374 History
Mediterranean Seafarers
From around 2000 BCE, people living close to the Mediterranean Sea, such as
the. MINOANS and. PHOENICIANS, built strong wooden ships powered
by sails and oars. They established long-distance sea routes linking Europe,
Africa, and Asia, and became wealthy
sea traders. Later, they sailed to explore
and set up colonies.
WHAT MADE THE TRADERS SO PROSPEROUS?
Traders braved the stormy Mediterranean waters to earn
as much as possible through overseas business. The most
profitable cargoes included silver from Spain (used to make
coins), tin from Britain, and copper from Cyprus. The tin and
copper metals were smelted to make bronze. Phoenician cloth,
coloured purple with a dye made from shellfish, was so expensive
that only kings and queens could afford to buy it.WHERE DID THE PHOENICIANS TRAVEL TO TRADE?
The Phoenicians sailed all over the Mediterranean Sea.
A few ventured further – to western Spain, southwest
Britain, and western Africa – and built new cities in
the regions where they traded. Their most famous city
was at Carthage, in North Africa, which remained
powerful until the Romans destroyed it in 146 BCE.MINOANS
From 2000 BCE to 1450 BCE, Minoan kings
dominated the eastern Mediterranean area
from the island of Crete. The kings grew rich
by trading with other islands and demanding
offerings from less powerful peoples. They
lived in vast, elegantly decorated palaces.4 MYCENAEAN VASE
This jar, made between around 1400 BCE and 1300 BCE, was
found in a Mycenaean trading settlement on the Greek island
of Rhodes. Traders used pots like this one to carry goods such
as olive oil. Scholars believe that the Mycenaeans occupied
many of the old Minoan palace sites around 1400 BCE
but two centuries later their own culture collapsed.1 BULL-LEAPING
This fresco (wall painting) from the palace at Knossos, Crete, shows the
sport of bull-leaping. Young Minoans vaulted over the backs of charging
bulls as part of a religious ceremony. Afterwards, the bull was sacrificed.WHY DID MINOAN POWER COLLAPSE?
In c. 1450 BCE, the Mediterranean island of Thera (now
Santorini) was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. At
nearby Crete, sea levels rose, dust blotted out the Sun,
and the Minoans’ crops died out. Then, the palace at
Knossos, Crete, was attacked by the Mycenaeans. By
c. 1400 BCE, the Minoan civilization had disappeared.PHOENICIANS
The Phoenicians lived on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean
Sea, and were powerful from around 1000 BCE to 500 BCE. They
lived as farmers, foresters, and craftworkers who were highly
skilled in woodworking, glass-making, and textile production.4 PHOENICIAN COIN
This silver coin shows
a Phoenician warship,
which was narrow in
design to maximize speed.
Phoenician cargo ships
were much slower, due to
their wider, heavier hull.Octopus design
shows importance
of the sea for foodFIND OUT MORE. Western Europe 252–253
seafarers