Digital Maps of the Ancient World

Timeline of the Minoans

  • Early Minoan Period (c. 3000-2000 BC)

    • Stone tombs appear on Crete.
    • Pottery wheel introduced to Minoan civilization.
    • Cretan Hieroglyphic script developed.

  • Middle Minoan Period (c. 2000-1600 BC)

    (c) Bibi Saint-Pol
    • First Minoan palace built at Phaistos.
    • Sphinxes depicted in Minoan art.
    • First Minoan palace built at Malia.
    • First Minoan palace built at Knossos.
    • Linear A script developed.
    • Phaistos Disk manufactured.
    • Rhodes has significant contact with Minoan Crete.

  • Late Minoan Period (c. 1600-1450 BC)

    • Second Palace of Knossos built.
    • Cycladic culture increasingly influenced by Minoan Crete.
    • Second Minoan palace built at Malia.
    • Knossos survives the Thera eruption.
    • Harvester Vase depicts a sistrum player.
    • Earthquake and fire end the Minoan period at Malia.
    • Destruction of Minoan palace at Zakros.