Creta Capta: Late Minoan II Knossos in Mycenaean History

The Late Minoan II period (c. 1470–1420 BC) at Knossos marked a transformative phase in Aegean Bronze Age history, serving as the foundational experiment for Mycenaean palatial administration. This study reveals that Mycenaeans, upon gaining control of Knossos—previously an unmatched administrative center—adapted to ruling a complex palatial system, a novel experience for them. This period, often overshadowed by later Mycenaean dominance, provided the blueprint for mainland palaces that would shape Aegean politics for centuries. The research contextualizes the rise of Late Helladic III culture within this critical transition, emphasizing Knossos as a pivotal site in Mycenaean history rather than merely a Minoan legacy.

Nash, T. Creta Capta: Late Minoan II Knossos in Mycenaean History. https://doi.org/10.26686/wgtn.17062016