History Fact Finder | Eras and Their Highlights - What Was The First Advanced Civilization In Europe?

What was the first advanced civilization in Europe?

The first advanced civilization in Europe was ancient Greece. It was founded by the Minoans, a prosperous and peaceful people who lived on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea from about 3000 to 1450 B.C. Although Crete occupied an area measuring only 3,235 square miles, during the height of Minoan civilization (c. 1600 B.C.) the island was the site of ninety independent cities. At the capital at Knossos King Minos built a palace that featured many aspects of Greek life that represented civilization. Arranged around a central courtyard, the palace was constructed of stone, plaster, and timbers and contained frescoes (paintings made with watercolor paints on wet plaster). The complex included basement storage areas, artists' work-rooms, dining halls, and living quarters with bathrooms for the rulers and their families. The Minoans built stone roads,...

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