6000 BCE - 1450 BCE GEOGRAPHY The Minoans arrived on the island of Crete in 6000 BCE from Asia

a Minor. They flourished between 2200-1450 BCE trading grapes, grain, and olives to nearby countries. Knossos, the capital, was a thriving city where a massive 6-acre palace was constructed. The Minoans had developed significant naval power. Their commercial contact with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia undeniably influenced their own culture. Crete is a mountainous island with natural harbors. SOCIETY Women were highly respected by Minoans. One of their main deities was a Mother/Snake goddess who protected the home. Women were allowed to be priests as well. Minoans were matrilineal (the women passed on their name and inheritance to their daughters). CULTURE -The palace of Knossos provides historians with evidence of Minoan daily life. Boys and girls would often leap over bulls for fun. Also, Minoans left behind beautiful pieces of pottery with distinctive sgraffito etchings that told stories (both myth and reality). The Minotaur legend is based on the Minoan culture (a bull that eats children who lived in a labyrinth) DECLINE Around 1450 BCE, a huge volcanic eruption occurred on the island of Thera. Ash covered and poisoned nearby cities; tsunamis destroyed Minoan ports; fires raged throughout the island of Crete. Soon after, the Minoans were invaded by Mycenae who overthrew the government and burned down the palace of Knossos.

6000 BCE - 1450 BCE

Use the previous pages and the NBCNEWS.com article to complete the following. Write complete sentences with specific details and analytical explanations from the texts. DO NOT PLAGARIZE. PARAPHRASE USING YOUR OWN VOCABULARY. Be thorough in your answers. Input Charts are the primary source for Unit Exams (30% HISTORY category), use as study guide. PROMPT 1.) Where did the Minoan civilization emerge? 2.) How did the physical location of Crete influence the culture and economy of the Minoans? 3.) Elaborate on the status of Minoan women. 4.) Define matrilineal. 5.) What piece of architecture provides evidence of Minoan daily life? 6.) Describe Minoan pottery and its function. 7.) Identify the essence of the Minotaur myth. 8.) Which natural disaster started the decline of the Minoan civilization? 9.) What occurred during the natural disaster that paralyzed Crete? 10.) Who overthrew the Minoans? 11.) What symbolic deed did the Mycenaean enact to finalize the end of the Minoans? 12.) According to the article, which current archeologist suggests that war was a defining part of Minoan society? 13.) According to the article and in the section The ancient Minoans, what did archaeologists think when Minoan artifacts were first excavated over a hundred years ago? 14.) According to the article and in the section War or peace? what are some examples in YOUR ANSWER The civilization of Minoans emerged on the island of Crete. The physical location of the island of Crete influenced the economy and the culture because they were known for trading grapes and olives. The Minoan women were respected highly by the citizens. One of their main gods was a Mother/Snake goddess who protected the home. Matrilineal means, the women passed on their name and inheritance to their daughters. Evidence that provides historians of Minoan daily life is the palace of Knossos. The Minoan pottery had etchings that told stories about the Minoan history. The Minotaur is based on Minoan culture. The Minotaur is known to eat children and lives in the labyrinth. The natural disaster was the volcanic eruption on the island of Thera. Tsunamis destroyed the Minoan ports and paralyzed Crete. Also fires raged the Minoan cities. The Mycenae people overthrew the Minoan civilization and unfortunately burned down the Palace of Knossos. The symbolic deed that the Mycenae did was burning down the palace of Knossos. The archeologist that suggests that war was a defining part of Minoan history was Barry Molly. According to the article early archaeologists thought that war was played little or no role in the Minoan society. Some examples of weaponry are daggers and swords, even archery.

weaponry and art that show a value of physicality in Minoan society? 15.) According to the article and in the section War or peace? how does the Minoan language indicate violence. 16.) What are the most important lasting legacies of Minoan civilization? 17.) What are the most important factors in how cultural diffusion (sharing goods and ideas) occurred for the Minoans?

The language indicates violence because the hieroglyphs include bows, arrows, spears and daggers. This shows that war was a part in Minoan civilization. The most important legacies are that the most important diety is the goddess of the home and women are greatly respected. And also that the language is mostly represented with the war. The most important factors to the cultural diffusion is the pottery with the etchings.