Exploring the Validity of the Statement that the Eruption of Thera Caus

Minoan Crete was a civilization experiencing great social and economic prosperity during its zenith around the time known as Late Minoan 1 (LM 1) (Sheppard Baird 2009). However the Minoan population ended abruptly and seemingly simultaneously 430 years later, this left archaeologists and historians searching for the cause (Castleden 1990, 143). The main reason archaeologists are studying the reason for the downfall is because if a date was known, a more precise historical timescale could be produced that would give a more accurate chronology of ancient history during this time (Barber 1990, 221). Ever since Sir Arthur Evans developed the concept of the Minoan civilisation, there have been many proposed reasons for the downfall, each with their own evidence and supporters (Sheppard Baird 2009). It was in 1939 that Syridon Marinatos, a leading 20th century archaeologist of Crete, initially suggested that the volcano Thera was the reason for the Minoans demise (Castleden 1990, 143). Ma ny more hypotheses as to what caused the destruction have stemmed from this initial thought, such as tsunamis, economic and agricultural decline as well as foreign invasion. However due to advances in science and further studies into Thera and the Minoan’s history, this volcano no longer seemed the only plausible cause for the disappearance of Minoan Civilisation (Sheppard Baird 2009). Thera was located on the present day island of Santorini, 120 km north of Crete, and for hundreds of years there was little to no activity. It wasn’t until three and a half thousand years ago when the historic eruption occurred (Cecil 2011)(Ancient Greece org 2010). There were three phases to the eruption, first pumice was ejected which covered Akrotiri in a layer rang... ...h: a new view of the â€Å"Palace of Minos† at Knossos, Routledge, London. Cecil J., 2011 The fall of the Minoan civilization , BBC-History , BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/minoan_01.shtml accessed: 30 April 2012. Hood S., 1971 The Minoans: the story of Bronze Age Crete, Praeger Publishers, Michigan. MacDonald C. Driessen J., 1997 The Troubled Island: Minoan Crete before and after the Santorini eruption, Università © de Lià ¨ge, Histoire de l'art et archà ©ologie de la Grà ¨ce antique. Platon N. 1966 Crete, Archaeologia Mundi series, Frederick Muller Limited, London. Pyle D.M, 1989 Thera and the Aegean world III, Ther Thera Foundation, London. Sheppard Baird W., 2009 The Bronze Age Eruption of Santorini and Late Minoan IB Destruction Event , Minoan Atlantis http://www.minoanatlantis.com/LM_IB_Destruction.php accessed: 30 April 2012.