The Minoan civilization flourished on the island of Crete from around 2000 BCE to 1450 BCE. They had a prosperous trade-based economy and built magnificent palaces, the largest being at Knossos. The Minoans declined around 1450 BCE, possibly due to invasion from the mainland Mycenaean civilization or due to a massive volcanic eruption on the island of Thera.

1. Bronze Age Greece:
The Minoans

3. Bronze Age Greece
• Minoan Civilization
– On Crete
– Flourished approx. 2000 to 1450BCE
– Trade
– Excavations by Sir Arthur Evans in early 20th Century
• Mycenaean Civilization
– On mainland Greece (the Pelopennes)
– Conquest
– Flousished approx. 1420BC- 1100BC
– Excavations by Heinrich Schliemann in late 19th Century

4. Minoan Civilization
• Crete settled as early as 6000BC
• Minoan culture flourished 2000BC to 1450BC
• Wealth due to trade
• Agricultural society producing oil, grain wine
• Magnificient Palace at Knossos and other palaces
– Destroyed by fire in about 1700BC
– Rebuilt
• Bulls regarded as sacred animals
• Decline of Minoan Civilization: a history mystery?

10. TheMinator
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12. What happened to the
Minoan Civilization?
• Decline of Minoan Civilization
• Eclipsed or invaded by mainland people from
Mycenae.
• Huge volcanic explosion on Island of Thera
(Santorini).

16. Video clip
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkTEdMt_
9lE

17. Activities
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