Seafaring TradersSeafaring TradersMinoans and PhoeniciansMinoans and Phoenicians

Spreading Culture Beyond the Spreading Culture Beyond the Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent

MinoansMinoans

Powerful seafaring Powerful seafaring peoplepeople

Dominated trade in Dominated trade in the Mediterranean the Mediterranean 2000 BCE-1400 2000 BCE-1400 BCEBCE

Based on island of Based on island of CreteCrete

Cities unfortifiedCities unfortified

Minoan CultureMinoan Culture Knossos: CapitalKnossos: Capital

• Advanced and thriving cultureAdvanced and thriving culture• King MinosKing Minos

Colorful painted wallsColorful painted walls• Athletic peopleAthletic people• Loved natureLoved nature• Boxing, wrestling, bull jumpingBoxing, wrestling, bull jumping

WomenWomen• In religious ceremonies, priestessesIn religious ceremonies, priestesses• Mother Earth GoddessMother Earth Goddess

SacrificeSacrifice• Bulls and other animalsBulls and other animals• Sometimes peopleSometimes people

Minoan’s Mysterious EndMinoan’s Mysterious End

Natural disaster? Over population? Natural disaster? Over population? Invasion?Invasion?

Had previously withstood Had previously withstood earthquakesearthquakes

1470 BCE earthquake and volcano1470 BCE earthquake and volcano• Didn’t rebuildDidn’t rebuild• Lasted another 300 yearsLasted another 300 years• Invaders from Greece may have taken Invaders from Greece may have taken

advantage of a weakened stateadvantage of a weakened state

The PhoeniciansThe Phoenicians

Rose to power after CreteRose to power after Crete Modern LebanonModern Lebanon Founded a number of wealthy city-Founded a number of wealthy city-

states: important trading centersstates: important trading centers Shipbuilders/seafarers first to pass Shipbuilders/seafarers first to pass

straights of Gibraltarstraights of Gibraltar Africa?Africa?

Commercial OutpostsCommercial Outposts

Cities 30 miles apartCities 30 miles apart Sidon and Tyre: purple dye (murex Sidon and Tyre: purple dye (murex

snails)snails) Berytus and Byblos: PapyrusBerytus and Byblos: Papyrus Sicily, Sardinia, and Spain: FishSicily, Sardinia, and Spain: Fish Carthage (North Africa)Carthage (North Africa) Trade Goods: wine, weapons, Trade Goods: wine, weapons,

precious metals, ivory, and slavesprecious metals, ivory, and slaves

Great Legacy: The AlphabetGreat Legacy: The Alphabet

Needed to record transactions quicklyNeeded to record transactions quickly Symbols represent sounds (Phonetic)Symbols represent sounds (Phonetic) Aleph bethAleph beth Introduced writing to trade partnersIntroduced writing to trade partners Simplified writing made literacy more Simplified writing made literacy more

accessibleaccessible Assyrians captured Eastern cities and Assyrians captured Eastern cities and

homeland controlled by the Babylonians homeland controlled by the Babylonians alphabet stuck aroundalphabet stuck around