Even today, the palaces of Knossos , Phaestus , Malia and Zakros reflect the splendor of the Minoan civilization through the masterpieces of architecture, pottery, gold, silversmithing and painting.
The most powerful fleet in the then known world, as evidenced by the different findings across the Mediterranean, brought wealth to Crete from trading the famous Cretan cypress and its agricultural products. This brilliant course was terminated in BC when the Achaeans and the Dorians made their presence on the island, founding new towns eg Lato , Polyrhenea and gave the baton to the Classical Greek civilization. After the conquest of Crete by the Romans , the capital moved to Gortys , which subsequently became the capital of the Roman province of Crete and Cyrene.
During his journey to Rome, Saint Paul stopped in Crete and proclaimed Christianity, beginning a century-old monastic tradition in more remote areas. The island became an important Christian center as depicted in hundreds of religious monuments , scattered everywhere. After many failed attempts, the Byzantines managed to release Crete in , under the commands of the later emperor Nikiforos Fokas , giving a new impetus in Christian tradition on Crete.
After the conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders in , the Venetians became the new rulers of Crete until During this period Crete experienced a great economic and spiritual wellbeing. The big cities were rebuilt, decorated with amazing monuments and fortified with massive walls. Moreover, the art reached its apogee with great personalities from the field of hagiography, as El Greco Dominikos Theotokopoulos and Michael Damaskinos.
Moreover, literature, music and theater thrived and produced masterpieces, like Erotokritos and Erofili. Successive revolutions and bloody battles led to the autonomy of Crete in In Crete became part of the Greek territory, honoring the longed dream of all Cretans for the Union with Greece.
During the Union of Crete, the politician Eleftherios Venizelos came into foreground, who would later become the greatest leader that ever ruled Greece. The struggles, however, of the Cretans did not end here, as the Cretan glory emerged in the Battle of Crete in and from the ashes of the dozens of villages burnt by the Germans.
Archaeological evidence testifies to the island's habitation since the 7th millennium BC After the 5th millennium BC we find the first evidence of hand-made ceramic pottery which marks the beginning of the civilization Evans, the famed archaeologist who excavated Knossos, named "Minoan" after the legendary king Minos.
Evans divided the Minoan civilization into three eras on the basis of the stylistic changes of the pottery. Since this chronology posed several problems in studying the culture, professor N. Platon has developed a chronology based on the palaces' destruction and reconstruction. We do not have much information about the very early Minoans before BC. We have seen the development of several minor settlements near the coast, and the beginning of burials in tholos tombs, as well as in caves around the island.
Neolithic life in ancient Crete consisted of major settlements at Myrtos and Mochlos. During this period the Minoans had contact with Egypt, Asia Minor, and Syria with whom they traded for copper, tin, ivory, and gold.
The archaeological evidence reveals a decentralized culture with no powerful landlords and no centralized authority. The palaces of this period are focused around communities, and circular tholos tombs were the major architectural structures of the time. The manner by which the dead were buried in these tombs indicate a society without hierarchical structure. The tholos tombs were used for centuries by entire villages, or clans and older corpses and offerings were placed aside to make room for a new burial.
Older bones were removed from the tomb and placed in bone chambers outside the tholos structure. Most of the tholos tombs were circular while in Palekastro and Mochlos they were of a rectangular in shape with a flat roof. The protopalatial era began with social upheaval, external dangers, and migrations from mainland Greece and Asia Minor. Around BC a new political system was established with authority concentrated around a central figure - a king.
The first large palaces were founded and acted as centers for their respective communities, while at the same time they developed a bureaucratic administration which permeated Minoan society. Distinctions between the classes forged a social hierarchy and divided the people into nobles, peasants, and perhaps slaves. After its tumultuous beginning, this was a peaceful and prosperous period for the Minoans who continued to trade with Egypt and the Middle East, while they constructed a paved road network to connect the major cultural centers.
This period also marks the development of some settlements outside the palaces, and the end of the extensive use of tholos tombs. The palaces of the period were destroyed in BC by forces unknown to us. Speculation blames the destruction either on a powerful earthquake, or on outside invaders.
Despite the abrupt destruction of the palaces however, Minoan civilization continued to flourish. The destroyed palaces were quickly rebuilt on the ruins to form even more spectacular structures.
This is the time when Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, and Zakros were built, along side many smaller palaces which stretched along the Cretan landscape. Small towns developed near the palaces and the dead were buried in pithoi and larnakes, along rock-cut chambers and above-ground tholos tombs. For the first time smaller residencies that we call villas appeared in the rural landscape, and were modeled after the large palaces with storage facilities, worship, and workshops.
They appear to be lesser centers of power away from the palaces, and homes for affluent landlords. During this period we see evidence of administrative and economic unity throughout the island, and Minoan Crete reach its zenith. Women played a powerful role in society, and the gold artifacts, seals, and spears speak of a very affluent upper class. The paved road network was vastly expanded to connect most major Minoan palaces and towns, and we have evidence of extensive trade activity.
In the beginning of this era, Minoan culture dominates the Aegean islands and expands into the Peloponnese. Stories of the Minoan decline are believed to have morphed into the legend of Atlantis as described by the Greek philosopher Plato circa B.
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of an invasion in the midth century B. Many sites, including several large palaces in central and southern Crete were burned, and many settlements were abandoned shortly thereafter. Despite its abrupt ending, the influence of Crete survived.
Its vibrant culture made a major impact on the rising new regional power: the Mycenaean Greeks, who lauded King Minos and Crete in their mythology.
Linear B, the Cretan writing system adopted by the Mycenaeans, would be the basis for the Greek in which the poet Homer would write his two masterpieces. All rights reserved. Minoan art featured distinctive depictions of female forms—both divine and mortal. Perhaps the most famous is the Snake Goddess which dates to the 18th to 16th centuries B. Atlantis Origins? Please be respectful of copyright.
Unauthorized use is prohibited. The colossal eruption on Thera Santorini in a 19th-century engraving, which occurred around the 16th century B. Share Tweet Email. Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants.
This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city Caracals have learned to hunt around the urban edges of Cape Town, though the predator faces many threats, such as getting hit by cars. India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big. Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big Grassroots efforts are bringing solar panels to rural villages without electricity, while massive solar arrays are being built across the country.
Go Further. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Morocco has 3 million stray dogs. Meet the people trying to help. Animals Whales eat three times more than previously thought.
Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big. Environment As the EU targets emissions cuts, this country has a coal problem. Paid Content How Hong Kong protects its sea sanctuaries. History Magazine These 3,year-old giants watched over the cemeteries of Sardinia. Magazine How one image captures 21 hours of a volcanic eruption.
Science Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. Science The controversial sale of 'Big John,' the world's largest Triceratops. Science Coronavirus Coverage How antivirals may change the course of the pandemic.
0コメント