Final answer:
The Minoans were a peaceful and trade-oriented civilization on Crete with little evidence of warfare, well-known for their maritime skills and the undeciphered Linear A script. In contrast, the Mycenaeans were a warlike people on the Greek mainland, known for their epic heroes and adaptation of the Minoan writing into Linear B. Both civilizations significantly influenced Bronze-Age Greek culture through their blend of artistic, commercial, and societal advancements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Minoans
The Minoan civilization, centered on the island of Crete, was distinguished by its peaceful nature, reliance on trade, and notable lack of fortifications in their cities and palaces. With a rich culture dating back to around 2000 BCE, they reached their zenith in the Late Bronze Age (around 1600 BCE) and displayed their wealth through the construction of elaborate palaces like the one at Knossos.
Notable for their maritime prowess, the Minoans sailed across the Mediterranean, trading with contemporary powers and establishing a merchant marine. They created a bureaucratic system and a script known as Linear A, which remains undeciphered to this day. Although they enjoyed a long period of prosperity, the Minoans eventually ceded their independence to the incursive Mycenaeans, influencing Bronze-Age Greek culture with their artistic techniques and trade networks.
Mycenaeans
In contrast to the peaceful Minoans, the Mycenaeans, who resided on the Greek mainland and islands such as Crete post-invasion, were markedly warlike. Developing around 1600 BCE, they adapted the Minoan writing system into Linear B for their record-keeping. While they engaged in trade like the Minoans, they also raided neighboring communities when the chance arose.
The exploits of Mycenaean heroes like Agamemnon, Achilles, and Odysseus were later glorified in Homer's epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey. The Mycenaean civilization eventually included elements from the Minoans they had conquered, and they left behind impressive architectural achievements such as palatial complexes with significant cultural and royal connotations.