The Minoan civilization (c. 3000–1450 BCE) was an advanced Bronze Age society centered on the island of Crete in the Aegean Sea, famous for its palaces (like Knossos), maritime trade, vibrant art, and possibly the myth of the Minotaur.

However — it’s not considered a cradle of civilization in the same way as Mesopotamia or the Indus Valley, because:

It didn’t develop in complete isolation — Minoan culture was heavily influenced by older civilizations from the Near East and Egypt through trade and contact.

Writing systems like Linear A (still undeciphered) seem to have developed after contact with Mesopotamian and Egyptian writing.

Agriculture, metallurgy, and many urban concepts were imported rather than invented independently.

In short:

Minoan = advanced secondary civilization built on the achievements of earlier cradles.

Cradles = primary civilizations developed agriculture, cities, and writing independently.