An Assimilation Cut Short: The Emerging Minoan Thalassocracy of 1628 B.C.

The Minoans left an indelible mark on the Aegean during the height of their power in the Bronze Age. Just north of the coast of Minoan populated Crete sits an island called Thera where a port town, named Akrotiri, has been found that bears remarkable compatibility with Minoan culture. In this paper I explore the potential relationship shared between Crete and Akrotiri and conclude that the site of Akrotiri is representative of a snapshot of assimilation in progress.