If you visit the Heraklion archeological museum on Crete, they have an astonishingly good timeline of the development of the Minoans (how they are called nowada

If you visit the Heraklion archeological museum on Crete, they have an astonishingly good timeline of the development of the Minoans (how they are called nowadays). Starting from stone age, and how they entered the bronze age. They were very established by 1700 BC. They were selling olive oil and pottery (at least) and importing tin and copper far and wide. You can see the bronze saws that were used to build ships and create a naval power and ability to trade. I can also recommend visiting Knossos and hiring a local guide. It is not crowded and not too hot off season. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxhide_ingot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxhide_ingot