The Minoan civilization began on the island of Crete, a large island located midway between Asia Minor and Greece.
On the island, the climate is comfortable and the soil fertile; as an island, it was isolated from the mainland of Asia Minor, the Middle East, and Egypt (which isn't far away to the south).
None of the earliest great cultures of the ancient world were seafaring cultures, so Crete was spared the great power struggles that shook small states like Judah and Israel.
However, as an island, resources were limited. As the population began to thrive, it also began to increase, and it is evident that the resources of the island became increasingly insufficient to handle the increased population.
So the Cretans improvised. Some migrated, populating other islands in the Aegean Sea, that island dotted expanse of water that separates Greece from Asia Minor.
In doing so, they took their growing civilization with them and spread Minoan culture, religion, and government all over the Aegean Sea.
For this reason, the Minoan culture is also called the "Aegean Palace civilization." But the Cretans who remained turned to other economic pursuits to support the growing population; in particular, they turned to trade.
Crete became the central exporter of wine, oil, jewelry, and highly crafted works; in turn, they became importers of raw materials and food. In the process they built the first major navy in the world; its primary purpose, however, was mercantile.
The Minoan Civilisation was named after the mythical King Minos.
As with the Cycladic, the Minoan Civilisatio is also divided into three time periods, being the Early (3000 – 2100 BC), the Middle (2100 – 1500 BC) and the Late (1500- 1100 BC).
However, the Late Period saw both the commercial and military decline of the civilization due to the Mycenaean competition from mainland Greece.
A combination of natural disasters and the Dorian invasion brought this civilization to an abrupt end in 1100 BC.
It has also been put forward by some historians that the decline of the civilization was unfortunately helped by a huge volcanic explosion on the Cycladic island of Santorini ( Thira ).
The results of this eruption and its consequencing ash fall out would have badly damaged crop growth, which may have led to a lot of social unrest among the people.
Agriculture played an important role; such as sheep, goats, pigs, and oxen were domesticated (Chadwick, 2009).
Wheat and barley were grown; fruits such as figs, apples, pears, quinces, pomegranates, and olives were cultivated, wine was made from grapes, spices were grown, and honey was used as a sweetener (Chadwick, 2009).
The tools to cultivate the land included wooden plows bounded by leather, pulled by a pair of donkeys or oxen (Chadwick, 2009).
Other areas of production include textiles made from wool and metal works, as well as the manufacture of scented oils (Warren, 2009).
The Minoan civilization turned to trade (Hooker, 2009).
Crete became the major exporters of wine, oil, jewellery and highly crafted works (Hooker, 2009).
In return, they became importers of raw materials such as metals and luxury goods such as gold and ivory (Hooker, 2009).
During the late period of the Minoan civilization (1500-1100 B.C.), the Minoan civilization experienced commercial decline due to competition from the Mycenaean civilization.
Developed several systems of writing for the sole purpose of recording their business transactions with their neighbors
Exported finished goods to their neighbors
Exported raw materials, which were high in demand, to their neighbors
Imported finished goods from their neighbors
Imported raw materials, used in the making of luxury items, from their neighbors
The hieroglyphic writing system of the Minoans from around 2000bc. The Hieroglyphic writing system of the Minoans has yet to be deciphered.
The Linier A writing system of the Minoans from around 1600bc. The Linier A writing system of the Minoans has yet to be deciphered.
The Minoans raised cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and grew wheat, barley, vetch, chickpeas, cultivated grapes figs, olives, and grew poppies, for poppyseed and perhaps opium.
The Minoans knew domesticated bees, and adopted pomegranates and quinces from the Near East, though not lemons and oranges as is often imagined.
Farmers used wooden plows, bound by leather to wooden handles, and pulled by pairs of donkeys or oxen.
Chadwick, John. "Minoan Civilization." Encyclopedia Americana. 2009. Grolier Online. 18 Apr. 2009 <http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0272080-00>.
Hooker, Richard. The Land. 1996. 14 April 2009 <http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MINOA/LAND.HTM>.
Hooker, Richard. Women in Minoan Culture. 14 April 2009 <http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MINOA/WOMEN.HTM>.
The Minoan Civilization. Around Greece. 14 April 2009 <http://www.aroundgreece.com/ancient- greece-history/minoan-civilization-greece.php>.
Warren, P. M. "Knossos." Encyclopedia Americana. 2009. Grolier Online. 18 Apr. 2009 http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0233050-00.
The Minoans of Crete. 14 April 2009
<http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:FBKcmutNJO0J:worldofkorangar.com/minoans/THE_MINOANS_OF_CRETE.PPT+major+events+of+Minoan+Greece&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca>.
Minoan Civilization. Phantis. 14 April 2009 <http://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/Minoan_civilization#Politics>.
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