What is the mystery of the collapse of the Minoans?

The reasons for the slow decline of the Minoan civilization, beginning around 1550 BC, are unclear; theories include Mycenaean invasions from mainland Greece and the major volcanic eruption of Santorini.

What were the weaknesses of the Minoans?

What were the weaknesses of the Minoans and Why? They had a lack of fortresses, war equipment, and painted battle scenes among the remains of their settlements because they were more of a peace-loving culture.

What is the legacy of the Minoans?

From richly detailed frescoes to elaborate pottery to pure olive oil that was coveted around the globe, the Minoan people contributed much to the ancient world. Examine their vibrant culture and learn how the Minoans were able to use their spot on the map to great commercial advantage.

Did the Minoans leave behind artifacts?

Not much art has survived from the Prepalatial period. Most of the artifacts found in many sites throughout the island consist of Cycladic statuettes and pottery fragments, but a wealth of art from the Protopalatial era can be admired today in the museums around Crete.

Was Knossos in Atlantis?

The fascinatingly diverse Greek nation has many great archaeological marvels and none more so that Knossos in Crete, a fabled city of Atlantis.

What are the two major differences between the Minoan and Mycenaean civilization?

The Minoans lived on the Greek islands and built a huge palace on the island of Crete. The Mycenaeans lived mostly on mainland Greece and were the first people to speak the Greek language. The Minoans built a large civilization on the island of Crete that flourished from around 2600 BC to 1400 BC.

Are Minoans considered Greek?

The Minoans were not Greeks nor do they appear to be closely related. What seems clear however is that they helped to shape the early Greek civilization, later immortalized by Homer and other Greek poets. 15th century BC bull-leaper fresco from Knossos, Crete.

What is the difference between Minoans and Mycenaeans?

The Minoans occupied the Greek islands mainly living on Crete. The Mycenaeans lived on mainland Greece and the Peloponnesia. The Minoans were mainly farmers and traders, while the Mycenaeans were a warlike society.

Are Greeks related to Minoans?

What destroyed Knossos?

Knossos appears to have been destroyed sometime before 1300 B.C., apparently by fire. The Mycenaeans would see their civilization collapse around 1200 B.C. as a series of population migrations, possibly spurred by environmental problems, swept across Europe and the Near East.

Are the Minoan civilization and Atlantis the same?

When comparing the Minoan civilization to that of Atlantis, the resemblance is so striking that it definitely raises a valid question of whether these two civilizations, separated by few millennia, were actually one and the same.

Were there ever Minoans on Crete?

Various artifacts and signs of advanced agriculture on Crete though, dating as far back as 5000 BC, point to a much earlier Minoan presence on the island. Are those signs really of Minoans, or do they belong to another much older civilization, like that of Atlantis perhaps?

Where did Plato’s Atlantis come from?

More than two thousand years ago, the Greek historian Plato wrote about Atlantis, the fabled civilization that was swallowed by the sea. But the origins of Plato’s story have never been identified.

What happened to the Minoans of Akrotiri?

But the Minoans had built their prosperous city on one of the most dangerous islands on earth, next to the volcano Thera. Around 1600, B.C., Akrotiri was shaken by a violent earthquake. Some time later, an eruption occurred.