The first civilisation in Europe is often associated with the Minoans on the island of Crete, who flourished around 3000 BC. However, long before the rise of Minoan palaces, another remarkable culture was already thriving on the islands of Malta and Gozo. Beginning as early as 3600 BC, Malta’s temple builders constructed some of the world’s oldest freestanding stone monuments, such as Ä gantija and ĦaÄ¡ar Qim. Though these early communities showed advanced religious and architectural development, they lacked writing, large-scale urban centers, and formal administration—key elements that define a civilisation. In contrast, the Minoans brought all of these features together, becoming the first fully developed civilisation in Europe.
The Rise of the Minoans: The First Civilisation in Europe
By 3000 BC, Crete had become a hub of maritime trade and cultural exchange. Minoan society quickly evolved into an urbanised, complex civilisation. Grand palaces like Knossos, Phaistos, and Malia emerged as administrative and religious centers. These structures included storage facilities, drainage systems, and richly decorated rooms, reflecting an advanced level of organisation. Unlike the temple builders of Malta, the Minoans used written language—first in Cretan hieroglyphs and later in Linear A—although their texts remain largely undeciphered.
A Culture of Art, Faith, and Trade
Minoan art is vibrant and symbolic, filled with images of nature, rituals, and ceremonies. Wall paintings, pottery, and jewelry show a love for life and movement. Religion, like in Malta, centered on fertility and nature, often represented by goddesses and sacred animals. But while Malta’s temples suggest localised religious practice, Minoan religion became institutionalised within palace complexes. The Minoans also dominated regional trade, linking Crete with Egypt, the Near East, and the Aegean.
A Lasting Legacy
Though Malta’s temple culture faded by 2500 BC, and Minoan dominance ended around 1450 BC, both cultures left lasting marks on Mediterranean history. Still, because of their writing system, urban planning, and broad influence, the Minoans are widely recognized as the first civilisation in Europe, while Malta’s temple builders remain a testament to early sacred architecture and spiritual innovation.