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Which foreign goods were imported to Crete during the Bronze Age?
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Aegean civilizations
Principal sites associated with Aegean civilizations.
During the Bronze Age, Crete engaged in extensive trade, importing a variety of foreign goods to support its sophisticated society and palace economies. Notable imports included:
- Pottery: Cypriot pottery was frequently brought to the island.1
- Stone and Luxury Materials: Egyptian stone vases, ostrich eggs, and various stones for vase making were imported. Ivory was also brought to Crete from Egypt or Syria.12
- Seals and Ornaments: Mesopotamian and other Oriental cylinder seals were imported, as were Egyptian scarabs. Anatolian seals also reached Crete, influencing local seal engraving styles.12
- Metals and Raw Materials: Crete imported tin, which was essential for the production of bronze, likely sourced through Syria or from the west. Additionally, the island utilized copper ores from Cyprus and other regions. Glass ingots, often cobalt blue, were also part of the trade network.12
These imports reflect the broad reach of Minoan maritime trade, which connected Crete with the Levant, Egypt, and Anatolia.12