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# Minoan Civilization

# Minoan Civilization

## Overview
The Minoan civilization (~3000–1450 BCE) on Crete was the first advanced civilization in Europe, known for elaborate palace complexes, vibrant frescoes, and the undeciphered Linear A script. @t[3000 BCE..1450 BCE]

## Key Facts
- Region: Crete and Aegean islands
- Period: ~3000–1450 BCE @t[3000 BCE..1450 BCE]
- Major sites: Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros
- Writing: Cretan hieroglyphs, Linear A (undeciphered)
- Named by: Arthur Evans, after the mythical King Minos [^1]

## Achievements
- Palace complexes at Knossos (up to 1,300 rooms)
- Advanced plumbing and drainage systems
- Vibrant fresco art depicting nature, rituals, and bull-leaping
- Extensive maritime trade network across the eastern Mediterranean

## Decline
The Minoan civilization declined after ~1450 BCE, possibly due to the Thera eruption (~1628 BCE), Mycenaean invasion, or a combination of factors [^2]. @t[~1450 BCE]

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[^1]: Evans, A. *The Palace of Minos at Knossos* (1921–1935)
[^2]: Driessen, J. & Macdonald, C. *The Troubled Island* (1997)
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## Review Queue

<!-- factbase:review -->
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Region: Crete and Aegean islands" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Evans (1921) [^1]; Driessen (1997) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Period: ~3000–1450 BCE" - when was this true?
> 1450 BCE event. Attested by Evans (1921) [^1]; Driessen (1997) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Major sites: Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Evans (1921) [^1]; Driessen (1997) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Writing: Cretan hieroglyphs, Linear A (undeciphered)" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Evans (1921) [^1]; Driessen (1997) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Named by: Arthur Evans, after the mythical King Minos [^1]" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Evans (1921) [^1]; Driessen (1997) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Palace complexes at Knossos (up to 1,300 rooms)" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Evans (1921) [^1]; Driessen (1997) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Advanced plumbing and drainage systems" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Evans (1921) [^1]; Driessen (1997) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Vibrant fresco art depicting nature, rituals, and bull-leaping" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Evans (1921) [^1]; Driessen (1997) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 20: "Extensive maritime trade network across the eastern Mediterranean" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Evans (1921) [^1]; Driessen (1997) [^2].
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Region: Crete and Aegean islands" - what is the source?
> Evans (1921-1935) [^1], Driessen & Macdonald (1997) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Period: ~3000–1450 BCE" - what is the source?
> Evans (1921-1935) [^1], Driessen & Macdonald (1997) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Major sites: Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros" - what is the source?
> Evans (1921-1935) [^1], Driessen & Macdonald (1997) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Writing: Cretan hieroglyphs, Linear A (undeciphered)" - what is the source?
> Evans (1921-1935) [^1], Driessen & Macdonald (1997) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Palace complexes at Knossos (up to 1,300 rooms)" - what is the source?
> Evans (1921-1935) [^1], Driessen & Macdonald (1997) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Advanced plumbing and drainage systems" - what is the source?
> Evans (1921-1935) [^1], Driessen & Macdonald (1997) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 19: "Vibrant fresco art depicting nature, rituals, and bull-leaping" - what is the source?
> Evans (1921-1935) [^1], Driessen & Macdonald (1997) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 20: "Extensive maritime trade network across the eastern Mediterranean" - what is the source?
> Evans (1921-1935) [^1], Driessen & Macdonald (1997) [^2]
- [x] `@q[stale]` Line 14: "Named by: Arthur Evans, after the mythical King Minos [^1]" - Evans source from 1921 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
> Scholarship remains current. Evans (1921-1935) foundational work confirmed by modern archaeological methods.