The Enigmatic Minoans

   Perhaps the greatest ancient civilization that doesn't get too much recognition outside of the usual Egyptians, Romans, and Persians were the Minoans of Crete and smaller surrounding islands. Our knowledge on the Minoans is limited due to their mysterious language and hieroglyphs, bu through archeological examinations, art, and records from other neighboring civilisations when can piece together the history and impact of the Minoan civilization.

                                                  An art piece depicting Dolphins and fish

    Record show that Minoan civilization first began to show up on Crete around 3000 BC, and began to expand its influence through the use of trade on the high seas. By the  1600 BC, the Minoans had established a vast trade network throughout the islands around Crete, sharing its surplus of beautiful art, elaborate architecture, and exemplary social equality. The Minoans were well known for their use of social and gender equality, going as far as having their society being a matriarchal one and having women participating in athletics.

                                                         A series of Minoan goddess sculptures 

    However from 1600 to 1100 BC, the great Minoan civilization began to suffer a series of devasting blows to its society. Numerous palaces on Crete show evidence of numerous cracks caused from earthquakes, and to couple with that there is also evidence of the Santorini Caldera erupting around 1600 BC created tsunamis that slammed into Crete, devasting crops and dwellings. Crippled by these natural disasters the Minoans were now more susceptible to outside invaders, and the Mycenaeans of mainland Greece seized the opportunity and conquered the Minoans. Who's what might have become of the Minoans had they not been so devastated by such unfortunate circumstances, but their pioneering of culture and stability would be unrivaled for many years to come.    


Sources:
 http://www.britannica.com/topic/Minoan-civilization
http://www.explorecrete.com/archaeology/minoan-civilization-destruction.html