Culture and Society
Society
There were four different social classes in then the Minoan culture, the lower class, the upper class, the government, and the royal family. The lower class consisted of farmers and traders. Women were the dominant sex in the Minoan civilization so they made up the upper class and the government. The royal family was just the kings family. The Minoan civilization was very peaceful, they did not have any slaves.
Culture
The Minoans made a living by trading. They traded throughout the Mediterranean, they traded heavily with Syria, Asia Minor, and Egypt. The biggest exports from Crete were olives, olive oil, grape products, wool, and wood. Living on the island of Crete did not offer many resources. They traded often to get the food and supplies they needed to prosper and survive. The Minoans were the smallest sophisticated pre-economies of the near East. They spoke and wrote in Linear A which is like Egyptian hieroglyphics. Not only was their language similar to the Egyptians, but their paintings were as well. They often get mistaken as an Egyptian piece of art. The Minoans mostly painted frescoes in the palace walls. They only made statues for religion purposes or for the royal family.