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Who were the Minoans in Greece?
The Minoans built a large civilization on the island of Crete that flourished from around 2600 BC to 1400 BC. They built a powerful and long lasting civilization based on a strong navy and trade throughout the Mediterranean Sea. The Minoans had their own written language which archeologists call “Linear A.”
Where do the Minoans come from?
It is likely, says Stamatoyannopoulos, that the Minoans descended from Neolithic populations that migrated to Europe from the Middle East and Turkey. Archaeological excavations suggest that early farmers were living in Crete by around 9,000 years ago, so these could be the ancestors of the Minoans.
Why did the Minoans come to Greece?
The concept of the Minoan civilisation was first developed by Sir Arthur Evans, the British archaeologist who unearthed the Bronze Age palace of Knossos on Crete. And so, he suggested that the Minoans were refugees from Egypt’s Nile delta, fleeing the region’s conquest by a southern king some 5,000 years ago.
Who were the ancestors of Greek?
The primary ancestors of both the Minoans and Mycenaeans were populations from Neolithic Western Anatolia and Greece and the two groups were very closely related to each other, and to modern Greeks. The Minoans and Mycenaeans occupy an important place in Greek, and European, history.
Has linear a been decoded?
Linear A was the primary script used in palace and religious writings of the Minoan civilization. It was discovered by archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. It was succeeded by Linear B, which was used by the Mycenaeans to write an early form of Greek. No texts in Linear A have been deciphered.
Were the Minoans the first civilization?
The Minoans – The First European Civilization. The Minoans – The First European Civilization The Minoan civilization existed on Crete . It was the first European civilization. About 2,500 BC a sophisticated society grew up on the island of Crete. By about 1,950 BC the inhabitants had invented a form of writing using hieroglyphs.
Where were the Minoans located in Greece?
Minoan civilization emerged around 2000 BCE, and lasted until 1400 BCE. It was located on the island of Crete, which is now a part of Greece. The Minoans were famous for the magnificent palaces they built, above all at Knossos .
What did the Minoans do in ancient Greece?
Minoan Civilization. The Minoans managed a lucrative ancient shipping empire that dominated the Mediterranean , Greece, the Greek Islands, and stretched as far as Black Sea. This naval power was used to ferry trade goods throughout the Greek Islands and these trading ferries made the Minoans extremely wealthy.
What goods did the Minoans trade?
The Ancient History Encyclopedia states that the Minoans exported materials such as oil, wine and pottery, receiving valuable materials in return as trade. The goods received included ivory from Egypt and copper from Cyprus .