MinoansLR



Trading in the Mediterranean The Minoans were seafaring people. the dominated trade in the eastern mediterranean from about 2000 to 1400 B.C. They traded pottery, along with swords, figurines, and vessels of precious metals, over a large area. They also exported their art and culture. Archaeologists in the late 19th and early 20th century excavated Knossos. This was the Minoan capital city. There, they found the remains of an advanced and thriving culture. Minoan cities did not have fortifications to protect them, so it must have been peaceful. The wall paintings, as well as the official seals and vases, show the Minoans were athletic people who loved nature. They enjoyed sports such as boxing, wrestling, and bull leaping. Women held a higher rank than in most cultures. A great Mother Earth Goddess ruled over the other gods of Crete. Priestesses took charge of some shrines and had male assistants.