Minoan CivilizationMinoan Civilizationon Creteon CreteChapter 9 section 1Chapter 9 section 1

CreteCrete

Greek civilization grew out of 2 earlier Greek civilization grew out of 2 earlier civilizations:civilizations:

Minoan and MycenaeanMinoan and Mycenaean

Around 2800 B.C. civilization rose on the Around 2800 B.C. civilization rose on the island of Creteisland of Crete

Crete- island in Crete- island in Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

Economic ActivityEconomic Activity

Minoans-Minoans- Grew crops such as olives and grapesGrew crops such as olives and grapes Good carpenters because of plentiful forestsGood carpenters because of plentiful forests Built ships (world’s first seafaring civilization)Built ships (world’s first seafaring civilization) Merchant ships traveled to trade for pottery, Merchant ships traveled to trade for pottery,

leather, bronze armor, and jewelryleather, bronze armor, and jewelry

Jobs people had: farmers, fishermen, sea Jobs people had: farmers, fishermen, sea captains, shepherds, ship builders, artisanscaptains, shepherds, ship builders, artisans

SportsSports

Loved sportsLoved sports Built first open air arenaBuilt first open air arena BoxingBoxing Bull leaping- a team of 2 people, one Bull leaping- a team of 2 people, one

would grab the bull by the horns, the bull would grab the bull by the horns, the bull would toss the person over its head, would toss the person over its head, making the person do a somersault and making the person do a somersault and land on his feet on the bull’s back.land on his feet on the bull’s back.

Sports cont.Sports cont.

Then the person would do a back flip and Then the person would do a back flip and the second person would help to catch the second person would help to catch himhim

Bull leaping may have been used as a Bull leaping may have been used as a religious ceremony as well as a sportreligious ceremony as well as a sport

Cities and PalacesCities and Palaces

At the center of each city was a palaceAt the center of each city was a palace Cities did not have walls around themCities did not have walls around them Knossos was the largest city on CreteKnossos was the largest city on Crete The palace at Knossos had indoor The palace at Knossos had indoor

plumbing, flush toilets and hot water plumbing, flush toilets and hot water running waterrunning water

Palace had several entrances that Palace had several entrances that formed formed labyrinthslabyrinths

Cities and PalacesCities and Palaces

Labyrinth means double ax and the palace was Labyrinth means double ax and the palace was called the House of the double axcalled the House of the double ax

Houses surrounded the palaceHouses surrounded the palace Walls were painted with Walls were painted with frescosfrescos-watercolor -watercolor

paintings made on damp plasterpaintings made on damp plaster Houses had no entrances from the street, Houses had no entrances from the street,

people entered from the roofpeople entered from the roof Doors and windows that were made of Doors and windows that were made of

parchment were added later.parchment were added later.

RulersRulers

Rulers were called priest kings- made the laws Rulers were called priest kings- made the laws and represented the gods on earthand represented the gods on earth

Had many godsHad many gods Main god was Mother EarthMain god was Mother Earth Built shrinesBuilt shrines Hills lead to Heaven, caves lead to underworldHills lead to Heaven, caves lead to underworld Minoans believed the lily was sacred, the Minoans believed the lily was sacred, the

double ax stood for the power of Mother Earth, double ax stood for the power of Mother Earth, and doves were sacred because they flew in and doves were sacred because they flew in the heavensthe heavens

Fall and Decline of the Fall and Decline of the MinoansMinoans

Civilization ended about 1400 B.C.- when Civilization ended about 1400 B.C.- when control of the sea passed to the control of the sea passed to the Mycenaean'sMycenaean's

Theseus and the Minotaur myth explains Theseus and the Minotaur myth explains why it ended.why it ended.

When the minotaur died, the power of the When the minotaur died, the power of the Minoans died off too.Minoans died off too.