Minoan Crete was one of the first Bronze Age civilizations. It started on the island of Crete around 2200 BC. Knossos, the capital of Minoan Crete, was excavated by English archaeologist Arthur Evans in 1899. The Minoans were capable of building luxurious palaces, trading across the mediterranean, and creating detailed pottery and frescoes. Mostly a trading civilization, Minoan cities did not have fortifications or walls. The Greeks to the north likely conquered the island in the 14th century BC.
In mainland Greece during that time, the Myceaneans had taken over much of modern-day Greece. The Myceaneans did not have one ruler, but were made up of independent city states each ruled by a king. Unlike the Minoans, they were warlike people and buried their warriors with their swords and shields. Their presence is evident in Italy and Turkey, meaning they likely conquered more than just Crete. Mycenaean Civilization collapsed around 1100 BC, leading to the Greek dark age. In the 1800s Heinrich Schliemann excavated much of Greece, disproving the previous notion that Greek civilization did not start until 800 BC.
Discovered only recently in the late 19th century, there is little known about the ancient Minoan Crete civilization. It is referred to as “Minoan” because of King Minos, a mythical king who supposedly ruled during the era. Until the uncovering of Minoan Civilization by Sir Arthur Evans, historians thought there were no even partially civilized peoples on the island of Crete.
In 1899, the ancient city of Knossos in northern Crete was uncovered and was found to date back to around 2000 BC. At Knossos, there was an elaborate palace, with other settlements all over the island also having similar structures. The Minoans’ religion is unknown, although there is some evidence of human sacrifices across the island. The Minoans used the language known as Linear A, but it is largely undeciphered and shares no symbalance to modern Greek, unlike Linear B, which was the language used by the Myceneans who lived on the Greek mainland during the same time.
Many historians believe the Minoans were a peaceful people, as there is little knowledge of them having any weapons or anything of that sort. Although this might have eventually led to their downfall, as there is substantial evidence that they were invaded by the Mycenaeans. For one, they seemed to have later adopted the Linear B script which was being used by the Mycenaeans at the time. Secondly, there is evidence of destruction of the palaces, suggesting that the civilization was invaded and pillaged. Even though the Minoans did not leave behind much for us to remember, they did have a unique pottery style, which they traded with the Egyptians and Mycenaeans and the Mycenaeans would come to adopt. Mycenaeans would adopt.
On the first day of Genesis, which is the first book of the Bible, God created heaven, the earth, and the light out of nothingness. Only He was there and no one else. He continued on the second day creating the waters, the clouds, and separating the firmament from the earth, which called heaven. After forming the dry land, every plant and tree, God made the first living beings, starting with the aquatic animals, then the winged beasts and creeping things.
On the sixth day, God created the sun, the moon, and the stars, then Man out of the dust of the earth. But unlike the animals, who were also living beings, Man was made in the image of God, with free will and a conscience. God even breathed himself into Man’s nostrils to make him live and gave Man dominion over nature. On the seventh day, God rested and blessed it because it was the day that the heavens and the earth were finished. This is now known as the Sabbath day.
In the midst of the Garden of Eden where Adam was living, there were two trees: the Tree of Life, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God told Adam that the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was to be eaten under no circumstances, but he could eat from any other tree of the garden, warning him that he would surely die if he ate the forbidden fruit. Adam then was given the task by God of naming all the animals of the earth.
Even though Adam had the animals, God still saw that he was alone. Therefore, the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, took one of his ribs, made a companion, and brought her to Adam. Since she was taken out of man, Adam called her Woman. Thus, a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. Even though Eve was still obedient to Man, she was unlike the animals because like Man, she had a free will and a conscience, and was equal in the flesh to Adam.
While Eve was eating in the garden, a serpent came to her and asked, “Yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Eve answered that she could eat of every tree except the tree in the midst of the garden. Eating of that tree would cause death. Then the serpent tempted her, saying that she wouldn’t die, but instead her eyes would be opened and she would become equal with God, knowing Good and Evil. When Eve saw that the fruit was good to eat, she consumed it and gave some to her husband Adam.
Their eyes were then opened and they knew Good and Evil. Immediately, they were ashamed because they knew their nakedness, and they made aprons out of fig leaves for themselves. When God asked where they were, Eve explained that they were ashamed of their nakedness, so they hid. God asked who told them they were naked, and if they had eaten from the forbidden tree. Then Adam blamed Eve, saying that she had given him the fruit. Then Eve blamed the serpent, saying that the serpent had tempted her. Because of this, the Lord cursed the serpent, forcing it to crawl on its belly and eat the dust of the earth for all time. To the woman, He said that she would have multiplied pain in childbirth. To the Man God said he would have to till the ground in order to eat.
Adam and Eve getting sent out of the Garden of Eden.
Adam and his wife were sent out of the garden, and a flaming sword was set there to guard the entrance so no one would ever get in. They would be forced to wander the face of the earth for the rest of their earthly lives.
