LOST WORLDS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN (Drain the Oceans): Minoan Civilization

Middle Sea (center of the known world)

Egyptians, Greek, and Romans.

The Mediterranean becomes a superhighway connecting cultures that will shape the modern world. But only by
draining the sea can we reveal its biggest and terrifying secret. What happened on this spectacular Greek island to
doom an entire civilization?

3, 600 yeas ago. 15 centuries before the Roman Empire.

- A mysterious people dominate the mediterranean and are called as the “Minoans”.
- Their home is on Crete, where they built magnificent temples and palaces, and decorate them with stunning
frescoes. Celebrating their love of life and of nature.

INTO THE LABYRINTH

Many myths and legends of Crete center around King Minos, son of the god Zeus and the Phoenician princess Europa.
The thunder god had turned himself into a gentle, white bull. Charmed by the creature, Europa climbed on its back,
and the bull bore her away to Crete where she would later bear their children. Minos became king of Crete and was
said to be advised by Zeus himself. Under his rule, Minos built a strong navy and defeated rival city Athens. In one
popular myth, Minos demands that Athens send 14 youths to Crete to be sacrificed to the fearsome Minotaur, a half-
man, half-bull, who dwelled in the labyrinth on the island. These myths were created after Minoan civilization had
declined, but still reflected the respect that later Greeks had for the people of Crete.

Despite Minos’s mythological status, the historian Thucydides—working at the height of Athens’s golden age in the
fifth century B.C.—wrote of him as if he were a historical figure, “the first to whom tradition ascribes the possession
of a navy.”

Thucydides’ vision of ancient Crete was a thalassocracy, from the Greek words thalassa, meaning “sea,”
and kratos, meaning “power.” This notion may well reflect the historian’s concerns with naval power in the region in
his own day more than the reality of ancient Crete. Modern historians tend to view Crete as a less aggressive power
that used its naval expertise to dominate trade rather than to conquer.

POWER, PRESTIGE, AND PALACES

Despite the importance of Crete to ancient Greek civilization, archaeological study of its culture is relatively recent.
Some of the earliest traces of a powerful, Bronze Age civilization were uncovered in the 19th century. British
archaeologist Arthur Evans discovered extensive ruins on Crete in the early 1900s. In honor of the legendary King
Minos, he termed the civilization he uncovered “Minoan.”

Although many Minoan structures have been given the secular term “palace,” researchers believe their role was not a
royal one. It has never been firmly established whether Minoan Crete had a true royal dynasty, so these lavish palaces
may have had mixed secular and religious roles.

As the Minoan upper classes grew increasing wealthy, they imported luxuries—jewelry and precious stones—which
provided extra incentive to develop new trading routes for Crete’s exports: timber, pottery, and textiles. Little evidence
has been found of city walls or fortifications built on ancient Crete during this time. This finding seems to suggest that
either there were no serious threats to the island or—more likely—that patrolling ships were enough to guard its
coastlines. A maritime force would have also protected the trading routes, harbors, and strategic points, such as
Amnisos, the port that served the capital, Knossos.

MINOAN INFLUENCES
As Minoan culture and trade radiated several islands were radically changed through contact with Crete. Cretan
fashions became very popular in the eastern Mediterranean. Local island elites first acquired Cretan pottery and
textiles as a symbol of prestige. Later, the presence of Minoan merchants also prompted island communities far from
Knossos to adopt Crete’s standard system of weights and measures.

Perhaps the clearest sign of Minoan influence was the appearance of its writing system in the languages of later
cultures. Characteristics of Crete’s letters appear to have used several forms. One of the oldest was discovered by
Arthur Evans and is now known as Linear A. Despite not yet being deciphered, scholars believe it is the local
language of Minoan Crete. But it must have been an important regional common language of its day, as Linear A has
been found inscribed on many of the clay vessels discovered on
islands across the Aegean.

Linear A, the Cretan writing system, is inscribed on this tablet from

circa 1500 B.C.

The city of Akrotiri on the island of Thera (modern-day Santorini)

is one of the best preserved of these Minoan settlements.

Although for now, it is impossible to decipher their language but we

only have their archeologic remains. These remains indicates that
they were extremely imaginative, they were extremely adventurous,
and that they developed a sophisticated hierarchal society that was
capable of producing elements of art and architecture which still
astound us today.

Historians suggest that the Minoans spread across the

Mediterranean, trading olive oil and pottery for gold and ivory,
growing ever richer and more powerful.

In the 15th to 16th century BC, their ancient civilization begins to

fade from the pages of history. For centuries, no one knows why.
Until scientists start to look closely at the nearby island of
Santorini.

WHAT CAUSED THE DOWNFALL OF THE MIGHTY MINOANS?

