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The Minoan civilization The Minoans were a pre-Greek Bronze Age civilization on Aegean Crete that flourished from about 2700 BC to 1450 BC when theirs

author:Liu Daxi

A brief analysis of the Minoan civilization

The Minoans, a pre-Greek Bronze Age civilization on Crete in the Aegean Sea, flourished from about 2700 BC to 1450 BC, when their culture was replaced by Mycenaean culture borrowed from the Minoans.

According to descriptions in Minoan art, Minoan culture is often described as a matriarchal society centered on the worship of goddesses.

Chronology and history

Archaeologists do not give calendar dates for the Minoan period, but use two relative chronological systems.

The first, created by Evans and modified by later archaeologists, was based on the pottery style.

It divides the Minoan period into three main epochs – early Minoan (EM), middle Minoan (MM), and late Minoan (LM). These eras are further subdivided, such as the early Minoan I, II, III (EMI, EMII, EMIII).

Another system proposed by the Greek archaeologist Nicolas Plato is based on the development of the complex known as the "palace" of Knossos, Phaestos, Maria and Zakrus, and divides the Minoan period into the Prepalatial, Protopalatial, Neopalatial and Post-palatial periods.

The beginning of the Bronze Age, around 2600 BC, was a period of extreme turmoil in Crete and marked the beginning of Crete as an important center of civilization.

At the end of the MMII period (1700 BC), there was a great upheaval in Crete, either an earthquake or an Anatolian invasion.

The palaces of Knossos, Phaistos, Maria and Zakros were destroyed. But with the beginning of the New Court period, the population increased again, the palace was rebuilt on a larger scale, and new settlements spread throughout the island.

This period (XVII and XVI centuries, MM III / Neopalatial) represents the pinnacle of Minoan civilization. The Thira Island eruption occurred during LMIA (and LHI).

In mainland Greece, LHIIB began during the LMIB, showing independence from Minoan influences. At the end of the LMIB period, the Minoan court culture failed catastrophically.

All palaces were destroyed, only Knossos was immediately restored - although other palaces later sprang up in LMIIIA (like Chania).

LMIB vessels were found in Egypt during the reign of Hatshepsut and Tutmoses III.

Either the LMIB/LMII disaster occurred after this time, or the situation was so bad that the Egyptians had to import LHIIB.

Shortly after the LMIB/LMII disaster, around 1420 BC, the island was conquered by the Mycenaeans, who adapted the linear A Minoan script into linear B for their Mycenaean language, a Greek language. The first such archive anywhere was in the "Chariot Slate Room" of the LMII era.

The later history of Crete dates back to the time of Lymia. Knossos was an administrative center until 1200 BC, and the last site of Minos was the defensive mountain site of Calphi.

geographical location

Crete is a mountainous island with a natural harbor.

Minoan ruins show signs of earthquake damage. Homer chronicles the traditions of 90 cities in Crete. The ruins of Knossos are one of the most important.

Archaeologists also found palaces in Phaestos and Maria. The island was probably divided into four political units, with Knossos in the north, Phaestos in the south, Maria in the central east, and Kato Zakros at the eastern end.

Smaller palaces have also been found elsewhere.

Society and culture

The Minoans were mainly merchants engaged in overseas trade.

Their culture, from 1700 BC onwards, the Minoans showed a high degree of organization. Most scholars believe that the Minoans were involved in the trade in tin ore, which was used to make bronze along with copper from Cyprus. The decline of the Minoan civilization and the decline in the use of bronze tools and the use of high-quality iron tools appear to be related.

The saffron trade of the Minoans, which originated in the Aegean basin, is a natural chromosomal mutation that leaves less material remains: the saffron collector frescoes of Santorini are well known.

This inherited trade predates the Minoan civilization: its return can be understood by comparing its value with frankincense or later with pepper.

Archaeologists tend to emphasize more durable trade items: ceramics, copper, and tin, as well as the eye-catching luxury gold and silver.

Items made by Minoan indicate the existence of trade networks with mainland Greece (especially Mycenae), Cyprus, Syria, Anatolia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and as far west as the Spanish coast.

Minoan men wore belts and kilts. Women wear robes that reach to the navel with short sleeves and layered ruffled skirts.

Women can also choose to wear strapless fitted corsets, the first fitted garment in history. The patterns on the clothes emphasize the symmetrical geometric design.

conclusion

There is evidence that the Minoan city was destroyed by famine, and the Minoan food supply is believed to have come from farms on the Black Sea coast.

Many scholars believe that ancient trading empires have been in danger of economic trade, i.e., misvaluing food and staple goods relative to luxury goods, with the likely result of famine and population decline.

One theory of the collapse of Minoan is that the increasing use of iron tools disrupted the bronze trade and impoverished Minoan merchants. When trade networks cease, regional famine can no longer be alleviated through trade.

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The Minoan civilization The Minoans were a pre-Greek Bronze Age civilization on Aegean Crete that flourished from about 2700 BC to 1450 BC when theirs
The Minoan civilization The Minoans were a pre-Greek Bronze Age civilization on Aegean Crete that flourished from about 2700 BC to 1450 BC when theirs
The Minoan civilization The Minoans were a pre-Greek Bronze Age civilization on Aegean Crete that flourished from about 2700 BC to 1450 BC when theirs

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