1. “ The crowd gasped as a raging bull charged a young male gymnast who stood motionless. Just before the collision, the gymnast grabbed the bull’s horns and somersaulted onto the bull’s back. Then his body arched into the air, and he completed a backflip landing in the arms of his female partner waiting nearby.”

2. Minoan civilization the above spectacle was part sport/part religious ritual the above spectacle was part sport/part religious ritual Bull represented: Minoan island Kingdom on Crete and the constant earthquakes Bull represented: Minoan island Kingdom on Crete and the constant earthquakes Gymnast represented: the Minoans belief that they would always live on the island Gymnast represented: the Minoans belief that they would always live on the island

4. The Minoans Sir Arthur Evans, British archeologist Sir Arthur Evans, British archeologist Crete Crete Flourished Flourished Knossos Knossos labyrinth labyrinth Discovered remains in 1900AD Discovered remains in 1900AD Island in Agean Sea, southeast of Greece Island in Agean Sea, southeast of Greece 2500—1450 BC 2500—1450 BC Palace of legendary King Minos Palace of legendary King Minos Palace passageways twist and turn Palace passageways twist and turn

6. GEOGRAPHY 152 MILE long island 152 MILE long island Hilly, peaks, small river Hilly, peaks, small river In Mediterranean Sea In Mediterranean SeaAGRICULTURE Not good irrigation Not good irrigation Lots of sun Lots of sun OK rainfall OK rainfall Products: Barley, Wheat, Grapes, Olive trees

8. Writing Had a form of writing but has not been deciphered Had a form of writing but has not been deciphered “Linear A” “Linear A” Depend on mural paintings to understand them Depend on mural paintings to understand them

9. DAILY LIFE Seems like a joyful civilization 1. Not much effort spent on war/weapons 2. Leisure, sports & festivals 3. Processions with ‘glittering costumes’

10. MEN & WOMEN Men Bare-chested and slender Bare-chested and slender High-laced boots High-laced boots Loincloth or kilt Loincloth or kilt Gold jewlery Gold jewlery Perfumed oil on bodies Perfumed oil on bodiesWomen Seen as = to men! Seen as = to men! Hair kept up Hair kept up Long, flounced skirts Long, flounced skirts Tight bodices Tight bodices

12. CAPITAL CITY KNOSSOS PALACE IN CENTER withtheater and arena, fresh water, frescoes, staircases, columns PALACE IN CENTER withtheater and arena, fresh water, frescoes, staircases, columns 2-3 story houses with wide windows, tree shaded terraces 2-3 story houses with wide windows, tree shaded terraces Not walled Not walled

14. Religion/Government Religion Religion Polytheistic Polytheistic More goddesses than gods More goddesses than gods Chief diety: Great Goddess or Earth Mother Chief diety: Great Goddess or Earth Mother Believed she caused birth/growth of all living things Believed she caused birth/growth of all living things 1 king so famous whole civilization named for him 1 king so famous whole civilization named for him King Minos=“Minoans” Legend of Minotaur Legend of Minotaur Priests masks=Bull’s head Priests masks=Bull’s head “bull dancers” as entertainment “bull dancers” as entertainment Double-edged axe (Labrys)= sacred sign of Crete Double-edged axe (Labrys)= sacred sign of Crete

16. DAILY LIFE AND JOBS Made living from the sea 1. 1 st ever merchant marine 2. Sea warriors 3. Shipwrights 4. Architects and Engineers Very Prosperous sea traders! Egyptian trade Dominated Mediteranean

18. ARTS Joyful, ideal Joyful, ideal Topics: Sports, flowers, birds, dolphins Topics: Sports, flowers, birds, dolphins Traded pottery Traded pottery Jewelry= gold, silver, tin (rare) Jewelry= gold, silver, tin (rare) Leather armor with bronze plates Leather armor with bronze plates

19. ODDS AND ENDS 1. HAD AQUEDUCTS 2. LEGEND OF MINOTAUR 3. SOME KIDNAPPED KIDS BECAME “Bull- dancers” 4. Olive oil in stone jars 5. Wollen cloth 6. Bronze daggers 7. Lady of Wild Creatures= Minoan goddess 8. Marched and sang in halls of palace

21. Mystery of Minoan collapse Destroyed by huge tidal wave caused by an undersea earthquake? Destroyed by huge tidal wave caused by an undersea earthquake? The Mycenaeans invaded and destroyed them? The Mycenaeans invaded and destroyed them?