The Minoan Civilization

The Minoan Civilization

The Minoan Civilization existed from 3000 to 1400 B.C. It was established on the island of Crete. The Minoans were remarkable people with many special skills which included pottery, weaving, art, building and engineering.

A very common way that people have learned about the Minoans ways of life are from frescoes. Frescoes are wallpapers that show the Minoan way of life. Through these frescoes people have found many interesting facts about Minoans and how they lived.

Through frescoes we have discovered the many activities that the Minoans participated in and enjoyed. These activities included gymnastics, wrestling and boxing. They even played an ancient version of backgammon. Woman played important roles in all of this. The Minoans were civilization traders. They were the earliest people to trade throughout the Mediterranean. Woman took part in religious ceremonies, sporting events and even working jobs.

Frescoes have also taught us that the Minoans also made a living through farming. They grew grain crops, olives and grapes. They also raised a variety of animals including herds of sheep, goats and pigs. Plow carts were pulled by oxen.

It is said that much of the religion of the later Greeks may have started with the Minoans. The Minoans had a very different way to worship their gods. They thought of god as mother earth. Instead of a temple or a church, the Minoans had small shrines to worship their goddess in. Worshipers would bring gitfs to the shrine. They would often bring food or wine. Sometimes they would even bring their most valuable Jewelry or artwork.

The great Minoan civilization lasted about 1600 years. It ended dramatically with a volcano eruption. This explosion was the largest in human history. The Minoans civilization never recovered from this disaster. Once Knossos, the largest gathering sight on Crete was rebuilt after the volcano, invaders from the mainland called Mycenaean’s had conquered Crete.

-Aviva