The economy
Palace economy
The Minoan civilization’s economy heavily relied on growing wheat, olives, grapes, and barley. The Minoan society had various industries like textiles, pottery, and metalwork, which were all supported by the Minoan economy. Economic activity and life centered around Minoan palaces, where manufacturing industries were located. Produce was collected, recorded, and stored in these palaces, as seen from the abundance of pithoi vessels discovered in palace storerooms. The palaces also controlled overseas trade, as evidenced by the Linear A and Linear B tablets containing information about commodities stored in the Palace of Knossos. This suggests a well-organized bureaucracy and record-keeping system that managed all incoming and outgoing products.
Trade
As the dominant maritime traders of their era, a significant portion of their economic success had been derived from the establishment and expansion of their trading affluence. Egypt, the Cyclades, Cyprus, Libya, Palestine, Asia Minor, and mainland Greece all served as hubs for overseas commerce. During this epoch, trade was conducted through the exchange of goods and services, as the concept of currency had yet to be invented. Crete had achieved a high level of self-sufficiency in fundamental necessities, effectively balancing exports with imports. Permanent trading hubs had been established in Melos, Keos, Rhodes, Kythera, and Miletos along the Anatolian coastline.
Imports:
– Copper from Sardinia
– Amber from Britain and north west Europe
– Silver from Attica
– Emery from Naxos
– Metal from Messina
– Copper ingots from Cyrpus
– Tin, ivory, and lapis lazuli from Levant and Anatolia
– Gold, amethyst, and cornelian – semi precious stones from Egypt
– Linen, stone perfume, jars, and beads from Egypt
Exports:
– Pottery
– Serpentine stone lamps
– Lead and bronze figurines from Southern Greece and the Aegean islands
– Gold and silver vessels from Mycenae and Thera
– Cypress timber from Greece, Egypt, and the Aegean islands
Thucydides’ view on the Minoans as having a thalassocracy economy in the region is considered incorrect. He formed this theory based on the Athenian system of colonization. However, archaeological evidence suggests that there was no thalassocracy, and it is evident that Minoan settlements were merely trading posts.
Influence of neighboring cultures and gift exchange
Minoan civilization maintained close contact with their neighboring cultures, particularly through the exchange of gifts with overseas traders. By exchanging gifts, the Minoans were influenced by the ideas brought forth by traders from other lands. For instance, Mesopotamia shared ideas and images such as the griffin with the Minoans, which they incorporated into their art. Additionally, Egypt also exerted its influence on the Minoans.
The sistrum, the idea of the sphinx, and the idea of a linen chest used in New Kingdom Egyptian tombs (similar to the larnax used for Minoan burials), are depicted in their artwork. Males are typically portrayed as red and females as white. Additionally, African images such as the papyrus plant, African lilies, and riverine settings can be found in Aegean frescoes.
Gournia is located on a small hill near the sea and is known for its palace excavated by Harriet Boyd from 1901 to 1904. The site and nearby burial grounds provide evidence of occupation dating back to early Minoan times. The original town was established during the Middle Minoan period but was destroyed by an earthquake in 1600BC. It was then buried by the new town, which was built on the same site during the New Palace period along with a small palace complex. The notable features of Gournia include:
Gournia was a town with 60-70 houses built closely together. The town had narrow, paved streets that followed the contours of the ridge and divided the town into blocks. Some houses were terraced into the hillside. Additionally, there was a public shrine for community worship. It is worth noting that the town was unfortified.
The early town had a burial ground with house tombs close by and a second burial ground further away, which was established after the town was rebuilt. Gournia was potentially involved in trade as it overlooked the sea, which had a small safe harbor. Moreover, Gournia was located on a main overload route between the north and south coasts of Crete and on the east-west coastal route between Malia and the towns in the eastern peninsula. The fertile land surrounding Gournia was utilized for cultivation and grazing animals. Fresh water was provided by a river to the west and springs in the hills to the south.
Furthermore, Gournia may have been a center for craft manufacture as there was a concentration of workshops in the northern area of the town. The houses of a carpenter, a potter, and a smith have been identified by tools and artifacts found within them. Industries in Gournia included carpentry, pottery, and blacksmithing.
Industry
Evidence
Agriculture
Grain found in houses, stone mortars and querns milling
Fishing
Bronze fishhooks, lead sinkers, stones for weighing nets
Olive oil
Vats for separating water from olive oil
Carpentry
Long and short saws, chisels, awls, nails, files and axes
Weaving
Loom weights
Bronze working
Forges, scrapes of bronze and slag, stone moulds for casting knives, nails, awls and chisels Copper smelting
Ancient furnace to smelt copper from rocks
Record keeping
Linear A tablets found
Pottery
Decorated and undercoated pots, a tripod kettle
