Minoan Civilization - Chronology and History

Chronology and History

Rather than associate absolute calendar dates with the Minoan period, archaeologists use two chronological systems. The first, created by Evans and modified by later archaeologists, is based on pottery styles. It divides the Minoan period into three main eras: Early Minoan (EM), Middle Minoan (MM), and Late Minoan (LM). These eras are further subdivided, e.g. Early Minoan I, II, III (EMI, EMII, EMIII). Another dating system, proposed by the Greek archaeologist Nicolas Platon, is based on the development of the "palaces" at Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, and Kato Zakros, and divides the Minoan chronology into Prepalatial, Protopalatial, Neopalatial, and Post-palatial periods. The relationship among these systems is given in the accompanying table, with approximate calendar dates drawn from Warren and Hankey (1989).

The Thera eruption occurred during a mature phase of the LM IA period. The calendar date of the volcanic eruption is extremely controversial. Radiocarbon dating has indicated a date in the late 17th century BC; those radiocarbon dates, however, conflict with the estimates of archaeologists who synchronize the eruption with the Conventional Egyptian chronology and obtain a date of around 1525-1500 BC. See the article on dating the Thera eruption for more discussion. The eruption is often identified as a natural, catastrophic event that led to the civilization's rapid collapse.