Minoan Civilization: A History from Beginning to End

by Hourly History

Discover the remarkable history of the Minoan Civilization...Free BONUS Inside!The Minoan Civilization has, since its rediscovery in the early twentieth century by archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, been a source of fascination for the modern world. Some have claimed it represents evidence of a matriarchal society given its progressive treatment of women; others believe it to be the mythical lost city of Atlantis. One area of consensus is that it’s the first advanced civilization in Europe.The archaeological remains include massive building complexes, tools, a writing system, and evidence for a huge trade network. In fact, they even had flush toilets. The influence of this important culture went far beyond the island borders as the Minoan trade network brought them into contact with numerous cultures throughout the Aegean region. Research continues to reveal interesting new facts even as mysteries remain—the Minoan system of writing, for example, has yet to be deciphered.This book presents what is known about the history of this intriguing civilization, which promises to hold our fascination for years to come.Discover a plethora of topics such asMythological OriginsA Matriarchal Society? Women in Minoan The Snake GoddessLanguage and WritingMinoan WarfareFall of CivilizationAnd much more! So if you want a concise and informative book on the Minoan Civilization, simply scroll up and click the "Buy now" button for instant access!

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Greece, Ancient History

47 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2021

About the author

At Hourly History, we focus on publishing history books that are concise, straightforward and take no longer than one hour to read.

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Reviews

[Berengaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

short review for busy readers:
Fabulous short overview of the Aegean Bronze Age culture on the island of Crete.

Contains facts and the discussions of several theories about the nature and use of buildings and artifacts, as well as some strange finds. Easy to read, informative and entertaining. Recommended for an introductory overview that can be read in one hour.

Contents:
Mythic Origins
Chronology and General History
Geography and Archaeological Discoveries
Minoan Culture
A Matriarchal Society? Women in Minoan Crete
Religion
Language and Writing
Minoan Warfare
Fall of Civilization
Recent Research

[Diz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very brief overview of what we know about Minoan civilization, and it turns out that we don't know very much about it. The reason for this is that the writing system and language that the Minoans used have not been deciphered yet. Therefore, many of the theories presented here involve quite a lot of speculation. However, the book holds out the hope that scholars are making progress in deciphering Minoan text, so in the future we can perhaps get a more accurate view of what life in Minoan Crete was like.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

MINOAN CIVILIZATION A History from Beginning to End is another readable installment of the series on Greek history. I found it a fun read, because I was daydreaming the whole time about the white sands and the deep blue ocean surrounding the island of Crete.

[mageia]

Provides a concise refresher on the Minoans or a quick overview for those interested. I initially didn't notice it was from Hourly History, so it wasn't quite what I was looking for, which is why I am not giving it a rating. However, for those who noticed, it should meet expectations.

[David Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Island isolation and naval power

I knew very little about Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations and assumed that they were the same. It’s a shame that Greek, Egyptian and Babylonian history has dominated the period.

[Dr.J.G.]

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MINOAN CIVILIZATION: A HISTORY
FROM BEGINNING TO END
(ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS),
by
HOURLY HISTORY.
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"The Minoan Civilization reached its height during the Middle Bronze Age, from 2000 BCE until 1500 BCE. The culture had a unique style of art and architecture as well as a large trade network that permitted them to spread their ideas as they made contact with multiple cultures throughout the Aegean region. The Minoans are perhaps best known for their labyrinth-like palace complexes, their vivid frescoes depicting both men and women leaping over bulls as well as elaborate processions, and their fine gold jewelry, elegant stone vases, and pottery with vividly colored decorations of marine life.

"In his epic poem The Odyssey, the poet Homer described the center of the Minoan Civilization—Crete, an island off the southern coast of Greece—as “a rich and lovely sea-girt land, densely peopled, with 90 cities and several different languages.” The island’s location gave the Minoan “Sea-Kings” command of the seas, and that facilitated the spread of Minoan culture throughout the region.

"Myths tell of the founding of this island civilization by King Minos, the son of the god Zeus and the Phoenician princess Europa. The historian Thucydides described Minos as a conqueror who expanded Cretan territory to include the Cyclades, a group of more than 30 islands scattered throughout the Aegean Sea to the north of Crete. Minos installed his sons as rulers on the islands, and together they sought to rid the seas of pirates. Their efforts paid off as the Minoan Civilization lived a relatively peaceful existence until its collapse following a violent volcanic eruption on what is now the island of Santorini, then known as Thera."
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"The collapse of the Minoan Civilization, like many of the other topics associated with this enigmatic culture, is also a subject of debate. In the twentieth century, archaeologists proposed what came to be known as the eruption theory. This idea posited that the collapse of the Minoan Civilization was due to the eruption of the volcano on Thera circa 1600 BCE. Thera is located some 75 miles (120 kilometers) from Crete, and the eruption was one of the largest eruptions in recorded history, rated as a seven out of eight on the Volcanic Explosivity Index.

