1. THE MINOANS
-The Minoans developed in the Bronze Age on the island of Crete and flourished from the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC
- Crete is located midway between Asia Minor & Greece
- The Minoans were named after the mythic King Minos
- They were oriented around trade & bureaucracy with little or no evidence of a military state

2. THE MINOANS The language they spoke was not closely related to Greek
-they were people of magnificent social organization, culture, art & commerce
- Under the Minoans, Crete became the central exporter of wine, oil, jewellery, & highly crafted works
- They built the first major navy in the world; its primary purpose, however, was mercantile
- They spoke a language we don’t understand & they wrote in a script which we can’t read
Minoan Ship
The language they spoke was not closely related to Greek
All of their writing seems to be one thing: accounts & records

3. THE MINOANS
-the Greek Historians viewed the Minoans as barbarians, despite the fact that the Minoan civilization are the ancestors of Ancient Greece
- They built magnificent palace centers at Knossos, Phaistos, & Zakros
- These palaces dominated Minoan Society

4. THE MINOANS -Minoan Government was dominated by priests & religion
-the Monarch acted as the chief entrepreneur or CEO of the Minoan State
- Under the King was a large administration of scribes & bureaucrats
- They kept incredibly detailed record which implies that they maintained strict control over the economy
- The Minoans were the first real “leisure society”
Palace of Knossos

5. THE MINOANS
Boxing
Bull Jumping
- Both men & women took part in sport

6. THE MINOANS- the downfall
Film Clip- “Ancient Mysteries- Minoans”

7. THE MINOANS- the downfall
-a volcanic eruption on the island of Thera was thought to bring about the end of the Minoans
-it was one of the most powerful eruptions in history
- It was believed that this event is also responsible for the start of the Myth of Atlantis
Theory 1: some believe that a resulting tsunami devastated the coastal settlements of Crete, brining about the fall of
the civilization
Theory 2: Minoan civilization was damaged by the eruption, but not until the arrival of the Mycenaeans did it fall

8. THE MINOANS- The Minotaur
Film Clip- “Theseus & the Minotaur”

9. THE MINOANS- The Minotaur
-the Minotaur was a half man half bull creature, that was kept by King Minos in the Labyrinth
-to avoid war, Athens was required to send a group of young men & women to be sacrificed to the Minotaur
-Theseus volunteered to go & slay the beast as a member of the 3rd sacrifice
-Theseus trailed string behind himself as he journeyed into the Labyrinth, killed the Minotaur & than returned home
Theseus slaying the Minotaur

10. THE MINOANS- The Minotaur
- A historical explanation of the myth refers to the time when Crete was the main power in the Aegean Sea. As the fledgling Athens and other Greek cities was under tribute to Crete, it can be assumed that such tribute included young men and women for sacrifice.
-This ceremony was performed by a priest disguised with a bull head or mask, thus explaining the imagery of the Minotaur.
Theseus slaying the Minotaur

11. -Read pg 99-108 -Answer #1,2,3 on pg 104 Text Work
-Copy out timeline on Page 98
-Read pg
-Answer #1,2,3 on pg 104