Year 9
Unit 1 - Bronze Age Greece
Lesson 3 - Minoan Demise - Atlantis?
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In about 1450 BC the Minoan civilisation came to a sudden end. Historians do not know for certain what caused the sudden collapse and there are a number of different interpretations.
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Theory 1 – Volcanic eruption
The Minoan eruption on the island of Thira occurred at a similar time to that of the Minoan decline. Thira is the present-day island Santorini which is a caldera about 100 km from Crete with an area of approximately 73 km2. This eruption was the second largest volcanic explosion in the history of civilization, ejecting approximately 60 km3 of material. Ash from the volcano fell on Crete and choked off plant life, causing the starvation of the local population. The ash also possibly caused a dramatic change in the climate which made the crops fail. Theory 2 – Earthquake Terrible earthquakes took place under the sea to the north of Crete. They flattened or seriously damaged the Minoan palaces and towns. The earthquakes also helped to cause huge tsunamis or tidal waves, which swept southwards across the sea to the coast of Crete. The huge waves smashed houses, flooded farms and drowned people and cattle. |
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Two of the earth's crustal plates collide under the Mediterranean and that the heavier African Plate moves slowly under the lighter Eurasian Plate. It was this plate-movement which caused the earthquakes to take place (it also caused the island of Thira to be wrecked by a volcanic explosion). The earthquakes and volcanic explosion then caused the tidal waves. Some historians believe this is the origin of the myth of the city of Atlantis.
Theory 3 – Invasion
The historian Sinclair Hood argued that the destruction of the Minoans was most likely due to an invading force of soldiers. Archaeological evidence suggests that the destruction of the island appears to be a result of fire damage. Hood notes that the palace at Knossos appears to have experienced less damage than other sites along the island of Crete. Because natural disasters do not choose targets, it is most likely that the destruction was a product of invaders, for these people would have seen the usefulness of a palace centre like Knossos.
Whatever the reasons, Crete had lost its power. Instead, people on the Greek mainland became powerful. These mainland people are often referred to generally as Mycenaeans. We will learn about those people in our next lesson.
The historian Sinclair Hood argued that the destruction of the Minoans was most likely due to an invading force of soldiers. Archaeological evidence suggests that the destruction of the island appears to be a result of fire damage. Hood notes that the palace at Knossos appears to have experienced less damage than other sites along the island of Crete. Because natural disasters do not choose targets, it is most likely that the destruction was a product of invaders, for these people would have seen the usefulness of a palace centre like Knossos.
Whatever the reasons, Crete had lost its power. Instead, people on the Greek mainland became powerful. These mainland people are often referred to generally as Mycenaeans. We will learn about those people in our next lesson.
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Activities
1. Explain what is meant by ‘historical interpretation’. 2. Explain the volcanic eruption theory for Minoan demise. As part of your explanation draw a map of the island Thira, of how you imagine it may have looked before and after the eruption. 3. Explain the earthquake theory for Minoan demise. As part of your explanation draw a diagram to show how the movement of continental plates causes earthquakes in the region. 4. Explain the invasion theory for Minoan demise. Explain why archaeologists believe Minoan demise is not explained by earthquakes and volcanoes alone. |
Extension activity
Watch this longer film 'Atlantis' that explains in more detail the most recent thinking about Minoan demise. In addition, there is also the underwater site of Pavlopetri which dates from a period of history that leads us into our next lesson on the Mycenaeans. Recent underwater archaelogical research has revealed some fascinating insights. If you want to know more speak to M. Gasser our biology and chemistry teacher in the Matu section. He has visited and seen the site for himself.
Watch this longer film 'Atlantis' that explains in more detail the most recent thinking about Minoan demise. In addition, there is also the underwater site of Pavlopetri which dates from a period of history that leads us into our next lesson on the Mycenaeans. Recent underwater archaelogical research has revealed some fascinating insights. If you want to know more speak to M. Gasser our biology and chemistry teacher in the Matu section. He has visited and seen the site for himself.
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