Ch 13: Ancient Minoans

1. Minoan Civilization: Facts, Map & Timeline

This lesson explores an old civilization of the ancient Greeks, known to archaeologists and historians as the Minoans. The Minoans were some of the earliest Greeks, and they lived on the island of Crete.

2. Minoan Civilization: Social Structure & Political Organization

Before Greece even existed as a civilization there was a society that strongly influenced them that lived on the island of Crete. In this lesson, we'll learn a bit about Minoan social structure and political organization.

3. Minoan Civilization: Economy & Trade

The Minoans were the first major civilization of Europe, and they set some important precedents. In this lesson, we're going to explore their economy and trade and see what modern scholars think of the Minoans today.

4. Minoan Civilization: Crafts, Industry & Technology

The Minoans developed the first major settled civilization in Europe. Along with this, they got pretty crafty too. In this lesson, we'll explore Minoan crafts and technologies and see what this tells us about their industrious society.

5. Minoan Civilization: Religion, Deities & Symbols

What gods and goddesses did the ancient Minoans of Crete worship and how did this influence the later Greek religion? Read more about the Minoan religion and its influence in this lesson.

6. Minoan Civilization: Religious Rituals & Places

In this lesson, learn more about the religious rituals of the Minoans of Crete, such as their dances and offerings, as well as the sacred spaces they created and used.

7. Minoan Architecture & Palaces

The ancient Minoans founded the first urban civilization in European history, and they couldn't have done it without their architecture. In this lesson, we'll explore Minoan building design and see what sort of impact it had on Western civilization.

8. Minoan Civilization: Funerary Beliefs, Practices & Tombs

The Minoans built a complex civilization on the Greek island of Crete. In this lesson, we're going to look at the funerary practices of this civilization, and see what they tell us about Minoan life.

9. Myth of Theseus: Summary, Overview

Theseus was a Greek hero known for his defeat of the Minotaur, though he defeated many other foes and won many other battles. In this lesson, you'll learn all about Theseus, including his birth, early life, heroic deeds, military victories, and more.

10. Icarus & Daedalus: Myth & Summary

In this lesson, we'll learn about the myth of Icarus and Daedalus, those mythic men who endeavored to escape the labyrinth by flight. We'll discover the ancient derivation of the story and its meaning in the context of the Minoan civilization.

11. Minoan Art: History & Images

In this lesson, we'll explore various types of artwork created by the Minoans. Minoans were early Greeks who created vivid images in their artwork, which became a popular export to surrounding areas.

12. Phaistos Disc: History & Significance

Some archeological discoveries have the power to challenge everything we think we know and fascinate us for generations. In this lesson, we'll look at the Phaistos Disc and discuss its significance and meaning.

13. Daily Life in the Minoan Civilization

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on an island about 4,000 years ago? Read this lesson to learn about what everyday life was like as a Minoan on the Greek island of Crete.