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