Together with Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Levant, Minoan Crete was one of the major cultures of the prehistoric Mediterranean world. In this book, L. Vance Watrous offers an updated overview of this significant ancient society. Using archaeological findings from palaces, houses, surveys, caves, and sacred peaks, he describes and accompanies the development of Minoan Crete from the Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age. Watrous also presents and interprets Minoan art in various media, including frescoes, pottery, and seals, and explains how Minoan Crete influenced the culture of classical Greece. The book is intended for undergraduate and graduate students and can be used in courses related to the ancient Mediterranean world and classical archaeology.