Ancient History & Civilisation

Minoans - Life in Bronze Age Crete

Minoans - Life in Bronze Age Crete

Thoroughly researched, Rodney Castleden's Minoans: Life in Bronze Age Crete here sues the results of recent research to produce a comprehensive new vision of the peoples of Minoan Crete.

Since Sir Arthur Evans rediscovered the Minoans in the early 1900s, we have defined a series of cultural traits that make the Minoan personality: elegant, graceful and sophisticated, these nature lovers lived in harmony with their neighbours, while their fleets ruled the seas around Crete. This, at least, is the popular view of the Minoans. But how far does the later work of archaeologists in Crete support this view?

Drawing on his experience of being actively involved in research on landscapes processes and prehistory for the last twenty years, Castleden writes clearly and accessibly to provide a text essential to the study of this fascinating subject."

Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

2. The people - APPEARANCE AND DRESS

ARMS AND ARMOUR

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

MINOAN ‘HISTORY’

3. Life in the countryside - RURAL SETTLEMENT

AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION

RURAL SHRINES

THE RURAL SYSTEM

4. Life in the towns - THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOWNS IN CRETE

URBANIZATION IN THE FIRST TEMPLE PERIOD, 1900-1700 BC

TOWNS IN THE SECOND (NEW) TEMPLE PERIOD, 1700-1470 BC

CRAFT WORKERS IN THE TOWNS

THE URBAN SYSTEM

5. Life in the harbour towns and overseas - THE PORTS OF BRONZE AGE CRETE

FISHING

SHIPS

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MINOAN TRADING EMPIRE

6. The religious life - THE MINOAN BELIEF-SYSTEM

SACRED ENCLOSURES

SACRAL ROBES

DANCING AND DAEMONS

THE TEMPLES

BURIAL CUSTOMS

7. The Minoan personality - THE IDEA OF A CORPORATE PERSONALITY

THE TRADITIONAL VIEW

TESTING THE TRADITION

THE NEW MINOANS

Chronology

Notes on the illustration

If you find an error or have any questions, please email us at admin@erenow.org. Thank you!