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Quiz about Meet the Minoans
Quiz about Meet the Minoans

Meet the Minoans Trivia Quiz


An introduction to an ancient civilisation that flourished before the Mycenaean and Classical Greek cultures.

A multiple-choice quiz by turtle52. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
turtle52
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
363,856
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
633
Last 3 plays: Guest 75 (3/10), Guest 92 (10/10), Guest 31 (7/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Which Greek island was the centre of the Minoan civilisation? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The Minoan culture flourished during the IIIrd and IInd millennium BCE. What archaeological period does this correspond to? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The ruins of a number of multi-functional architectural complexes have been excavated on the island. What is the best known of these 'palaces'? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Vibrant, flowing frescoes depicting Minoan life adorned many of the palace walls and floors. What distinguishes a true fresco from other wall art? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Examples of Minoan pottery have been found throughout the Mediterranean region. Since the form and style of this pottery evolved rapidly as the Minoan culture flourished and declined, it has been used as a system of relative dating. What name is given to the last purely Minoan style? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. The Minoans did not have a written language.


Question 7 of 10
7. What form did the principal Minoan deities take? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The Minoans had quite a healthy and varied diet. They hunted, fished, raised livestock and tilled the soil. Which of these is a common local agricultural product? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The Minoans were seafarers and merchants. Ceramics and foodstuffs were traded for goods such as ivory and metals used in the manufacture of bronze. What metal was sourced from Cyprus? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Which of the following has NOT been proposed as a contributing, or correlating, factor in the decline of the Minoan civilisation? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 75: 3/10
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 92: 10/10
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 31: 7/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 35: 7/10
Mar 20 2024 : anirudh2024: 6/10
Mar 19 2024 : NekoNeko_1276: 7/10
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 172: 0/10
Feb 27 2024 : weslybergman2: 6/10
Feb 18 2024 : Guest 95: 7/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which Greek island was the centre of the Minoan civilisation?

Answer: Crete

Minoan settlements have been found on a number of Greek islands but the culture arose and was based on Crete. In fact, the term "Minoan" was coined by archaeologist Arthur Evans in honour of King Minos, the legendary king of Crete.
2. The Minoan culture flourished during the IIIrd and IInd millennium BCE. What archaeological period does this correspond to?

Answer: Bronze Age

Based on pottery styles, the Minoan age can be divided into Early, Middle and Late Minoan periods. An alternate system of relative dating based on the development of 'palaces' is also used by archaeologists.
3. The ruins of a number of multi-functional architectural complexes have been excavated on the island. What is the best known of these 'palaces'?

Answer: Knossos

Knossos consisted of some 1300 living spaces, work rooms and storage areas enclosing a central courtyard. It was built and rebuilt gradually over time before being finally abandoned some time after 1300 BCE. It served as the political and ceremonial centre of Minoan culture and may have some association with the labyrinth of the Minotaur myth.
4. Vibrant, flowing frescoes depicting Minoan life adorned many of the palace walls and floors. What distinguishes a true fresco from other wall art?

Answer: Pigment is applied to wet plaster

Many of the Minoan frescoes, particularly those on the outer walls, employed this method. The wet plaster absorbs and fixes the pigment to prevent fading. Details can then be added later to the dry surface. Scenes depicted on these frescoes range from natural landscapes and marine life, festivals, rituals and sports.
5. Examples of Minoan pottery have been found throughout the Mediterranean region. Since the form and style of this pottery evolved rapidly as the Minoan culture flourished and declined, it has been used as a system of relative dating. What name is given to the last purely Minoan style?

Answer: Marine Style

Typical of the Marine Style were highly detailed, fresco-like images of sea creatures against a background of rocks and seaweed that covered the entire surface of the pot.
6. The Minoans did not have a written language.

Answer: False

There is evidence of several types of script used by the Minoans. Simple hieroglyphics progressed to an outline-form called Linear A, which was replaced in the Late Minoan period by Linear B. Linear B is associated with Mycenaean culture and appears to be an early form of Greek. It was deciphered in 1953.
7. What form did the principal Minoan deities take?

Answer: Female

Although little is really known of Minoan religion, it was believed to be both matriarchal and polytheistic with a variety of goddesses represented in Minoan art. A few male deities did exist but appear to be of only minor significance. Bulls also featured prominently in art and may have been sacred but it is not known whether the 'Bull Leaping' depicted on frescoes was a religious ritual or simply a sport.
8. The Minoans had quite a healthy and varied diet. They hunted, fished, raised livestock and tilled the soil. Which of these is a common local agricultural product?

Answer: Olives

A variety of grains, vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices were grown and processed on Crete but tomatoes, quinoa and bananas were not known in the Mediterranean at this time.
9. The Minoans were seafarers and merchants. Ceramics and foodstuffs were traded for goods such as ivory and metals used in the manufacture of bronze. What metal was sourced from Cyprus?

Answer: Copper

The Minoans were sea-farers and traded over considerable distances. Their major trade routes included Syria, Asia Minor and Egypt.
10. Which of the following has NOT been proposed as a contributing, or correlating, factor in the decline of the Minoan civilisation?

Answer: Conquest by Alexander the Great.

It is not definitely known what caused the collapse of Minoan civilisation but it is probably the result of a number of factors in combination. Proposed consequences of the Thera eruption have included tsunami and ash fallout hampering local agricultural activities and the loss of a significant settlement on Thera itself. With trade in bronze declining, a weakened Minoan culture may have been open to invasion from the Mycenaean Greeks. Alexander the Great had not been born at this time.
Source: Author turtle52

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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