The Disappearance of the Minoan Civilization

Isaac Asimov once said that “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!), but “That's funny ...” and that seems to be how the mystery of the disappearance of the Minoan civilization was finally solved. The disappearance of the Minoan civilization has often been referred to as Plato’s Atlantis in his writings from Timaeus about the fabled city that was swallowed by the sea. Some argued that the Minoan demise came from the possible invasion by outside forces, such as the Myceneans. Others say that the Minoan city on the Isle of Crete that lie close to the volcano Thera on Santorini was devastated by its violent eruption that spewed more than 10 million tons of ash, gas, and rock 25 miles into the atmosphere. For more than five centuries speculations have abounded but the truth remained a mystery.
Then in 1997 a young geologist analyzed a sample of earth that he had taken from the inland on the isle of Crete. The sample was taken from deep within the earth to capture numerous layers of sediment going back thousands of years. Dr. Dominey-Howes found what he was looking for but he also found more; along with the volcanic ash and palace ruins he found tiny fossilized shell that only lives in very deep sea water. That’s funny … how could these shells possibly have gotten so far inland from the deep sea? By investigating the evidence further to answer the question they found the evidence to prove that Crete had been hit by a Tsunami sometime very shortly after the palace was built.
Along with Dr. Floyd McCoy, they theorized that the volcanic eruption was so massive that it set off a tsunami that had profound effects on the Minoan civilization for years to come. “An eruption of this magnitude can throw up huge amounts of sulfur dioxide. The huge amounts of this gas can alter the climate, thus lowering annual average temperatures by one or two degrees. Summer temperatures could have also dropped even more, suggesting years of cold, wet summers and ruined harvests. The giant waves generated as a result of the eruption destroyed the coasts, coastal villages, and boats at the harbor. Next came summers of ruined harvests. “ (Noa 2010) With the devastating effects of the volcano erupting and the Tsunami it triggered, the Minoans were left weak and defenseless. Their ships were gone and their ability to trade and export was gone. The majority of their cities were in ruins and their crops were unable to be harvested. The number of their citizens had decreased in size the ones who were still alive were weak and unhealthy. This left them in a weak and vulnerable position and when the Myceneans attacked to take control of the island they were unable to fight back.
“Somewhere along the way back home or during the war, around 1180BC, the Dorians took over the Minoans and destroyed virtually everything. Writing, art, culture and knowledge were all but obliterated. The Dorians had to start from scratch, and this period became known as the Dark Ages. However, from the ashes of the Minoans developed something that would become far more powerful and influential, the Hellenic people. Hellenics are what we now call Greeks. The Classic Greek period was born.”