With the fall or weakening of the great Eastern Mediterranean powers--the Hittites, the Assyrians, Egypt--there is evidence for a correspondingly "troubled" phase in Crete’s prehistory. Most notably, the population moved from the coast to the hinterland, suggesting the coasts were no longer safe. Minoan culture continued to exist in some form, but contacts with the rest of the world were greatly reduced
[1]
Population and political organization
Firth estimated the Cretan population during Late Minoan IIIA and IIIB periods (1400-1200 BCE) at 110,000 people
[2]
There are no estimates for the Final Post Palatial Period; settlement patterns, however, point to a considerable population decrease, especially during the 1100-1000 BCE period.
[3]
[4]
Similarly, not much is known about political organization at this time.
[5]
[1]: (Hallager 2010, 157-158) Erik Hallager. 2010. ’Crete’ in The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean, edited by E.H. Cline. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[2]: (Firth 1995, 33-55) R. Firth. 1995. ’Estimating the population of Crete during LM IIIA/B’. Minos 29-30: 33-55.
[3]: (Rehak and Younger 2001, 458) P. Rehak and J.G. and Younger. 2001. ’Neopalatial, Final palatial, and Postpalatial Crete’, in Aegean Prehistory. A Review, edited by Tracey Cullen. Boston: Archaeological Institute of America.
[4]: (Borgna 2003, 153-183) Elisabetta Borgna. 2003. ’Regional settlement patterns in Crete at the end of LBA’. SMEA 45: 153-83.
[5]: K. Christakis, pers. comm., May 2016
| Cretan Broze Age Civilization |
| Geometric Crete |
| Preceding: Postpalatial Crete (gr_crete_post_palace_1) [None] |
| quasi-polity |
| Year Range | Final Postpalatial Crete (gr_crete_post_palace_2) was in: |
|---|---|
| (1200 BCE 1001 BCE) | Crete |
Settlements are small and isolated without any settlement network or clustering being identifiable except in very few cases where certain settlements were developed into central places for small regional clusters. [1]
[1]: Driessen, J. and Frankel, D. 2012."Minds and mines: settlement networks and the diachronic use of space on Cyprus and Crete," in Cadogan, G.,Iacovou, M., Kopaka, K. and Whitley, J. (eds), Parallel Lives: Ancient Island Societies in Crete and Cyprus (BSA Studies 20), London, 76-7.
The Final Postpalatial period is divided in Late Minoan IIIC (1200-1100 BCE) and Subminoan (1100-1000 BCE). [1] The begining of the period is marked by the extensive destructions that destroyed many Cretan sites (1200 BCE) and its end by the arrival of Dorians (1000 BCE).
[1]: Shelmerdine, C. W. 2008. "Background, sources, and methods," in Shelmerdine, C. W. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age, Cambridge, 4.
The centralized administrations established by regional elites in Late Minoan IIIB (1300-1200 BCE), once under the control of the Knossian polity, are now replaced by new ones, "thereby creating new processes and new dynamics and exerting a new impact of settlement patterns, social organizations, forms of production and exchange and the conception of the role of the individual within the social community." [1]
[1]: Borgna, E. 2003. "Regional settlement patterns, exchange systems and sources of power in Crete at the ends of the Late Bronze Age: establishing a connection," SMEA 45, 153-83.
people. The largest settlement of the period was Knossos and its population is estimated to about 1,000 people.
[1]
There is no detailed data for the size of many of the other Final Postpalatial settlements. If we consider, however, that the average size of a large settlement is about 2.5 to 4.5 ha., we could speculate a population of 375 to 600 souls or 75 to 80 families.
[2]
[3]
Karphi, one of the few fully excavated settlements of the period (1200-1000 BCE), consisted of 125 to 150 houses. If we assume a figure of five persons as a typical household, we have a total population of 625 to 750 souls.
[4]
Minoan Crete "a lively and pleasure loving matriarchal society, made wealthy by extensive trade."; "Houses were up to 5 stories high, palaces had plumbing with flush toilets and there was little indication of warfare or social strife on the island and in their colonies."
[5]
[1]: Whitelaw, T. 2004. "Estimating the population of Neopalatial Knossos," in Cadogan, G., Hatzaki, E. and Vasilakis, A. (eds), Knossos: Palace, City, State: Proceedings of the Conference in Herakleion organized by the British School at Athens and the 23rd Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Herakleion, in November 2000, for the Centenary of Sir Arthur Evans’s Excavations at Knossos (BSA Studies 12), London, 147-58.
