nts from Asia Minor founded a genuine civilization (Demand 12).
             In the Bronze Age most tools and weapons were made of bronze. It had been thought that the use of bronze had originated in the Middle East, but discoveries near Ban Chiang and Thailand, indicate that bronze technology was known there as early as 4500 BC. Bronze objects have been found in Asia Minor that date from before 3000 BC.
             The Bronze Age in the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean has been divided into three phases - early, middle, and late. The early phase is characterized by increased use of the metal. It was the time of the Sumerian civilization and the rise of Akkad to prominence in Mesopotamia; it also generated the spectacular treasures of Troy (Nystrom 31). Babylon reached its height of glory during the middle Bronze Age. Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece were major late-Bronze-Age civilizations. The Bronze Age there ended about 1200 BC, after which iron technology became common.
             The Minoan civilization began on the island of Crete; a large island located midway between Asia Minor and Greece. As an island, it was isolated from the mainland of Asia Minor, the Middle East, and Egypt. As the population began to thrive, it also began to increase, and it is evident that the resources of the island became increasingly insufficient to handle the increased population. Some migrated, populating other islands in the Aegean Sea. They took their growing civilization with them and spread Minoan culture, religion, and government all over the Aegean Sea. For this reason, the Minoan culture is also called the "Aegean Palace Civilization." Crete became the central exporter of wine, oil, jewelry, and highly crafted works; in turn, they became importers of raw materials and food. In the process they built the first major navy in the world; its primary purpose, however, was mercantile. We know of the Minoans only through their ruins. Splendid as they are, with t...