Minoans: Life in Bronze Age Crete

by Rodney Castleden

Book Overview

Since their rediscovery in the early 1900s, Minoans have been defined by a series of cultural traits: elegance, gracefulness and sophistication, lovers of nature, in harmony with their neighbors. But how far does the later work of archaeologists support this view? Castleden uses the results of recent research to produce a comprehensive view of the peoples of Minoan Crete. Illustrations.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415040701
• ISBN13: 9780415040709
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 210 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

An excellent, modern book, both scholarly and accessible.

Books about ancient cultures tend to be either slightly soft-focus and "fluffy" or dry and almost excessively scholarly; neither approach succeeds in bringing a culture to vivid life for the interested lay reader. This book, however, does just that. It has scholarly evidence in detail, but also fleshed-out conclusions, and unflinchingly looks even at evidence that doesn't "fit" our modern image of ancient peoples we want to like, in its quest to bring us a living, breathing image of the Minoans. (It also has illustrations in plenty; I feel a bit juvenile to admit this, but I very much appreciate illustrations, as no verbal description can quite convey the brushstrokes, the maze-like floor plans, the quality of line.)It's not a perfect book---I agree with another reviewer who complained that people probably had more houses and fewer temples than Mr. Castleden concludes ---but it is an excellent one, especially for an "armchair archaeologist".

All the facts are there for you to explore today. Idid .

Well done Rodney .What a fasinating insight into the ancient Cretan world