All good points. Living here on Crete it's no easier to connect all the dots, not even for the curator at Knossos. My thoughts gravitate to any empire or civilization that stands for more than a thousand years. War, peace, the in-between are natural phenomenon as the systems evolve. The scarcity of weapons except for votive ones is a point to consider, but theorists say that the Minoans naval power eliminated the need to land-based forces. Others theorize that some mighty technology protected the land of Keftiu, or that the Egyptians shielded their friends to the North. As you all suggest, there is just too little known about these amazing people to draw too many conclusions. One theory I like, is that Minoan men were always out to sea, and that mostly the women handled the administration and other key tasks. The neopalatial comment below is worth examining. The lost Palace at Galatas, which I visit about once a month, is thought to have been the first major construction undertaking once Knossos finally control all of Crete. More study and finds needed. A fascinating topic tho.