Investigation shows the sheer cliffs that tower 1000 feet above sea level and drop a further 1000 feet to the seafloor.
Framing a vast basin large enough to hold 10, 000 Olympic stadiums. The basin is a huge crater, and Santorini itself is
the remnant of a gigantic volcano. On the rim of the crater, more evidence of Santorini’s violent past is found.
Undiscovered until 1967, the shattered ruins of a once thriving city known today as Akrotiri is discovered. Digs in the
1960s and ’70s unearthed a wealthy city with many distinctive Minoan features. Its walls boasted stunning murals of
brightly colored, stylized images of sparring boxers, climbing monkeys, swimming dolphins, and flying birds. The
quality of the paintings uncovered at Akrotiri suggests that artists either from Crete or influenced by its culture had set
up workshops in this city.

The Minoan Civilization was destroyed when the volcano erupted, and buried under so much ash that it remained
hidden for 3500 years. Deep in the ruins, archeologists discover something remarkable. The stone steps were not
broken by a volcanic eruption, rather they were shattered by an earthquake.

They suggest that people fled from their homes and once this earthquake was over, they came back to rebuild their
homes. But then, they are struck by a volcanic eruption. The first stage of the eruption is so powerful that it engulfs
Akrotiri and suffocates the whole island in a thick layer of debris.

Date of this cataclysmic eruption? Around 1625 BC, the same times as the Minoans begin to disappear from the pages
of history. But how could a single eruption trigger the collapse of a great civilization based on an island 70 miles
away?

1. Volcanic Eruption of Thera

Impact:
  Date and Scale: Around 1600 BCE, a massive volcanic eruption occurred on the island of Thera (modern-day
Santorini). This eruption is considered one of the most significant volcanic events in prehistoric times,
releasing enormous quantities of ash and pumice.
 Environmental Effects: The eruption caused climatic changes, including a "volcanic winter" with cooler
temperatures and disrupted weather patterns. This would have led to reduced agricultural yields and food
shortages.
 Tsunamis: The eruption triggered tsunamis that likely struck the coastlines of Crete, causing flooding and
damage to coastal settlements.
Evidence:
 Archaeological Layers: Minoan archaeological sites, especially in coastal areas, show layers of volcanic ash.
This suggests that the eruption had a direct impact on these locations.
 Cultural Changes: There is a marked shift in Minoan art and architecture following the eruption, indicating a
possible cultural disruption.

There are also multiple theories about the downfall of the Minoan Civilization.
2. Mycenaean Invasion
Impact:
 Increased Presence: From the late Minoan period, there is evidence of increasing Mycenaean influence on
Crete. Mycenaean pottery, architectural styles, and script appear in Minoan sites, particularly in the palaces.
 Military Conquest: Some scholars argue that the Mycenaeans, who were expanding their influence and
territory, may have directly invaded and taken over Minoan territories, leading to the decline of Minoan
political and economic systems.
Evidence:
 Archaeological Findings: Mycenaean artifacts and architectural elements are found in Minoan palaces like
Knossos, suggesting a takeover or significant cultural assimilation.
 Destruction Layers: At several Minoan sites, there are layers of destruction and evidence of violence that
align with the timing of increased Mycenaean presence.

3. Internal Problems
Impact:
 Economic Issues: The Minoan economy was heavily dependent on trade, agriculture, and maritime activity.
Disruptions due to volcanic activity, natural disasters, or changes in trade routes could have weakened their
economic stability.
 Social Unrest: Internal strife or social upheaval might have contributed to the civilization's decline. Changes
in trade dynamics or economic hardship could have led to social discontent or conflicts.
Evidence:
 Decline in Trade: A reduction in the volume and variety of trade goods found in Minoan sites might reflect
economic decline or disruption in trade networks.
 Palatial Changes: The shift in the architecture and function of palaces suggests possible internal
reorganization or collapse.

4. Natural Disasters
Impact:
 Earthquakes: Crete is located in a seismically active region. Significant earthquakes could have caused
structural damage to palaces, temples, and infrastructure, contributing to the civilization’s decline.
 Combined Effects: The combination of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis would have
compounded the challenges faced by the Minoans, leading to greater difficulties in recovery.
Evidence:
 Architectural Damage: Evidence of earthquake damage, such as shifted or collapsed buildings, is found in
several Minoan sites.

Overall Decline
The decline of the Minoan civilization was not a singular event but rather a gradual process influenced by a range of
factors. The interplay between natural disasters, possible invasions, and internal challenges created a complex scenario
that led to the weakening and eventual transformation of Minoan society. By around 1100 BCE, the Minoan
civilization had significantly declined, with Mycenaean Greeks establishing dominance over Crete, leading to the
eventual integration of Minoan culture into Mycenaean Greece.
In summary, the downfall of the Minoan civilization was likely due to a combination of volcanic eruptions, possible
invasions by the Mycenaeans, internal economic and social issues, and natural disasters. Each of these factors
contributed to the eventual decline and transformation of one of the ancient world’s most intriguing civilizations.
Occurred