"The eruption on Thera immediately destroyed the local settlement of Akrotiri, entombing it in a layer of thick, volcanic debris. Severe earthquakes caused by the eruption had more long-reaching effects as they caused significant damage to the towns and palace complexes on Crete, making walls and ceilings cave in. This was followed by a massive tsunami which washed over the northern coast of Crete, destroying several harbor towns and settlements."
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"Mycenaean weapons dating to the period after the eruption have been found in burials on Crete, suggesting the possibility of conquest. That has led to new theories suggesting that the eruption did indeed trigger a crisis for the Minoan Civilization, but one that only served to make them vulnerable to conquest. Though the eruption aided in the Minoan collapse, it was ultimately conquest that did them in. Alternatively, the Myceneans may have taken over the island peacefully, perhaps through intermarriage between Minoan and Mycenean royal houses."

" ... The evidence shows that deforestation was occurring in the later stages of the Minoan Civilization. When people are unable to get the resources they need and leaders are unable to fix the problem, the populace can quickly turn on the rulers. That doesn’t necessarily happen all at once, but it has a consistent undermining effect on almost anything the leaders might try to do to improve the situation. Perhaps the people of Malia or Phaistos, discontent and unable to sustain themselves, rose up against the capital city of Knossos."
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July 19, 2024 - July 19, 2024.
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[Neera Kapahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Minoan civilization has always held a fascination for me. I have visited the Palace of Knossos and the archaeological museum in Crete and love its history, uniqueness and stylized art.

He book was a very interesting read and though concise covers a lot. The Minoans traded extensively and developed two writing systems. There was a very minor discrepancy. The book states that the Minoans had the the earliest known flushing toilet in the world. Actually the credit goes to both the Minoans of Crete and the Indus Valley civilization.

[ShEb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minoan Civilization: A History from Beginning to End masterfully unravels the enigmatic rise and flourishing of one of the most sophisticated Bronze Age societies. I was captivated by the meticulous exploration of their architectural marvels, complex trade networks, and deeply symbolic art. The author’s seamless blend of archaeological insights and historical narrative transported me to the vibrant palaces of Knossos and the dynamic cultural exchanges that shaped the Aegean world. A must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of this remarkable civilization.

[Jordan L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adequate Overview But A Little Too Repetitive In Places

It illuminates much for a novice. As an introduction, it explores a lot while trying to offer some depth and differing views or new research areas. There are some facts repeated 3-5 times, but these appear to be perhaps the most relevant.

[Glenn Lygrisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good overview

This book is a good overview of this interesting culture. However, it could be enhanced by a map or two and a sample of the linear writing style. It is a good “jumping off” point for further study;

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good introduction to a fascinating culture.

I liked the way this book analyzed Minoan culture from the excavations done on the island of Crete. The author tells what scholars think they know and the large aspects they do not know.

[George Polansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction.

[Robin Dix · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book only touches on the Minoan Civilization. Having been to Akrotiri and Knossos I throughly enjoyed reading this.

[x x x · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

Very current, and notes almost all of the difficulties with this civilization. It is intriguing to suspect that a matriarchal society would have been so successful so long ago.

[Ron Toleos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mysteries

The book repeats a lot the fact that scholars disagree on almost everything. It was a big disappointment that no one is sure about much of the cultural history.

[Sondra Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and entertaining!

[berrylate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick informative read!

This was a well-researched book that dives into the ancient civilization of the Minoans. I was interested because I learned that some Greek mythology is based upon this civilization's beliefs. If you are interested in their civilization and are limited on time, I would certainly recommend this book!

[Kathleen Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting

Minoan civilization in short version. Very concise and I learned new things. I have been to Crete a few years ago,but I didn’t know about their language.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and informative.

[Douglas Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A overview of the Minoan civilization on the isle of Crete. Informative but not especially interesting.

[Milt Krieger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Ancient Precursor To Greece

The beautiful palaces of Knossos and beyond are given life here. The mystery of an early and beautiful civilization show through these pages.

[Alice Stellar · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second Hourly History book. I definitely liked this one more than the first one I read, on John Wilkes Booth. Not that that one was bad, but this short overview format seems much better suited to covering the basics of an ancient civilization as opposed to the subtleties of the human mind.

I recently took a DNA test that showed that a majority of my ancestry is Minoan, which really surprised me. And yet, seeing images of a nearly bare-breasted goddess brandishing snakes spoke to me on a deep level, so.... All that to say, I wanted to learn more about the Minoans. This was an easy and very informative way to do it.

I learned a lot along the way, including the fact that my ancestral culture is, as of now, the oldest known human civilization with evidence of flushing toilets (very fitting, since I am a bit toilet-focused, what with my IBS and all...). I was also intrigued by the fact that we still haven't deciphered the Minoans' primary written language, Linear A, but that recently, some advances have been made, so there's hope that one day we'll really get some true insight into this culture, rather than speculation.

I was proud to learn that my ancestral culture may have been a matriarchy or a culture in which women were seen as equal to men. Sadly, this is speculation, since, again, we haven't deciphered the Minoans' writing, and the evidence presented here to me could be a sign of all this, but then again, many cultures, including Ancient Greek cultures we're more familiar with, also have powerful depictions of women goddesses and yet, sadly, in real life women were usually treated more like property than anything else. So, who can say? Still, I hold out hope that it's true.

The fact that I can even talk about this shows that this book taught me a lot. I really enjoyed this quick, informative read, and I also really appreciate the author's balanced approach, presenting numerous theories and not just making assumptions or ruling things out. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants some basic knowledge about the Minoans