Who were the Minoans and the Mycenaeans?

From the pages of ancient history emerge two incredible civilizations, the Minoans and the Mycenaeans.

They stood tall at the dawn of civilization, leaving a lasting impact that shaped the course of ancient Greece.

Their striking buildings, beautiful art, and intriguing writing systems continue to fascinate us.

But who exactly were the Minoans and Mycenaeans?

How did they become so influential, and what caused their downfall? 

The Minoan civilisation was the first great Greek civilisation, and it flourished on the island of Crete between c. 2000 - c. 1500 BC.

This culture had been forgotten to history until the late 19th and early 20th centuries AD, when the archaeologist, Arthur Evans, rediscovered the ruins of their great city at Knossos, sparking a wave of public interest in this mysterious civilisation. 

Evans and other archaeologists named this culture the 'Minoans' after the legendary King Minos of Crete, who was said to have built the great labyrinth at Knossos.

The name 'Minoan' is now widely used to refer to both the civilisation and its architecture.

The Minoans were a peaceful people who appeared to have preferred making money to war.

They appear to have had extensive trading networks throughout the Mediterranean.

Archaeological discoveries indicate that the Minoans were regularly trading with cultures as far away as Egypt and the Middle East. 

They had an advanced society, with well-developed systems of writing and mathematics.

The Minoan culture had two writing systems, Linear A and Linear B. Linear A is still not deciphered, but it is thought to be an early form of Greek.

Linear B was used for record-keeping and was deciphered in the 1950s by the English architect, Michael Ventris.

It revealed that the Minoans spoke an early form of Greek.

They were also skilled artists, as evidenced by the many beautiful artefacts that have been found at Minoan sites. 

The Minoans were a highly sophisticated people, with a rich culture and impressive achievements.

They also had a highly organised society, with a strong central government.

They were skilled architects and engineers. Their largest cities, such as the famous Knossos, centred around large palace structures.

These structures appeared to be used for both administrative and religious purposes. 

The fact that Minoan cities did not appear to have any defensive walls might suggest that they lived a relatively peaceful existence.

However, weapons such as swords, daggers, and arrowheads and defensive equipment such as armor and helmets have been found throughout Crete, which shows that they were not an entirely pacifist culture.

The palaces appear to have been built during two distinct eras. The first were built around 2000 BC, but then rebuilt again around 1700 BC.

The rebuilding seems to have been caused following severe earthquakes and fires. These second palaces were destroyed again between 1500 to 1450 BC, when they were once again destroyed by earthquake, fire, or invasions.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Minoan culture was their religion, which appears to have revolved around worship of a female goddess.

This is reflected in their art, which often depicts women in positions of power and authority.

The most important deity was a goddess known as the Snake Goddess. This female deity was often depicted with animals, and she may have been an important fertility goddess.

Two small faience figurines called the Snake Goddess were unearthed in 1903 by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans at the palace of Knossos.

These probably depict this goddess herself, or maybe even the priestesses of her cult.

A particular animal that features heavily in religious art in the Minoan culture is the bull.

The bull was likely associated with the same Minoan goddess. Bull-leaping is a famous feature of Minoan culture, and it appears to have been a religious ritual in which participants would leap over bulls.

This may have been intended as a way to appease the gods.

The Minoan civilisation came to an end around 1450 BC. It is not entirely clear what the causes of their collapse was. However, a few potential theories have been proposed.

One possible cause of the fall of the Minoans may have been the invasion of the island of Crete by the rising Mycenaean culture on the Greek mainland.

The reasons for this are still not completely clear, but it may have been due to political or economic instability.

However, even after their demise, the Minoans continued to influence Greek culture.

Another potential cause may have been the Thera eruption, which was one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history.

This eruption is estimated to have occurred around 1500 or 1200 BC. This would have had a devastating effect on the Minoan civilisation, as it would have caused widespread damage and destruction.

The final theory for their collapse may have been internal social conflict. There is evidence that there was considerable social unrest in the later years of the Minoan civilisation.

This may have led to civil war, which could have further contributed to their demise.

In reality, it may have been a combination of all of these causes which brought about the demise of the Minoans.

The Mycenaean civilisation arose in mainland Greece c. 1600 BC, and it lasted until c. 1100 BC.

This was a turbulent period in Greek history, marked by frequent wars between the various city-states.

The Mycenaeans were clearly influenced by the earlier Minoan civilisation, as much of their initial art styles, architecture and language were based upon Minoan examples.

