Minoan civilization

Minoan sites on Crete

Copy of a Minoan ship

The Minoan civilization was a civilization on Crete called after Minos. It began in the Bronze Age between 3000 and 2700 BC. It lasted until about 1450 BC. The Minoan civilization is famous for its sea trading and well-planned cities. The Minoans had an agricultural system which relied mainly on olives and grapes. Their religion worshipped mostly goddesses. The Minoan civilization was later replaced by the Mycenaean culture.

Minoan Architecture

Cretans built palaces during their architecture era. In a non-royal palace there were many small rooms with cooler places to sit, because Crete got very hot in the summer. Palaces were used for many things. They were used as government centers, storerooms, stores, and administrative offices. Most palaces were very big. The Cretans might have gotten the money to create these palaces from working for the Egyptians. The royal palace was very different. Everyone had toilets, baths, and running water. The ones for the king and queen were very fancy. Their palace was fancy also. The architecture era was ended by a great fire. This era went from 2000 B.C. to 1450 B.C.

Further reading

• http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/history/minoans.htm Archived 2010-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
• http://photo.pds.org:5005/student/article?id=ar028740

Minoan Civilization Media

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  Bull-Leaping Fresco found at Knossos

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  An Early Minoan bird-shaped vessel.

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  The western façade of the Palace at Knossos. Like other palaces, it was built during the Middle Minoan era but continually renovated throughout its existence.

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  A Marine Style vase from c. 1500 BC found in Palaikastro, and commonly known as the Octopus Vase; typical of the Late Minoan IB period that followed the eruption of Thera. It is currently in the Heraklion Museum.

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  The Palace of Knossos, the largest Minoan palace

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  Detail of Minoan painting, from Akrotiri, the Ship Procession

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  Minoan copper ingot

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  Procession fresco from Knossos; of the 23 figures, most feet are original, but only the head at extreme right

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  The Spring Fresco from Akrotiri, Thera, dated to c. 16th century BC. It is currently in the National Archaeological Museum of Greece.

• Minoan civilization -Academic Kids