The Downfall of Ancient Minoan Crete

The ancient culture of Minoa Crete was a thriving civilization in Europe about 5,000 years ago. This Bronze Age civilization came to an abrupt end that scientists and historians have been working to uncover for over 100 years. Theories ranging from climate change to spiritual crisis have been discussed throughout history. The two theories that have surfaced with enough evidence to support them are that either a severe earthquake or a giant tsunami caused the demise of the Minoan Crete civilization. The question remains, was it a tsunami or an earthquake?

Recent research suggests that the island suffered multiple earthquakes around the time that the ancient Minoan civilization began to decline. In her article “Earthquakes left Cretan civilization high and dry” by Kate Ravilious speaks to the advanced architecture used by the Minoans. Ravilious brings into question the “sophisticated drainage system indicating the cultures dependency upon water, yet there was no water nearby. Large earthquakes in the region could have re-directed the water supply causing the Minoans to vacate the Island.

Other extensive research indicates that a tsunami struck the island of Minoa with such force it could have potentially destroyed most of the infrastructure and completely decimated the entire civilization. In an article published by Evan Hadingham in 2008 entitled “Minoan Tsunami” Hadingham describes a 13-14-foot-high wave with the ability to reach most if not all of the Minoan cities. A tsunami of this magnitude would have drove the surviving Minoans to leave the island in search for a new home.

Based on the information provided it is clear that the ancient Minoan Civilization suffered some sort of economic or natural disaster causing their demise. Based on the studies conducted the most probable cause was a giant tsunami. Archaeologists have found traces of Minoan artifacts located both on the beach and deep under the ocean surface. Also supporting this theory is the fact that the majority of the damage to the buildings was located on the sides facing the ocean. Amazingly it is safe to say that the majority of the evidence points toward a tsunami but it could also be argued that there were more than one or two events that lead to the complete destruction of the Minoan Civilization with the final knockout punch being the tsunami.