This culture had been largely forgotten to history until the 19th century AD, when the archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann, excavated the site of Mycenae.

Schliemann used the ancient Greek poems of the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer to identify potential archaeological sites.

The Mycenaeans were named after their largest city, Mycenae. In Homer's works, the city of Mycenae is described as being a wealthy and powerful city. Other well-known Mycenaean sites include Pylos, Tiryns, and Sparta.

The different Mycenaean cities seem to have operated independently. However, there are several shared cultural characteristics among sites that make the term Mycenaean meaningful.

Some of the most distinctive features of Mycenaean culture include their art, architecture, and writing system.

The Mycenaeans were skilled craftsmen, and they produced a wide range of artworks in precious metals.

They are also known for their monumental architecture, such as the Lion Gate at Mycenae.

The Mycenaeans also used the Linear B writing system from the Minoans. This script was used for administrative purposes, and it has been found at sites such as Pylos and Mycenae.

One of the most distinctive features of Mycenaean culture is their architecture. Mycenaean architecture is characterized by its large scale and its use of stone, as well as by its elaborate fortifications.

Mycenaean palaces were typically large complexes that included a main building, which was a large rectangular central hall, called a megaron.

These complexes also had several ancillary structures. These palaces were used as the residences of the Mycenaean elite, and they also served as administrative centres.

Mycenaean fortifications are some of the most impressive examples of ancient architecture.

The Mycenaeans built massive walls around their cities, using large stones that were fitted together without mortar.

The most famous example of Mycenaean fortifications is the Lion Gate at Mycenae.

Mycenaean society was organised into a hierarchy, with a king at the top, known as the wanax.

The king was advised by a council of nobles, and he controlled an army of soldiers. 

The Mycenaeans were a warrior culture, and they were known for their skill in battle.

They frequently engaged in warfare with the neighbouring peoples, including those in Asia Minor.

Perhaps the most famous Mycenaean war is remembered in the mythology of the Trojan War, which was said to have been fought between the Mycenaeans and the Trojans.

They were also a wealthy civilisation, with access to valuable resources like gold and tin. The Mycenaeans were also skilled craftsmen, and they produced fine pottery and jewelry.

Mycenaean art is characterised by its realism and its use of bright colours. This wealth was often spent on military features of their cities.

The amount spent on the defensive walls can been seen in the sheer size. Some Mycenaean walls were as high as 13 metres.

The Mycenaeans were a maritime people, and they engaged in trade with other cultures.

The Mycenaeans traded with the Minoans, as well as with the Egyptians and the Assyrians.

Mycenaean trade was facilitated by their network of palaces, which served as centres of administration and commerce.

The Mycenaeans also built a system of roads that connected their different cities.

Mycenaean trade goods have been found as far away as Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Middle East, Turkey, and the island of Sicily.

This shows the reach of the Mycenaean trade network.

The Mycenaeans practised a form of religion that was based on the worship of natural forces.

They believed in gods and goddesses who represented these forces, such as the sun god and the earth goddess. 

Many of the later Greek gods appeared to have originated from the Mycenaean period, including Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.

The Mycenaeans also practised animal sacrifice, and they believed that this would please the gods and ensure their favour.

Animal remains have been found at several Mycenaean sites, including Pylos, Mycenae, and Tiryns.

However, our knowledge of Mycenaean religion is limited and based largely on archaeological evidence and the decipherment of Linear B.

They buried their dead in shaft graves, which were large burial pits. The bodies were placed in these graves along with grave goods, such as pottery and jewelry. Wealthy Mycenaeans were buried in large tombs known as tholos tombs.

The Mycenaean civilisation began to decline in the late Bronze Age. The Mycenaean civilisation also collapsed around 1200 BC, although the exact reasons for this are also unclear. 

There are many theories, but it is likely that a combination of factors was responsible, including natural disasters, invasion, economic instability, social unrest, and environmental problems. 

One of the most popular theories is known as the 'Dorian Invasion' theory. This suggests that the Mycenaeans were invaded and conquered by the Dorians, a group of people from the north. However, modern historians doubt the accuracy of this theory.

Whatever the reasons for its decline, the Mycenaean civilisation came to an end. After this, Greece entered a period known as the 'Dark Ages', which lasted for around 500 years.

During this time, very little is known about Greece or its people since written records do not survive.

Despite their decline, the Minoans and Mycenaeans left a lasting legacy. They were the first great civilisations of Greece, and their culture and achievements influenced the later development of Greek civilisation.

Today, we can still see evidence of their influence in art, architecture, and literature.