Minoan

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The Bronze Age civilization of Crete, a name coined by Sir Arthur Evans derived from the legendary ruler of Knossos, Minos. The civilization is divided into three phases: Early (c 3000-2000 BC), Middle (c 2000-1550 BC), and Late (c 1550-1050 BC). Each had three subdivisions marked with Roman numerals. They stand out as the first civilized Europeans, with a highly sophisticated way of life and material equipment, and were surprisingly modern. They probably represented a fusion between Anatolian immigrants and the native Neolithic population, with some trading contacts through the east Mediterranean. In the Middle Minoan period, urbanization became apparent, towns appeared and, a Minoan specialty, the first of the great palaces, Knossos, Mallia, and Phaestos. Overseas trade was greatly expanded, too. The height of its development was in the 18th-15th centuries BC. By about 1580 BC Minoan civilization began to spread across the Aegean to neighboring islands and to the mainland of Greece. Minoan cultural influence was reflected in the Mycenean culture of the mainland, which began to spread throughout the Aegean about 1500 BC. The palaces were destroyed c 1450, probably by the cataclysmic eruption of Santorini/Thera - or by conquerors from the mainland. After that, Greek-speaking Mycenaeans gained control of Knossos and Crete; only Knossos was reoccupied on a significant scale. The final fall of Knossos, c 1400 BC, marked the end of Crete's period of greatness. Their Linear A script has not been deciphered, but Linear B has been successfully translated as an early form of Greek, written in a syllabary, but belongs only to the period of mainland domination, and is therefore more relevant to Mycenaeans than Minoans. Their pottery is among the most artistic of any place or time, using abstract curvilinear, floral, and marine designs. Craftsmen reached high levels of technical skill and aesthetic achievement in pottery, metal work, stonework, jewelry, and wall painting (the palaces are lavishly decorated with frescoes). Vessels, figurines, and magnificent seal stones were also carved in stone and bronze and gold objects made. There were many bull sporting events. Cult activities normally took place either in hilltop shrines, often in caves, or in small shrines within the palaces, and often involved animals, including goats and especially bulls. There is an alternative division of the Minoan civilization into Prepalatial (Early Minoan I-III), Protopalatial (Middle Minoan I-II), Neopalatial (Middle Minoan III-Late Minoan IIIA1), and Postpalatial (Late Minoan IIIA2-IIIC).

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[Minoans]. Term for the Bronze Age culture of Crete and the earliest civilization found on European soil, named by Sir Arthur Evans after the legendary king Minos. Minoan civilization, once attributed to immigration or at least influence from elsewhere, is now thought by many scholars to be a local development. Like its mainland rival and eventual successor, the Mycenaean civilization, it was palace-based with a king at its head. In Crete, the first palaces developed earlier than on mainland Greece, in the Middle Minoan period c2000 bc (Knossos, Mallia, Phaestos). Throughout the first half of the 2nd millennium bc Minoan civilization dominated the Aegean, establishing close trading connections with, or possibly actual colonies on, south Aegean islands such as Melos (Phylakopi) and Thera (Akrotiri). In the middle of the 15 th century bc all the palaces were destroyed, probably by the eruption of the volcanic island of Thera. After cl450 BC only Knossos was reoccupied on a significant scale and this time by Mycenaeans from the mainland. They ruled here for a further half century or so until the final destruction of Knossos, cl400 bc or a little later. The causes of this fall are still disputed but there is no doubt that it marked the end of Cretan prosperity and widespread influence. Minoan civilization is characterized by a palace-based redistributive economy, with food products, raw materials and manufactured goods collected by and redistributed from the palaces. Writing was developed in response to the adminstrative needs of the palace bureaucracy: the early hieroglyphic script was replaced by Linear A, both undeciphered, and eventually, in the period of Mycenaean dominance, by Linear B, which was used to write an early form of Greek. Craftsmen reached high levels of technical skill and aesthetic achievement in pottery, metalwork, stonework, jewellery and wall painting (the palaces are lavishly decorated with frescoes). Cult activities normally took place either in hilltop shrines, often in caves, or in small shrines within the palaces, and often involved animals, including goats and especially bulls. Common cult symbols include the double axe and horns of consecration (stylized bulls’ horns). The traditional view of Minoan culture as peace-loving, gentle and artistic has received a jolt in recent years with the discovery of evidence of human sacrifice both at Knossos itself and at the temple site of Arkhanes not far away. However, it is possible that such sacrifices were exceptional, occurring only in times of crisis.

The Macmillan dictionary of archaeology, Ruth D. Whitehouse, 1983Copied

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