The Minoan people lived on the island of Crete approximately 3600-1400 BC. Some of the empires during that time solidified their strength through conquering. Minoan Crete took a different approach. They were hardly a war-like society. Instead, they emphasized prosperity through trading. One nation they were particularly fond of trading with was Mycenaean Greece, but they weren’t always influential. Over time, it evolved.
The pre-palatial Crete during 3000-1900 BC was the beginning. There weren’t any palaces or a government. Instead, the Minoans were a self-governed trading nation. At this time, their influence was minimal.
By the time of the proto-palatial period in Crete, from 1900-1700 BC, they expanded trading. They also developed a government and a hierarchy of kings, nobles, and peasants. The Minoans built palaces, but it’s more likely that those were religious palaces and not for wealthy nobles. Unfortunately, travesty struck the Minoans around 1700 BC. Something destroyed their architecture, as well as the people. It’s not clear what happened. It may have been a war or a natural disaster. Whatever it was, it destroyed the Minoans’ work.
However, that didn’t discourage them because, by the time the neo-palatial time in Crete (1700-1425 BC) came along, they were ready to rebuild. That resulted in the Minoans’ peak. What was previously destroyed, they rebuilt even bigger. Their palaces became gargantuan and maze-like, hence the Greek legends about the minotaur. Finally, trading escalated when the Minoans introduced maritime trade. That finalized their status as an empire.
For the longest time, the Minoans were a forgotten people. There wasn’t any evidence of Crete until excavation in the 20th century. Arthur Evans dug up the city of Knossos. Now, we celebrate Minoan Crete for art and architecture. Moreover, their economy, which is one of the staples of that nation, wasn’t a free market. Like many other kingdoms, they embraced palace economies with a redistribution of wealth. Finally, though the Minoans were a “peaceful” nation, they also committed child sacrifice. So, their nobility is in question. Eventually, just like all empires, theirs fell.
Asher Sisneros 