1. The Minoans

2. The Minoans and the Mycenaeans First Civilizations in Europe The Minoans (2000-1459 BCE) The Mycenaeans (1600-1100 BCE)

3. First Civilizations in Europe Due to the harsher climate, civilizations in Europe did not emerge until after 3000 BCE Around 3000 BCE complex societies developed around Greece and the Aegean Sea One of the central cities named Knossos Ruins of the Palace of Knossos

4. The Minoans Bronze Age culture living on the island of Crete Named after King Minos, the king of Knossos Organized into complex class system of nobles, merchants, artisans, bureaucrats, and labourers. Communities linked in a loose political federation. No fortified walls around cities, and absence of weapons The Palace of Knossos

5. Minoan Trade Early Greeks adapted a writing system from the Phoenicians. Indebted to Egypt for their wealth of knowledge (sculpture, metal and clay working, music, mathematics, elements of religion). Trade with Egypt (linen, papyrus, olive oil)and other Aegean Islands Wood, food and textiles exported from Crete while luxury items were imported (gold, solver, perfumes)

6. Minoan Arts & Architecture Pottery, metal work and ivory carving Buildings of several stories with rooms and passageways Palaces had complex indoor plumbing and drainage systems Art comparable with Egypt Developed a written language system – Linear “A” undeciphered –Linear “B” used for commercial transactions, early form of Greek

7. Mino’s Palace Minos’ Palace at Knossos (on the island of Crete) These ruins were discovered by Arthur Evans in 1900

8. Knossos Palace Reconstruction

9. Minoan Religion Matriarchal – central worship of a mother goddess Exact beliefs unknown, but the bull seems to have been a religious symbol – bull cult Crete = birthplace of Zeus (Minoans worshipped a Zeus who was born in a cave, grew to manhood, and died) – later Greeks were angered by the idea that “god died”

10. Bull-leaping – A fresco from the palace at Knossos

11. The Decline of Minoan Civilization In 1700 BCE all of the palaces on Crete were destroyed in an Earthquake Around 1500 BCE a volcano erupted, on the island of Santorini, causing great destruction Weakened by Mycenaean incursions in centuries before eruption – quick decline and takeover by Mycenaeans Sudden disappearance is a mystery with few remnants of their civilization

12. The World at the Time of the Thera Eruption

13. MINOTAUR! King Minos and the birth of the Minotaur Theseus and the Minotaur

14. Labyrinth of the Minotaur Can you find the way through the maze?