Final answer:
The Minoans were the first culture to establish a thalassocracy in the Mediterranean. They ruled the island of Crete and had a seafaring trading economy with other civilizations in the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first culture to establish a thalassocracy, or seafaring trading economy, in the Mediterranean was the Minoans. They ruled the island of Crete and were closely tied to the sea, using a merchant marine fleet for trade with other civilizations in the region. Unlike neighboring land empires, the Minoans were less concerned about invasion thanks to their island setting and had very little evidence of fortifications in their palaces and cities.