[[Image:Labcoin.jpg|thumb|200px|Minoan coin from around 500 BC]]
[[Image:Labcoin.jpg|thumb|200px|Minoan coin from around 500 BC]]
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The ancient [[civilization]] of [[Crete]] which existed from 2600 to 1450 BC.
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The ancient [[civilization]] of [[Crete]] which existed from 2600 to 1450 BC. The Minoans were skilled engineers for their time, and the Minoan palace at Knossos (one of several palaces on Crete) is known to have had a sewer system ,a feature that was unknown to european architecture until then.
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The Minoan civilization suddenly dissapeared after the catastrophic eruption of Mt.Thera (now known as Thera island). The island of Crete, the home of the Minoans, was eventually invaded by [[Mycenaeans]] who rebuilt several of the destroyed palaces, namelt Knossos.