The

Minoans

Target

List and describe the government, religion,

economy, and contributions of the Minoan

civilization

The Aegean Civilization

Illiad and the Odyssey

Homer

Did the people and places really exist?

Mid 19th century

Discovery of several Bronze Age civilizations

Flourished around the Aegean Sea from 2000-1100 B.C.

The Aegean Civilizations

Trojan

Named for the city of Troy-most important ancient city near Asia Minor

Minoan

Named for legendary King Minos, who ruled Knossos on the island of Crete

Mycenaean

Named for Mycenae, largest settlement on the mainland of Greece

The Aegean Civilizations con’t

Exchanged goods, settlers, and

ideas

Isolated enough to develop a

distinctive culture

Were they real?

19th Century Archaeologist Sir

Arthur Evans

Ruins of Knossos on the island of

Crete

Excavated the sites of a

civilization known as the Minoans

The Minoans

2000-1450 B.C.

The island of Crete was

the center of an

advanced sea civilization

It dominated the islands

of

the Aegean Sea

mainland of Greece

Asia Minor

2000 B.C.

Mainland Greece was invaded by

Indo-European tribes from the

North

Important changes occurred in

Crete at the same time.

Why?

Natural change or settlers from

Greece migrated to Crete?

What were the important

changes?

Changes of 2000 B.C.

1. Construction of palaces

2. new pottery styles and

decorations

3. use of pottery wheel

4. New method of writing

(Linear A)

Most significant

change…building of palaces

Knossos and Phaestos

Knossos

Most important city in Crete

Led by King Minos

Minoans developed and extensive fleet of ships

Navy became the most powerful

Government became a Thalassocracy

“rule by the sea”

King Minos

Wealthy and powerful

Palace at Knossos

Uncovered by Sir Arthur

Evans

Construction begun in

2000 B.C.

Over 6 acres

Palace at Knossos

Many additions made over

the centuries

Brick and limestone buildings

Broad stairways to upper

stories

Knossos con’t

Walls decorated with frescoes

Art where artists apply color to

plaster before it hardens.

Knossos

Sanitary System

Running water and flush

toilets

Knossos

Light wells to illuminate rooms with daylight

Knossos

Found a stone chair

Throne of King Minos?

If so, it’s the earliest one ever found!

Knossos

Outdoor theater

“stadium seating”- seats up to 500 people

Watched performances

Dancing, wrestling, boxing

Bull Leaping!!!

Bull Leaping!!!

How do we know this?

Frescos

Depictions of Minoan Men and Women

Men, red-hued skin

Women, white skinned

Women participated in activities, festivals and athletics with men.

Religion

No statues or temples have been found

Priests did not play an important role in society

Minoans believed the gods lived in trees, stones

and natural objects

Worship took place in groves and sacred caves.

Also in shrines built in the homes of the Minoan

people

Religion

Placed reverence statues in

holy places to act as

representatives of the gods

Most important Minoan deity

was the Mother Goddess

What is she holding?

What does it symbolize?

Renewal!

Shows that it is possible that

women held important

positions in society

Religion

Bull-god

Symbolized male strength and creative energy

“Classical Greeks” (5th-4th c B.C.)

Zeus

Assumed the form of a bull

Born in a cave on the island of Crete

What does this show?

Minoan influenced Greek gods.

Economy

The island of Crete is

very rugged and

mountainous

Volcanic soil

Olives, grapes and flax

Economy con’t

The Minoans were skilled at the Sea

Fisherman

Maritime trade in agricultural products and crafted items

Pottery

After 2000 B.C. used potter’s wheel

Kamares style

“light on dark”

More naturalistic

Minoan Jewelry

Gold and silver jewelry

Writing

2000 B.C. Minoans

developed a form of

hieroglyphic writing

Why?

Kept accounts of their

trading activities

Soon evolved into a syllabic

script (symbols represented

syllables rather than single

letters)

Linear A

The End of the Minoans

About 1500 B.C. the settlement of Crete were

destroyed by earthquakes (volcanic eruption)

Most of the towns were rebuilt

Period of peace and prosperity

50 years later…Minoan civilization came to a

sudden end

Invaders from mainland of Greece

(Mycenaeans) destroyed the major towns

Targets

List and describe the government, religion,

economy, and contributions of the Minoan

civilization

Legacy of the Minoans

Myths and Legends

Theseus and the Minotaur

Why are myths so important?

Read: “Why Myths Endure”