The Minoans: Europe's First Advanced Civilization

This video dives into the enigmatic Minoan civilization, Europe's first great Bronze Age power on the island of Crete. We'll explore their magnificent palaces, vibrant art, complex society, and sophisticated trade networks, uncovering their daily lives and religious practices. Finally, we'll investigate the mysteries surrounding their sophisticated culture, from their undeciphered script to the dramatic events that led to their eventual decline and legacy.

Primary Archaeological Sources
Sir Arthur Evans, The Palace of Minos at Knossos (4 vols., 1921–1935) – Foundational excavations that defined “Minoan civilization.”
The Pylos & Knossos Linear B Tablets – Primary texts providing Bronze Age administrative details.
Thera (Akrotiri) Excavations, led by Spyridon Marinatos (1967 onwards) – Evidence of Minoan influence and the volcanic eruption’s impact.
The Uluburun Shipwreck (discovered 1982, excavated 1984–1994 by George Bass and the Institute of Nautical Archaeology) – Key trade evidence of Minoan networks.
Scholarly Works & Research
Chadwick, John. The Decipherment of Linear B. (1958) – Explains the process of reading Mycenaean Greek from Minoan-derived scripts.
Ventris, Michael & Chadwick, John. Documents in Mycenaean Greek. (1956) – The authoritative reference on Linear B decipherment.
Schoep, Ilse. The Administration of Neopalatial Crete. (2002) – Palatial structure and administration.
MacGillivray, J. Alexander. Minotaur: Sir Arthur Evans and the Archaeology of the Minoan Myth. (2000) – Context and critique of Evans’ reconstructions.
Castleden, Rodney. Minoans: Life in Bronze Age Crete. (1990) – Accessible, detailed overview of daily life, religion, and art.
Nanno Marinatos. Minoan Religion: Ritual, Image, and Symbol. (1993) – Major reference on peaking sanctuaries, snake goddess figurines, and iconography.
Warren, Peter & Hankey, Vronwy. Aegean Bronze Age Chronology. (1989) – Dating palatial phases and the Thera eruption.
Preziosi, Donald & Hitchcock, Louise. Aegean Art and Architecture. (1999) – Strong section on Minoan frescoes, pottery, and iconography.
Davis, Jack L. & Stocker, Sharon. Recent publications on the Griffin Warrior tomb near Pylos (2015) – evidence of Minoan influence on Mycenaeans.
Scientific / Modern Studies
Sturt Manning et al. – Radiocarbon dating studies of the Thera eruption (Science, 2006).
Colin Renfrew – Writings on Aegean prehistory and trade networks.
Isotope & DNA analyses from recent Nature articles (2017 onward) showing Cretan ancestry links and diet reconstructions.