1. The Minoans Social Studies 10 Saunders
Ancient Greece
The Minoans
Social Studies 10 Saunders

2. Αποτελέσματα 3,2
Εξηγήστε τα πλεονεκτήματα της Κρήτης κατείχε η οποία της επέτρεψε να αναπτύξει ένα εξελιγμένο πολιτισμό, την αξιολόγηση της achievemens αυτού του πολιτισμού, καθώς και τους λόγους για αυτό είναι παρακμή.

3. OUTCOME 3.2
Explain the advantages Crete possessed which enabled it to develop a sophisticated civilization, evaluate accomplishments of that civilization, and reasons for its decline.

6. The Minoans circa 2700 – 1600 BCE
The Aegean Bronze Age. Why was it called this?
Copper and Tin mixed = bronze
Minoans were not Greek, but influenced Greek Culture.
Named after King Minos. Archaeologists discovered remains of a palace at Knossos that tells of the rich culture.

7. Advantages
A central location: Close to Asia Minor, Minoan ships to Egypt and southern Greece.
Good for trade!!
Finely crafted pottery, gold and silver from Crete for other goods.
Knowledge and techniques to improve their goods
Many palaces built around Crete.
A very peaceful civilization. Preoccupied with nature and life; not war.

8. Accomplishments Extensive commercial activity
Elaborate plumbing with drains, palaces, large complexes
Progress in communication and science, mathematics, geometry and the metric system…evidence is the buildings
System of weights and measures (clay and lead weights), written language called Linear A and B

9. Sculptures, Pottery, and Frescoes (art)
Minoan Art
Sculptures, Pottery, and Frescoes (art)
Minoans created and traded pottery, leather, bronze armor, and metal jewelry. They also enjoyed sports such as boxing and bull leaping.

10. Frescos
The frescos were a type of wall painting on wet plaster. Frescos did not depict battle scenes. Evidence that they were a peaceful civilization.

11. Minoan Fresco at the Palace of Knossos

12. Minoan fresco: Prince of Knossos

13. Minoan Religion
Polytheists Main god: Great Goddess, Mother Earth, (goddess of fertility) We know very Little about this Religion. Revered the bull

14. Demise of the Minoans
The fall of Minoan civilization is described in the legendary fight of Theseus, a young Greek prince and the Minotaur. Theseus was Athens's great hero. While having all the qualities of a traditional hero, such as strength and courage, he was also intelligent and wise TEXT page 135 read aloud

15. Decline of the Minoans A collapse around 1450 BCE
Broken pottery, chaotic layers of soil that contained micro-organisms usually found on the ocean floor have led some archaeologists and historians to believe that a massive tidal wave/tsunami
Also carbon sediment in the soil show that possibly it was a powerful volcanic eruption was responsible for the devastation of the civilization

16. Decline of the Minoans
Most historians believe that the destruction was a result of invaders from mainland Greece called Mycenaeans.
Minoan artistic masterpieces found vandalized
Uncovered weapons that were not Minoan
The possible tidal wave could have left the Minoans in a vulnerable position for invasion.
The Mycenaeans from mainland Greece

17. Question
There are four hypothesis about the decline of the Minoan civilization. Which of these do you believe is the most realistic? Explain your answer