Minoan Civilization (c. 3100–1100 BC)
A Minoan Civilization (c. 3100–1100 BC) is a Bronze Age civilization which was centered on the island of Crete.
- Context:
- It can (often) be characterized by its Minoan Palaces (Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, and Zakros), which served as centers of economic, religious, and political life.
- ...
- It can be recognized for its artistic achievements, including vibrant frescoes, pottery, and sculpture, which often depict nature and religious rituals.
- It can involve a complex trade network that linked the Minoans with other cultures around the Aegean Sea, as well as with Egypt and the Near East.
- ...
- Example(s):
- Minoan Prepalatial Period (c. 3100–1900 BC) highly localized culture that includes the development of early settlements and the emergence of social hierarchies, as seen in sites like Myrtos and Vasiliki.
- Minoan Protopalatial Period (c. 1900–1700 BC) includes the construction of the first Minoan palaces, such as those at Knossos and Phaistos, indicating a move towards more complex urbanization and centralized control.
- Minoan Neopalatial Period (c. 1700–1450 BC) exerting significant influence across the Aegean during that includes the flourishing of Minoan art and architecture, epitomized by the richly decorated Palace of Knossos and the frescoes found within.
- Minoan Postpalatial Period (c. 1450–1100 BC) includes the decline of Minoan dominance and the integration of Mycenaean cultural elements, as evidenced by the Linear B tablets discovered at Knossos.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- Contemporary Mycenaean Greece, which, while influenced by the Minoans, developed a more militaristic society centered on fortified palaces like Mycenae and Tiryns.
- Cycladic Civilization, a contemporary culture in the Aegean islands known for its unique marble figurines and simpler social structures compared to the Minoans.
- Hittite Empire, a contemporary culture in Anatolia with a distinct language, writing system, and military-based expansion that contrasted with the Minoan emphasis on trade and naval dominance.
- See: Kommos (Crete), Knossos, Phaistos, Hagia Triada, Malia (Archaeological Site), Zakros, Crete, Aegean Sea, Aegean Civilization, Neolithic Crete, Mycenaean Greece, Bronze Age.
References
2024
- (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoan_civilization Retrieved:2024-8-9.
- The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age culture which was centered on the island of Crete. Known for its monumental architecture and energetic art, it is often regarded as the first civilization in Europe. The ruins of the Minoan palaces at Knossos and Phaistos are popular tourist attractions.
The Minoan civilization developed from the local Neolithic culture around 3100BC, with complex urban settlements beginning around 2000BC. After 1450BC, they came under the cultural and perhaps political domination of the mainland Mycenaean Greeks, forming a hybrid culture which lasted until around 1100BC.
Minoan art included elaborately decorated pottery, seals, figurines, and colorful frescoes. Typical subjects include nature and ritual. Minoan art is often described as having a fantastical or ecstatic quality, with figures rendered in a manner suggesting motion.
Little is known about the structure of Minoan society. Minoan art contains no unambiguous depiction of a monarch, and textual evidence suggests they may have had some other form of governance. Likewise, it is unclear whether there was ever a unified Minoan state. Religious practices included worship at peak sanctuaries and sacred caves, but nothing is certain regarding their pantheon. The Minoans constructed enormous labyrinthine buildings which their initial excavators labeled Minoan palaces. Subsequent research has shown t
- The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age culture which was centered on the island of Crete. Known for its monumental architecture and energetic art, it is often regarded as the first civilization in Europe. The ruins of the Minoan palaces at Knossos and Phaistos are popular tourist attractions.