1. { The Minoans and Mycenaeans Greek Ancestors

2.  For a long time, legends such as Trogan War, Theseus and Minotaur, great adventures of Odysseus regarded as myths  Believed to be products of Greek imagination that had no historical truth  Historians believed that Greece had no “prehistory”  Late 19 th century: Henrich Schliemann – found the site of the great city of Troy, discovered home of legendary king at Mycenae  1900: British archeologist Arthur Evans began excavations on north shore of Crete, at Knossos, and found evidence of ancient kingdom Legends become History

3. First real civilizations in Europe called the Aegean civilizations (Aegean Sea) Composed of two parts: Minoan civlization – based on island of Crete Mycenaean civilization – based on Mycenae (mainland)

4.  European civilizations – had a slow start possibly due to more “rigorous” climate  Around 3000 BCE, copper introduced to Europe and a Bronze Age started – led to civilization  Bronze: alloy 9 parts copper to 1 part tin  copper and tin combined produced a tough malleable metal with a reasonably low melting point, ideal for producing shap knives and spear points, tough saws, hard chisels  Bronze used to make better tools and weapons Bronze Age Civilizations

5.  Earliest civilization associated with ancient Greece  Located on island of Crete  Civilization began as early as 2500 BCE  Flourished from 1900 – 1500 BCE (“Palace Age”)  Contemporary with Middle Kingdom Egypt  Mycenaen Greek culture became dominant on Crete after  The term “Minoan” was coined by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans  Named after the mythic king Minos. Minos was associated in myth with the labyrinth, which Evans identified as the site of Knossos. Minoan History 1851-1941 Pioneer of study of Aegean civlization in the Bronze Age

6.  By 1900 BCE, developed a high degree of material and architectural sophistication  Big cultural achievements:  developed a form of writing – Linear A  Palace sat at centre of everything  advanced metal-working skills  sophisticated artistic expression.  Tablets inscribed in Linear A have been found in numerous sites  The Minoans established themselves in many islands besides Crete including Therea, the site about which most is known.  The Minoan civlization was really where European and Greek civilization began.  palaces not fortified  Depended on overseas trade  Brought unparalleled wealth Minoan History

7.  Knossos – largest palace  Was like a huge maze, with over 800 interconnected rooms grouped around a large central courtyard  Rooms seem to have had various purposes, suggesting that the palace served as a governmental centre, royal residence, temple, storehouse for agricultural goods  Palaces became the centres of exchange for Minoan economy Palace of Minos at Knossos Several architectural innovations well advanced for the time Indoor plumbing (piped water, flush toilets and baths) Indoor plumbing such as this did not become common again for 3600 years

8. Aerial view of Knossos Palace Ruins

9. Outside King Minos’ palace today

11.  Palace at Knossos could have inspired famous story of the Labyrinth in which Greek hero Theseus slew the terrible Minotaur  Wife of King Minos of Knossos gave birth to monster called the Minotaur, who was half man and half bull  Minotaur imprisoned in maze-like structure (labyrinth)  Every year, King Minos forced people of Athens to select 14 youth as sacrifice  Theseus volunteered to go to Knossos as part of sacrifice  With the help of King Minos’s daughter, Ariadne, Theseus killed Minotaur  He found his way out of Labyrinth by following a string  Palace of Knossos could be compared to a maze, given the complex plan of rooms and corridors Myth of Minotaur

12. Cretan Labyrinth Coin. According to legend, King Minos of Crete built a labyrinth to pen in the Minotaur, part man, part bull. This coin from about 300 BCE shows the labyrinth as the emblem of Knossos.

13.  Famous wall paintings in palace provide us a window to this civilization(an entire mural of dolphins in one room)  Paintings feature nature, dance, sports (bull leaping)  No battle scenes appear on the walls and few weapons were found in excavations  Suggests maybe that they were a peaceful people  However, Crete’s geographical location lessened the need for strong land defences  It is likely that they had a powerful navy, capable of stopping hostile force before it reached Cretan shores Palace Paintings

15.  Artwork at Knossos was once thought to depict a sport that involved leaping over the backs of charging bulls, but experts now agree that is impossible. Some scholars think the mural depicts a constellation; others see it as evidence for a Minoan bull cult.

16.  Sometime around 1450 BCE, most of the palace centres were destroyed, not certain why  1939 theory: eruption of volcano on island of Thera destroyed palaces  Historians now believe invaders from Greek mainland (Mycenaeans) probably destroyed the palace centres  However, Mycenaeans known for adapting, rather than destroying, culture  Minoan civlization remained alive through the Greeks (Homer) Palaces Destroyed

17.  Dominated Mediterranean 1600 – 1000 BCE  6500-3000 BCE, started out as neolithic farming villages scattered in narrow valleys of Greece  Bronze came into use, learned how to exploit natural resources, trade  16 th and 17 th centuries BCE, powerful kings consolidated and took control of small farming villages  Mycenaean kings ruled from fortified palaces  Kings were also warriors who based their authority on their ability to lead men successfully into battle Mycenaeans

18.  Gained goods from trade, raiding, piracy  By 1450 BCE, they had taken the island of Crete, taking over Knossos and using it as Mycenaean centre  Their written language, Linear B, was deciphered in 1950s  Linear B tables contain names of several Greek gods familiar from Classical Period such as Zeus, Poseidon, Dionysos, Demeter  Collapsed around of 13 th century BCE  Possible causes – natural disasters, drought, famine, disease, social unrest Mycenaeans

19.  Exact nature of relationship remains controversial  Before 1600 BCE, Minoans clearly more sophisticated than mainland Greeks  Myth of Theseus and Labyrinth claims that the hero went to Crete as a hostage (Could be a memory of a time when Crete did dominate the Greeks on the mainland)  Mycenaeans clearly influenced by Minoans  Mycenaeans learned how to build great palaces from Minoans  Learned to write, took Linear A and modified it to suit their own language better Relationship between Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece