page_title: Minoan civilization
section_title: Major settlements
hierarchical_section_title: Minoan civilization / Geography / Major settlements
caption_attribution_description: English: Bronze age 'Flotilla' fresco from room 5, in the west house at the Minoan town of Akrotiri, Santorini, Greece Français&#160;: Fresque datant de l'âge de bronze dans la ville minoenne sur le site archéologique d'Akrotiri dans l'île de Santorin, en Grèce.
context_page_description: The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age Aegean civilization on the island of Crete and other Aegean Islands, flourishing from c. 3000 BC to c. 1450 BC until a late period of decline, finally ending around 1100 BC. It represents the first advanced civilization in Europe, leaving behind massive building complexes, tools, artwork, writing systems, and a massive network of trade. The civilization was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. The name "Minoan" derives from the mythical King Minos and was coined by Evans, who identified the site at Knossos with the labyrinth and the Minotaur. The Minoan civilization has been described as the earliest of its kind in Europe, and historian Will Durant called the Minoans "the first link in the European chain".
  The Minoan civilization is particularly notable for its large and elaborate palaces up to four stories high, featuring elaborate plumbing systems and decorated with frescoes. The most notable Minoan palace is that of Knossos, followed by that of Phaistos.
context_section_description: Knossos – the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete. Knossos had an estimated population of 1,300 to 2,000 in 2500 BC, 18,000 in 2000 BC, 20,000 to 100,000 in 1600 BC and 30,000 in 1360 BC.
  Phaistos – the second-largest palatial building on the island, excavated by the Italian school shortly after Knossos
  Malia – the subject of French excavations, a palatial center which provides a look into the proto-palatial period
  Kato Zakros – sea-side palatial site excavated by Greek archaeologists in the far east of the island, also known as "Zakro" in archaeological literature
  Galatas – confirmed as a palatial site during the early 1990s
  Agia Triada – administrative center near Phaistos which has yielded the largest number of Linear A tablets.
  Gournia – town site excavated in the first quarter of the 20th century
  Pyrgos – early Minoan site in southern Crete
  Vasiliki – early eastern Minoan site which gives its name to distinctive ceramic ware
  Fournou Korfi – southern site
  Pseira – island town with ritual sites
  Mount Juktas – the greatest Minoan peak sanctuary, associated with the palace of Knossos
  Arkalochori – site of the Arkalochori Axe
  Karfi – refuge site, one of the last Minoan sites
  Akrotiri – settlement on the island of Santorini (Thera), near the site of the Thera Eruption
  Zominthos – mountainous city in the northern foothills of Mount Ida
caption: Minoan fresco, showing a fleet and settlement
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