is most important

Phoenicians also known for: 1. Trading wine, weapons, metals, ivory, and slaves 2. Working with wood, metals, GLASS, and ivory

Greatest Legacy: Phoenician Alphabet

Phoenicia’s Alphabet Merchants needed a way of recording transactions clearly and quickly. Developed a system that used symbols to represent sounds. It spread through trade Now learning was accessible to more people. (easier) Later developed into western alphabet

Phoenicians cont. Eastern cities captured by Assyrians in 842 BC Later controlled by the Babylonians and the Persians. Carthage remained a city-state to the west

Ancient Trade Routes Land routes link Mediterranean world and Asia (see map on p. 73) Indian traders sail to Southeast Asia and Indonesia Trade helps spread culture, ideas, religion

Why would sailors traveling from East Africa to India have the easiest trip during the spring and summer? Monsoon winds blow from he southwest then.

Did the Minoans or the Phoenicians have a greater influence on other cultures? Why?

1. Minoans cities had no fortifications. Minoans were a peaceful, not a warlike, people or they lived during a time of peace.

2. Archaeologists excavating the Minoan capital city found the remains of wall paintings, seals, and fine painted pottery. Minoans had some form of government and a culture that created and appreciated fine arts.

3. Many works of Minoan art depict women as major goddesses and priestesses. Women held a high rank in Minoan society; Minoans practiced organized religion.

4. Minoans sacrificed bulls to their gods and enjoyed the sport of bull-leaping. The bull had special significance in Minoan history and culture.

5. The Phoenicians were the first Mediterranean people to sail beyond the Straits of Gibraltar, possibly even around Africa by way of the Red Sea. The Phoenicians were skilled shipbuilders and sailors.

6. The Phoenicians worked in wood, metal, glass, and ivory and produced red-purple dye from snails in the waters off the city-states of Sidon and Tyre. The Phoenicians were resourceful and skilled artisans.

7. There are some similarities among Phoenician, Greek, and modern-day alphabets. Phoenician traders spread their alphabet system to the peoples with whom they traded.