[2]: These estimates are based on a figure of 150 individuals per ha and of five individuals as the typical size of a nuclear family. See Whitelaw, T. 2001. "From sites to communities: defining the human dimensions of Minoan urbanism," in Branigan, K. (ed.), Urbanism in the Aegean Bronze Age (SSAA 4), Sheffield, 18
[3]: Branigan, K. 2001. "Aspects of Minoan urbanism," in Branigan, K. (ed.), Urbanism in the Aegean Bronze Age (SSAA 4), Sheffield, 48.
[4]: Nowicki estimated the population of the site at 627 to 1200 souls based on the figure of five to eight individuals as the size of a typical family. Nowicki, K. 1999. "Economy of refugees: life in the Cretan mountains at the turn of the Bronze and Iron Ages," in Chaniotis, A. (ed.), From Minoan Farmers to Roman Traders. Sidelights on the Economy of Ancient Crete, Stuttgart, 158.
[5]: (Basilevsky 2016, 25) Basilevsky, Alexander. 2016. Early Ukraine: A Military and Social History to the Mid-19th Century. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Jefferson.
Km2. During this period Crete was divided up into many small, independent political units. [1] Expert input may be needed to suggest a figure for the typical territory of one of these polities.
[1]: Borgna, E. 2003. "Regional settlement patterns, exchange systems and sources of power in Crete at the ends of the Late Bronze Age: establishing a connection," SMEA 45, 153-83.
people. Firth estimated the Cretan population during Late Minoan IIIA and IIIB periods (1400-1200 BCE) as 110,000. [1] There are not estimates for the Final Post Palatial Period; settlement patterns, however, points to a considerable population decrease especially during 1100-1000 BCE. [2] [3] Moreover, during this period Crete was divided up into many small, independent political units. [4] Expert input may be needed to suggest a figure for the typical population of one of these polities.
[1]: Firth, R. 1995."Estimating the population of Crete during LM IIIA/B," Minos 29-30, 33-55.
[2]: Rehak, P. and Younger, J. G. 2001. "Neopalatial, Final palatial, and Postpalatial Crete," in Cullen, T. (ed.), Aegean Prehistory. A Review, Boston, 458
[3]: Borgna, E. 2003. "Regional settlement patterns in Crete at the end of LBA," SMEA 45, 153-83.
[4]: Borgna, E. 2003. "Regional settlement patterns, exchange systems and sources of power in Crete at the ends of the Late Bronze Age: establishing a connection," SMEA 45, 153-83.
The settlement patterns appears to be more dispersed than before and their is no evidence for a site hierarchy [1] By the end of Late Minoan IIIB most settlements had suffered destruction or abandonment. During the next period, 1200-1000 BCE, settlement patterns changed and followed marked regional tranjectories. [2] [3] [4] In the area of west and central Crete many sites experienced growth and retrieval (e.g. Chania, Knossos, Phaistos, and Kastelli Pediada). The growth of these sites has encouraged some scholars to assert the arrival of newcomers. The process of nucleation around certain lowland settlements surrounded by arable lands and costal sites provided with harbors is in contrast to the limited regional occupation. This pattern highlight the significant changes in economic, social and ideological aspects of local societies. The foundation of new inland sites (Sybrita and Gortyna) and the diffusion of defensible sites, although less numerous that these in east Crete, suggest complex settlement patterns able to deal with diversified environmental resources. In the area of east Crete the consequence of the LM IIIB crisis were more disruptive. Many plain and costal sites were abandoned and new settlements were founded on strategic locations at night altitudes. The population growth and the increased in size of the upland settlements lead to a stable occupation and even to the emergence of some major sites (e.g. Kavousi-Vronda and Karphi).
[1]: e.g. Hayden, B. J. 2004. "Vrokastro and the settlement pattern of the LM IIIA-Geometric periods," in Day, L. P., Mook, M. S., and Muhly, J. D. (eds), Crete Beyond the Palaces: Proceedings of the Crete 2000 Conference (Prehistory Monographs 10), Philadelphia, 240.
[2]: Borgna, E. 2003. "Regional settlement patterns in Crete at the end of LBA," SMEA 45, 153-83.
[3]: Driessen, J. and Frankel, D. 2012."Minds and mines: settlement networks and the diachronic use of space on Cyprus and Crete," in Cadogan, G., Iacovou, M., Kopaka, K. and Whitley, J. (eds), Parallel Lives: Ancient Island Societies in Crete and Cyprus (BSA Studies 20), London, 76-7
[4]: Nowicki, K. 2000. Defensible Sites in Crete c. 1200-800 B.C. (LM IIIB/IIIC Through Early Geometric) (Aegeaum 21), Liège.
It has been generally argued that all economic transactions were based on fruitful barter. [1] Recent research, however, suggest that market exchanges also existed in prehistory Aegean. [2] [3]
[1]: e.g. Chadwick, J. 1976. The Mycenaean World, Cambridge, 78.
