MINOAN CRETE: THE ECONOMY

Overview of the Bronze Age

Minoan Civilization

• adopted raw materials, artistic ideas, and techniques from the cultures that surrounded them
• their own culture was influenced by their economic ties with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia
• had a powerful naval military
• were considered the first European civilization
• economy was pre-monetary and used a barter system

***BRONZE AGE: the period during which the most advanced metalworking in that culture uses bronze; the 2nd of the three-age system (Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age)

AGRICULTURE

• consisted of raising livestock and growing crops that were essential in everyday life
• raised animals such as goats, sheep, cattle, and pigs
• known to have domesticated bees
• grew chickpeas, wheat, barley, and also cultivated grapes, figs, olives and poppies
• other crops included lettuce, celery, asparagus and carrots
• some produce, such as olive trees, pears and quinces was native to the land.

This is one of the drawings of the animals on the walls of the caves that were believed to be used for rituals. Goats are one of the animals raised by the Minoans for agricultural purposes.

TRADE &

INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS

Seals and Sealings

TRADE PRODUCTS

• main raw materials imported - metals, precious stones + ivory
• wine, olive oil, + different kinds of scented oils were transported in stirrup jars
• textiles
• timber was a great export

SEAL: small objects of various shapes with relief decoration.

• first imported products mainly came from the Cyclades and Egypt
• during Palatial period (2000 - 1400 BC) trade organization + control completely passed to the authority of the palaces
• palace was where the agricultural + handicraft products were gathered before being distributed to the domestic + foreign markets
• exchange of products was served by the highly organize shipping + the foundation of commercial stations in important ports of the Mediterranean
• Minoans had taken over a part of the international transit trade in order to transport their own products with those of other countries

MINOAN CRETE:

THE ECONOMY

• served in the sealing of transported goods
• a form of protection against theft
• sealing surfaces were pressed on damp clay (it left their imprint on its surfaces) -> ensure permanent imprint
• a method the keeper used to guarantee a secure shipment
• usually made out of stone, ivory, or precious metals
• used as ornaments
• material determined the owner's wealth status
• served as a signature/identity
• Minoans specialized in seal carving, which they made into fine art
• significant seals reveal customs + cults in Minoan life

TRADE &

INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS

• Cretan contacts were mainly to the East during most of the Bronze Age
• at the end of the Minoan period, trade shifted mostly to the West
• trade over a vast area would not have been possible without the establishment of foreign settlements -> implied that there were resident merchants, craftsmen, seamen, + diplomats throughout the centres of the Aegean + Eastern Mediterranean

THESIS STATEMENT

Based on our research, we concluded that the success of the Minoan economy was heavily dependent upon the quality of products they were able to produce for trading and the international relationships they held with contacts from different ends of the ocean. Without these two factors, the civilization would have not been able to develop their strong naval military, stripping them of protection from the external forces that threatened them.

Works Cited

Accessed November 3, 2015. http://www.explorecrete.com/archaeology/images/roussetos_minoan_palace.jpg.

Accessed November 3, 2015. http://www.ime.gr/chronos/02/crete/images/texnes/sfragides/seala.gif.

Accessed November 3, 2015. http://www.ime.gr/chronos/02/crete/images/texnes/sfragides/sfraga.gif.

Accessed November 3, 2015. http://www.jglyptis.com/images/sitepics/blog-pics/agriculture.jpg.

Accessed November 3, 2015. http://mmtaylor.net/Holiday2000/Legends/Legends_pix/Ebla.trade.jpg.

Accessed November 3, 2015. https://peripluscd.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/minoan-ships-in-thera2.jpg?w=414&h=266.

"Economy." Economy. Accessed November 3, 2015. http://www.ime.gr/chronos/02/crete/en/economy/index.html.

"History of Minoan Crete." Ancient-Greece.org. Accessed November 3, 2015. http://campus.lakeforest.edu/academics/greece/BrzMin.html.