Minoan Society. One of the first cultures in Greece, the Minoans on the island of Crete, arose around 2800 B.C. Much about this civilization remains a mystery because of the nature of the evidence.
In 2000 B.C., the Greeks settled the lands that were surrounded by the waters of the Aegean Sea and created a culture that shaped Western heritage forever. They made history when they settled in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Asia Minor, and Syria-Palestine. One of the first cultures in Greece, the Minoans on the island of Crete, arose around 2800 B.C. Much about this civilization remains a mystery because of the nature of the evidence. However, it was the Minoan people’s culture, religion, and society that, even after their tragic downfall, continued to influence so much of later Greece and Europe.
The Greeks were tremendous sailors. As they were sailing around the Mediterranean in search of food, trade, and adventure, they were also on the lookout for new places to build Greek cities. While sailing about, the Greeks stumbled across a tribe of people living on the island of Crete. These people, the Minoans, were a very advanced civilization for the time. They had a strong navy, which was probably why the Greeks never succeeded in colonizing the Minoan people. The island of Crete was covered with mountains and valleys. The rich soil and mild climate made it an excellent place to live. Using the fertile land, the Minoans produced cereals, vegetables, flax, oils, and grapes. One of their new technologies, called the plow, made it easy to grow more crops in rain-watered regions, and civilizations were able to spread beyond the river valleys. Thus, people living by the sea and ocean could get their food supply fishing. All these factors were what ultimately led to the success of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete.
