HIST CHP 2: Part 1 - The Minoans

Sir Arthur Evans found Knossos, one of many palaces on the Island of Crete. The Knossos Palace consisted primarily of _____

• 1. a temple in which humans were sacrificed to the Minoan gods.

• 2. a fort to protect the Minoan king from enemy invaders.

• 1. storage space for food.

• Minoan architecture and frescoes

Minoan civilization declined sharply around 1450 BCE because

• 1. Mycenaeans from the Greek mainland began conquering Minoan culture

• 1. The volcanic island of Thera exploded, sending a tsunami that wiped out Minoan civilization

• 1. The advent of iron led to a decline in the need for bronze, which led to a decline in the need for tin, which in turn led to a decline in the need for the Minoan tin trade.

• 1. All of the answers are possible

The Minoan civilization reached its height during the bronze age. This coincides with their economy at the time because _____

• 1. they traded iron for bronze.

• 1. they traded a lot of tin which when mixed with copper creates bronze.

• 1. they grew a lot of expensive saffron which they were then able to trade for bronze.

• 1. their island had the natural resources required for making bronze.

Minoan art has depictions of men in headdresses as well as men and women jumping over the end of a bull. In what way are these depictions similar to each other?

• 1. In both instances, scholars are not entirely sure what the images represent.

• 1. They are illustrations of Minoan religious ceremonies.

• 1. They offer scholars a clear understanding of everyday Minoan life.

• 1. They are typical of the red and white paintings seen in many Minoan murals.

The Minoans were primarily a trading empire and trade depends upon both organization and some kind of written records. What offered scholars the 'key' to unlocking the Minoan written language?

• 1. Linear A came from the Phoenician alphabet with which scholars were already familiar.

• 1. The Minoan written language was extremely similar to Egyptian hieroglyphs with which scholars were already familiar.

• 1. The many similarities between Linear A and Linear B made it relatively easy for scholars to understand and make sense of the Minoan language.

• 1. Although scholars were not familiar with Linear A, its later transformation into Linear B , the first writing system used by the Greeks, allowed scholars to gain a small understanding of what the Minoan language must have sounded like.