The Minoans: the first European civilisation?

Aims of the course

This course aims to:
1. Acquaint you with the knowledge and capabilities to name and describe specific examples of Minoan material culture;
2. Enable you to discuss the significance of specific Minoan material culture and practices in the context of the prehistoric Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean; and to inspire and equip them to investigate it further, beyond the end of this course;
3. Hone your skills in critically engaging with the evidence and interpretations of a past civilisation through inquisitive study and informed debate, as demonstrated in the case study of Minoan Crete.

Content

The Minoan civilisation developed on the island of Crete, Greece, in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. Bound, but also enabled, by the sea around them, the Minoans grew from a collection of heterogeneous communities at the beginning of the Cretan Bronze Age (3rd millennium BCE) to a mighty cultural force in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean by the middle and Late Bronze Age (early 2nd millennium BCE). They then turned into a Mycenaean-controlled territory (later 2nd millennium BCE), before their distinctive identity was once again reconfigured at the very end of the Aegean Bronze Age.

The Minoan civilisation was arguably the first collection of organised states on European soil. The Minoans were highly sophisticated in their material culture (eg did you know they had indoor plumbing?), politics, societies, literacy, economy and ritual. This is why they are seminal in our understanding of human social organisation during European prehistory. This course is comprised of lectures, which will cover the latest developments in the field, videos, interactive tasks and props. We will explore the Minoan civilisation through both its mundane and masterful relics, moving from sessions on material culture (eg pottery) towards sessions on themes (eg society). We will therefore use the evidence to work towards understanding the Minoans’ magnificent achievement, at the same time drawing inspiration from their creativity and imagination.

All students are welcome on this course; prior knowledge of the Minoan civilisation, the Bronze Age Aegean or even archaeology is not a prerequisite. Students interested in this course may also be interested in the parallel W15Pm28 course, running in the afternoon, which explores the Mycenaean civilisation.

Presentation of the course

In this course, we will use a combination of lectures, including revision at the beginning of each session, short group work and discussions. The lecture materials will include videos (eg aerial shots, reconstructions, craft production etc.); the tutor will also make extensive use of props and handouts. Discussions and group work, similarly to the rest of the course components, will be managed according to student needs and pace.

Class sessions

1. Introduction to Minoan archaeology; architecture; pottery
In this first session, we will cover a general introduction and then move to architecture and pottery, the two major categories of material culture on which we rely for our understanding of chronological and other developments.

2. Frescoes; sculpture; other arts
In this session, we will continue with figurative arts, and explore how these also reveal a lot about materials, techniques and interrelations.

3. Economy; scripts; external relations
In this session, we will move from an investigation of the material culture towards a synthesis of the information that we can extrapolate from it. We will start with economy, scripts and external relations.

4. Society; diet; everyday life
In this session, we will continue our thematic investigation, now examining society, diet and everyday life –and dispelling some popular myths about the Minoans.

5. Overview; running themes; reception
In this final session, we will have an overview of the material we covered, including the most in-depth analysis of the running themes of archaeology and methodology regarding the Minoans. We will conclude with case studies of the reception of the Minoans in the 20th and 21st c. CE and an exploration of their significance in the contemporary world.

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course are:
1. To be able to name and describe specific examples of Minoan material culture;
2. To be able to discuss the significance of specific Minoan material culture and practices in the context of the prehistoric Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean;
3. To critically engage with the evidence and interpretations of a past civilisation through inquisitive study and informed debate, as demonstrated in the case study of Minoan Crete.

Required reading

The Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean: https://sites.dartmouth.edu/aegean-prehistory/

Demopoulou-Rethemiotaki N 2005, The Archaeological Museum of Herakleion. Athens: Latsis Foundation. https://www.latsis-foundation.org/content/elib/book_12/heraklion_en.pdf

Fitton, J L, 2002. Minoans, London: The British Museum Press

Vasilakis, A. 2001. Minoan Crete, From Myth to History, Adam Editions.

Typical week: Monday to Friday

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students. 

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.