Minoan civilization

Minoan civilization was a state in Balkans and Greece (Europe) that lasted from c. 3100 to 1450 BCE, about 1,650 years. Its people spoke Unknown or undeciphered languages (Indus, Minoan, Moche, Nazca, Chavin, Jomon and other unattested languages).

Europe's first palace civilization, on Crete, with Linear A writing, frescoes and multi-storey palaces at Knossos, Phaistos and Malia. Mycenaean Greeks took over Knossos around 1450 BCE.

See Minoan civilization on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 3100 to 1450 BCE

Duration

1,650 years

Type

State

Region

Balkans and Greece, Europe

Language family

Unknown or undeciphered

Capital

Knossos

Became

• Mycenaean Greece c. 1600 to 1100 BCE

Events in Europe during its time

• 3000 BCE Stonehenge begun
• 1600 BCE Thera eruption

Neighbours in Europe

• Mycenaean Greece c. 1600 to 1100 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Shang dynasty c. 1600 to 1046 BCE, East Asia
• Old Kingdom of Egypt c. 2686 to 2181 BCE, North and West Africa
• New Kingdom of Egypt c. 1550 to 1069 BCE, North and West Africa
• Old Babylonian Empire 1894 to 1595 BCE, Middle East
• Akkadian Empire c. 2334 to 2154 BCE, Middle East

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