[2]: Christakis, K. S. 2008. The Politics of the Storage. Storage and Sociopolitical Complexity in Neopalatial Crete (Prehistory Monographs 25), Philadelphia, 138-39
[3]: Parkinson, W., Nakassis, D., and Galaty, M. L. 2013. "Crafts, Specialists, and Markets in Mycenaean Greece: Introduction," American Journal of Archaeology 117, 413-22.
It has been generally argued that all economic transactions were based on fruitful barter. [1] Recent research, however, suggest that market exchanges also existed in prehistory Aegean. [2] [3]
[1]: e.g. Chadwick, J. 1976. The Mycenaean World, Cambridge, 78.
[2]: Christakis, K. S. 2008. The Politics of the Storage. Storage and Sociopolitical Complexity in Neopalatial Crete (Prehistory Monographs 25), Philadelphia, 138-39
[3]: Parkinson, W., Nakassis, D., and Galaty, M. L. 2013. "Crafts, Specialists, and Markets in Mycenaean Greece: Introduction," American Journal of Archaeology 117, 413-22.
Settlements in high elevations, in well defensible sites, are very common during this period. Many of these were surrounded by a cyclopean fortification wall. [1] [2] Other sites have the character of acropolis and are more easily accessible; most would form the center of historic cities (e.g. Prinias, Dreros, Gortyn). The Late Minoan IIIC and Subminoan periods are eras of significant stress and uncertainty and this is reflected in the distribution of sites. To quote Hallager "There is no doubt that this question must be seen in relation to what was going on in Europe and especially the eastern Mediterranean around 1200 BC, with the fall of the great powers - the Hittites, the Assyrian, the weakening of Egypt, the Sea Peoples, possibly migrations from central Europe, and so on. These events, which have been discussed in the scholarly world for more than a century, clearly affected Crete in that the coast was no longer a safe place to live." [3]
[1]: Nowicki, K. 2000. Defensible Sites in Crete c. 1200-800 B.C. (LM IIIB/IIIC Through Early Geometric) (Aegeaum 21, Liège, 223-41
[2]: Kanta, A. 2001."Cretan refuge settlements:problems and historical implications within the wider context of the Eastern Mediterranean towards the end of the Bronze Age," in Karageorgis, V. and Morri, C. E. (eds), Defensible Settlements of the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean after c. 1200 B.C., Nicosia, 13-21.
[3]: Hallager, E. 2010. "Crete," in Cline, E. H. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean, Oxford, 157-58.
A new type of sword which had a Central European origin and appeared in Greece ca. 1230 BCE is the so-called Naue II sword. [1] It had a flanged hold and the blade has parallel edges for the greater part of its length -the length is 60-80 cm. - before tapering to a sharp point.
[1]: Georganas, I. "Weapons and warfare," in Cline, E. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (ca. 3000-1000 BC), Oxford, 306.
Greaves were made from a thin braze sheet and worn over a legging of linen, leather or felt. [1] It seems, however, that bronze greaves were not widely used and warriors preferred to wore linen or leather leggings. [2] Metal graves again made their appearance in the late 12th century BCE.
[1]: Everson, T. 2004. Warfare in Ancient Greece: Arms and Armour from the Heroes of Homer to Alexander the Great, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 22.
[2]: Georganas,I. "Weapons and warfare," in Cline, E. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (ca. 3000-1000 BC), Oxford, 311.
The most common helmet is the so-called boar’s tusk helmet made by a series of small boar’s tusks sewn onto a cup-shaped piece of leather or felt in alternating rows. [1] [2] These helmets were used from ca. 1650 to 1150 BCE. They were depicted on frescoes -a very fine example was found at Thera - seals, and metal vessels. Bronze helmets with a plume knob and two cheek guards that were sewn onto the bowl were also know from the Warrior Graves at Knossos. Helmets were recorded in Linear B tablets. [3] Around 1200 BCE, a horned helmet appeared. [4]
[1]: Everson, T. 2004. Warfare in Ancient Greece: Arms and Armour from the Heroes of Homer to Alexander the Great, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 5
[2]: Dimopoulou-Rethemiotaki, N. 2005. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Athens, 207. For the online version see http://www.latsis-foundation.org/eng/electronic-library/the-museum-cycle/the-archaeological-museum-of-herakleio.
[3]: Ventris, M. and Chawick, J. 1973. Documents in Mycenaean Greek, Cambridge, 291-381.
[4]: Everson, T. 2004. Warfare in Ancient Greece: Arms and Armour from the Heroes of Homer to Alexander the Great, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 37.