photo.jpg

# Minoan Art - Minoan Chronology A standard chronology of Minoan civilization (all dates BCE, approximate, and disputed): * Island of Crete inhabited in the Neolithic, ca. 7000 ### Early Minoan * Early Minoan I (EMI): 3100-2700 * Early Minoan II (EM II): 2700-2200 * Early Minoan III (EM III): 22...

# Minoan Art - Minoan Chronology A standard chronology of Minoan civilization (all dates BCE, approximate, and disputed): * Island of Crete inhabited in the Neolithic, ca. 7000 ### Early Minoan * Early Minoan I (EMI): 3100-2700 * Early Minoan II (EM II): 2700-2200 * Early Minoan III (EM III): 2200-2000 Little is known about EM architecture; mottled red and black, handmade pottery called "Vassiliki Ware"; sophisticated stone vessels, fine jewelry, beginnings of seal usage; flourishing trade with Egypt, the Levant, Cyprus, Anatolia, Greek mainland, and the Cyclades (there are Cycladic-type marble statuettes and vessels in Crete). ### Middle Minoan The Middle Minoan period saw the beginning of writing: * **MM IA:** 2000-1900 hieroglyphic writing * **MM IB:** 1900-1800 Old Palaces; Kamares ware (wheel-made, light-on-dark) * **MM II:** 1800-1750 Linear A writing, more Kamares ware; earthquake at the end of the period; palaces destroyed * **MM III:** 1750-1700 New Palaces ### Late Minoan The Late Minoan was the great period of palaces at Knossos, Phaistos, Mallia, Zakro * **LM IA:** 1700-1600 "Floral" style * **LM IB:** 1600-1500 "Marine" style; destructions in many locations on Crete (probably by mainlanders) ca. 1500; Knossos only survives and seems now dominated by Mycenaean Greeks; Linear B * **LM II:** 1500-1450 Final Palatial Period, mostly identifiable at Knossos; "Palace" style of pottery, which continues into the beginning of LM III.