Minoan Civilization (jan 1, 2000 BC – jan 1, 1450 BC)

Description:

The Minoans flourished on the large island of Crete between around 2000 BCE and 1450 BCE. Their complex “palaces,” bright frescoes, and intricate ceramics, which spread from Crete to influence the Aegean and beyond, earned the Minoans the label of one of Europe’s first civilizations. At the heart of this society were the large complexes discovered at Knossos, Phaistos, and around Crete, referred to as palaces. The palaces gave the Minoans their name, as the vast and intricate rooms, corridors, and courtyards of Knossos evoked the myths of King Minos and the Minotaur’s labyrinth when they were discovered by Arthur Evans in the early 20th century.

The function of the palaces is disputed. A dynastic seat, ritual center, or storage and distribution points are all possibilities. Like the palaces, much remains uncertain about this culture. The Minoans kept written records using two scripts, hieroglyphic and Linear A, both of which are still undeciphered, leaving the Minoan language open to question. The prominence of women in the frescoes has long sparked questions about a possible matriarchal focus in society.



Minoan influence spread beyond Crete, leaving a series of archaeological sites around the Aegean, and later giving rise to myths of a powerful seafaring society. Around the middle of the 15th century, the Minoan palaces went into decline. This has been linked to the emergence of the Mycenaeans on mainland Greece.

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