What is the main cause of the downfall of the Minoan civilization?

The event traditionally associated with the fall of the Minoans was the eruption of a nearby volcanic island, Mount Thera (modern-day Santorini). More destructive was a massive tsunami that resulted from the eruption and devastated the Minoan settlements on the northern coast of Crete.

Did the Minoans build ships?

At least since the 16th century BC, the ancient Minoans dominated the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. They were a people who used the pioneering for their time ships they built for peaceful – commercial purposes, and created a milestone in the development of international trade in human history.

What effect did trade have on the Minoan civilization?

What effect did trade have on the Minoans’ economy? It made the society very wealthy. The wealth trickled down through the society, creating a “leisure society,” in which their lowest class would have still lived fairly comfortable life.

What were Minoan ships used for?

The Minoan ships weren’t built for warfare but for transportation of goods and people, as seen by the frieze. That is not to say there wasn’t a sea battle. There happens to be a fresco from Akrotiri of perhaps the oldest sea battle of an Aegean fleet and their enemies or possibly pirates from Lybia.

What inventions did the Minoans make?

Overall, the Minoans had to invent many metalworking techniques like lost-wax, nielo, and granulation in order to achieve the diverse range of items they produced. Later Greeks would use these same techniques to create the first monumental bronze sculptures in Western history.

How did the Minoan civilization end?

Volcanic explosion. Three and a half thousand years ago, the tiny Aegean island of Thera was devastated by one of the worst natural disasters since the Ice Age – a huge volcanic eruption. This cataclysm happened 100km from the island of Crete, the home of the thriving Minoan civilisation.

What did the Minoan civilization develop?

At the height of their civilization, between 2,000-1400 BC, the Minoans developed a palace-centered civilization. The Minoan cities of Knossos and Phaistos are two examples of palace cities. Palaces acted as the economic and religious centers of the island. Palaces were large and three to five stories tall.

How advanced was Minoan civilization?

It represents the first advanced civilization in Europe, leaving behind a number of massive building complexes, sophisticated art, and writing systems. Its economy benefited from a network of trade around much of the Mediterranean.