Minoan Civilization
The Minoan civilization develops in Crete 2700 with 1200 av. J. - C.. Drawing its denomination from the name of the legendary king Minos, it was revealed by the English archeologist Arthur John Evans at the beginning of the 20th century.
A thalassocratie déchue?
Insularity
Crete is a mountainous island which is in the Mediterranean and which has many natural Rade S. During its old story, the island was attacked by Séisme S, volcanic eruptions and by storms of winter.
According to Homère, Crete counted 90 Ville S, whose Cnossos was most important. Archeologists found palates also with Phaistos, Malia and Zakros. The island was probably divided into four political units, with that of north controlled by Cnossos, that of the south by Phaistos, that of center-is by Malia and that of the end of the east by Zakros. Palates of less importance, smaller, were also found in other areas. It is it should be noted that none the Minoan cities had enclosures, and hardly finds one Arme S. celebrates It axe with double edge undoubtedly had only one ritual function. It was a religious symbol.
A civilization turned towards the maritime trade?
The Minoans do not seem to have constituted a warlike civilization. One often described them like people trading engaged in the trade of overseas. Many historians and archeologists believes that the Minoans were very implied in the trade of the tin which was very important at the time of the Bronze Age (tin being used for the production of Bronze).
Theories of the failure
The decline of Minoan civilization seems to correspond to that of the use of the bronze tools. The absence of deciphering of the Minoan writing, the Linéaire has, restricted considerably the knowledge which we have of this brilliant civilization.
It is possible that the networks of trade crumbled, and that the Minoan cities perished by the famine. According to this theory, the Minoans would have received their corn of the farms on the littoral of the Black Sea.
Many historians believe that the old commercial empires were constantly likely to be destroyed by the “not-economic” draft, i.e. food would have been underestimated with respect to the Luxe, because accountancy was not developed yet. The result could have been the famine and the reduction in the population.
Another theory of Minoan collapse is that, when one started to use tools of iron, the Minoans, which sold tin to produce bronze, were impoverished gradually. When their networks of trade disappeared, of the regional famines developed and it was impossible for them to fight them.
Other historians theorize that the naval capacities of the Minoans were damaged in some manner by the explosion of the town of Théra. This explosion would have led to a conquest by Mycéniens, and the latter could not manage a great commercial empire.
As, it is imagined as a volcano on the island of Théra (also called Santorin), to the north of Crete, entered in eruption and because of the massive tidal waves and the rains of ashes.
Some think that an invasion mycénienne took place after the eruption and that this one led to the fall of Minoan civilization. It is said besides that this eruption would have inspired the legend of the Atlantis.
An original civilization
Minoan writings
The crétois initially used a written form resting on Idéogramme S. Then, appears, at the beginning of the thousand-year-old IIe front J. - C., a second syllabic Written form known as " linear A". These two written forms are very mysterious and alone to us, with Knossos, a third written form called " linear B" recover the Greek .
A civilization palatiale
Minoan civilization is characterized, initially by its palates with the image of those of Cnossos, Phaistos, Malia or of Zakros. Also, of 2000 with 1700 av. J. - C, a first period known as " paléopalatiale" , with final, its palates see to be détuits and, of 1700 with 1400 av. J. - C, during one second period known as " néopalatiale" , new palates, richer are built.
The Minoan religion
The religion of Minoan Crete is distinguished from the continental contemporary religions on several points. No fresco appears the gods, although it is known that the divinities were numerous; not more than representations of the political power, administrative or legal do not appear there. No vestige of Temple dedicated to a divinity was found. It is known that pertaining to worship and ritual demonstrations took place in the open air or in caves.
The religious ceremonies seem to have attached a great importance to the temporary appearance of a divinity, in answer to an invocation, on the sacrifice made with the divinity and especially on the ritual dances and the extase of the followers who follows more than with the divinity itself, of which one knows nothing, while the human side of these ceremonies is highlighted on the objects which testify some: sarcophagi, rings, ceramics.
The double axe and the horns were pertaining to worship objects having a value symbolic system; a possible astral symbolism is not established.
The offerings made to the divinities consisted of a whole variety of low-size statuettes, generally with the female connotations. The famous statuettes of the “goddesses to the snakes” are actually a rather late appearance and most probably of Eastern origin.
In the caves, ashes of the sacrificial victims were found; they were animal ashes: sheep, bovines, porcine and dogs.
Population and activities inside the grounds
Organized urban centres
With the image of Gournia or Malia, cities could be put at the day. Place, paved streets, and modest dwellings of one to two parts thus could be highlighted. They seem to prove an urban concern. Small centers of craft industry and villas such those of Cortyne, Tylissos or Vathypetro were still highlighted in the southernmost countryside.
A diversified agriculture
The population is not only distributed in the urban centres but also in the countryside.
The Minoans raised Vache S, Mouton S, Cochon S, Chèvre S; they cultivated Blé, Orge, Vesce, Chick-pea, Figue S, Olive S, and Raisin S.
The farmers used Charrue S out of wood, bound by leather to the Manette S out of wood, trailed by pairs of ass S or many Bœuf S.
A developed craft industry
Vases made with the turn are produced and are used as amphoras of reserve or of containers of transport. Stone vases are them marked by the decorative aspect and the care which is carried to them. The Minoans shine in meticulous work particularly in the Glyptique and the Orfèvrerie. The sculptures are limited, on the other hand, with small ivory statuettes, bronzes or clay.
See too
Related articles
- Linéaire has or Minoan , writing undeciphered of Minoan civilization
- Minos, the mythical king of the “Minoan ”
- antiquated Time, first period of the history of ancient Greece
- Civilization mycénienne, name given to civilization having succeeded Minoan civilization
- Histoire of Crete
- Disque of Phaistos
| Random links: | Jacksonville | Michael Haneke | Saint-Pierre-washing | Mike Peluso (1974) | 760 |