Option G Greece: The Bronze Age – Society in Minoan Crete
Principal Focus: The investigation of the key features of Minoan society in Crete through a range of
archaeological and written sources and relevant historiographical issues.
Students learn about:
1 The geographical environment
a) geographical setting, natural features and resources of Minoan Crete
b) significant sites: Knossos, Phaestos, Malia, Zakros, Agia Triada, Gournia
2 Social structure and political organisation
a) issues relating to gender and identity of the ruler/s
b) palace elite: bureaucracy, priests and priestesses
c) roles and status of women
d) craftsmen and agricultural workers
3 The economy
a) palace economy
b) importance of agriculture
c) role of towns: Gournia and Zakros
d) trade and economic exchange: Mediterranean and Aegean region
e) the issue of thalassocracy (maritime empire)
f) crafts and industry: pottery, stone, ivory, metal, jewellery, seal stones, purple dye
g) technology: building materials, techniques and construction (ashlar masonry), drainage and water
supply
4 Religion, death and burial
a) nature and identity of deities
b) religious symbols: double axe (labrys) horns of consecration, the bull, snakes, trees,birds
c) religious places: peak sanctuaries, cave shrines, palace shrines, pillar crypts, lustral basins
d) rituals: sacrifice, libations, processions, dance
e) funerary customs and rituals: larnax, ossuary; tombs: rectangular, tholos and chamber
f) myths and legends relating to the Minoans: Theseus and the Minotaur, Icarus and Daedalus
5 Cultural life
a) art: frescoes, figurines, pottery, seals, metalwork
b) architecture of palace complexes: Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros and other palace sites
c) writing: Linear A and Linear B, the Phaistos disc
6 Everyday life
a) daily life and leisure activities
b) food and clothing
c) housing and furniture
d) occupations
e) health