MGRN+Industrial+and+Artistic+Technology

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- Through their interaction with other civilizations of the middle east, the Minoans were aware and utilized the art of metalworking - Their skillful jewelry creations adorned the collections of noble palace inhabitants and were even exported around the Mediterranean. - Copper was a much sought after commodity during this time, and it does not appear naturally in Crete. - Most likely the Minoans imported copper from Cyprus - The skill of the Minoan metal smiths was renowned in the ancient world, and many artisans worked abroad in mainland Greece and the Aegean islands - The Mycenaeans learned the art of inlaying bronze with gold from the Minoans. - In the Early Minoan period ceramics were characterised by linear patterns of spirals, triangles, curved lines, crosses, fishbone motifs, and such - In the Middle Minoan period naturalistic designs such as fish, squid, birds, and lilies were common. In the Late Minoan period, flowers and animals were still the most characteristic, but the variability had increase - The 'palace style' of the region around Knossos is characterised by a strong geometric simplification of naturalistic shapes and monochromatic paintings

- Very noteworthy are the similarities between Late Minoan and Mycenaean art. - Frescoes were the main form of art during these times of the Minoan culture. These frescoes are basically the only record we have of the Minoan civilization. - Very little sculpture from Minoan Crete has survived since most of it was not monumental, and instead consisted of small artifacts dedicated to gods or kings. - A variety of ceramic, bone, clay and stone figures have been recovered from Minoan sites, many of which have been excavated from communal tombs and peak sanctuaries. - Many historians and archaeologists believe that the Minoans were highly involved in the Bronze Age's important tin trade (tin being used for manufacture of bronze - The Minoan cities were connected with stone roads, formed from blocks cut with bronze saws - Streets were drained and water and sewage facilities were available to the upper-class, through clay pipes. - Minoan buildings often had flat tiled roofs; plaster, wood, or flagstone floors, and stood 2-3 stories high - They would contstruct the lower walls of stone and rubble and use mudbrick for higher elevations. Ceiling timbers would hold up the roofs.

//**Introduction to Minoan Crete**// - Part 1 18 April 2009 [] Castleden Rodney "Minoans: Life in Bronze Age Crete" //Routledge// 1993. 24 April 2009 //**Minoan Civilization**// 18 April 2009[| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoan_civilization] []

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