The Minoans around 2000 – 1450 BC

Table of contents 1. The Palace Civilization of the Aegean The Palace Civilization of the Aegean 2. Excavations Excavations 3. The Land The Land 4. The History of the Minoans The History of the Minoans General Language Politics 5. The History of the Minoans The History of the Minoans 1. Economy 2. Architecture 3. Sports 6. The History of the Minoans The History of the Minoans 1. Social equality 2. The downfall - Thera eruption 7. Sources Sources

The Palace Civilizations of the Aegean Around 1700 BC, on Crete: highly sophisticated culture grew up around palace centres (saw themselves as Asians) The Minoans: named after Cretan King Minos history of them is mostly lost only their palaces, their records and their incredibly developed visual culture is left oriented around trade and bureaucracy little or no proof of a military state unique culture lasted only a few centuries war-like people oriented around a war-chief created a new civilization on the mainland of Greece The Myceneans: named after best-preserved of their cities culture of battle and conquest Greatest triumph: destruction of Troy afterwards “black ages”: Greeks stopped writing and left their cities

most of the Minoan history was lost in the haze of generations of oral tradition Homer (Greek poet, 700 BC) wrote poems about Minoan culture 1870: amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann determined to find the “real” Troy of Trojan war (which was the centre of Homer’s poems) found and digged the old Troy found two other ancient Greek cities: Myceanae and Tiryns exposed a civilization that has only existed in poems and drama of Homer inspired Arthur Evans (British archaeologist ) to start digging in Crete wanted to find remains of the Mycenaean culture on the island but he found remains of the Minoans Excavations

The Land Civilization of the Minoans began on the island of Crete Crete has got a comfortable climate & fertile soil Many people came there resources were narrow They had to migrate to other islands in the Aegean Sea The Minoan culture, religion and government spread also called “Aegean Place Civilization” People who stayed there became traders Export : wine, oil and jewellery Import : raw material and food Built up the first navy Minoans profited of their geographical uniqueness No warfare, no territorial greed

The History of The Minoans General – Cretan culture – around 2000 BC (Bronze Age) – named after King Minos – Crete was settled by people from Asia Minor – Women played a big role in society Language  Language we don’t understand, unreadable script only known through ruins  Spoke no-Hellenic → Greeks called them barbarians Politics  Monarchy  Governments dominated by priests

Economy  International trading  Great control over the economy  No military navy/ concentrated on trade and mercantilism  Wealthy population  Good relationship to Egypt Architecture  2000 BC already living in cities  Magnificent palaces (most famous: Knossos, Phaistos, Kato Zakras)  Multi-room buildings ( also for the poorest) Sports  Boxing  Bull-jumping  Women also participated

Social equality – usually in the ancient world: no equality but inequality – Crete: life was pretty good for everyone – seems to be no inequality about gender lines The downfall - Thera eruption – 1500 BC: earthquake in Crete – 1500 – 1450 BC: a volcano destroyed the island Strongphyle into very small islands. Thera eruption – The Myceneans had the Minoans under control – finally took their last piece of palace civilization in 1400 BC

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