History of Ancient Greece

Bronze Age

3000-1200 BCE was a period characterized by the use of bronze tools and weapons, the rise of urban civilizations, and advancements in trade and culture.

Minoans

an ancient civilization that thrived on the island of Crete during the Aegean Bronze Age, known for their advanced architecture, vibrant frescoes, and maritime trade. Palace at Knossos, and had Linear A, non-fortified

Mycenaeans

an ancient civilization that flourished on the Greek mainland during the latter part of the Bronze Age, known for their palatial cities, linear B script, and involvement in trade and warfare.

Bronze Age collapse

a period around 1200 BCE marked by the sudden decline of several civilizations in the Eastern Mediterranean, characterized by widespread destruction, loss of writing, and reduced trade. due to invasions, internal unrest, and climate change

Dark Age/ Early Iron Age

1200-800 BCE. Population decline, loss of literacy, simpler villages

Protogeometric

geometric pottery- signifies the revival of technical skill and artistic expression in ancient Greece after the Mycenaean collapse and the subsequent Greek Dark Ages

Basileus

local chiefs

oikos

"house" or "household," but it encompasses a broad concept of the family, property, and everyone belonging to the household unit within ancient Greek society

Phoenician alphabet

was one of the earliest known phonetic writing systems

Archaic Period

(800-480 BCE) 800-480 BCE. A period in ancient Greece marked by the rise of the polis (city-state), extensive Greek colonization, the development of the Greek alphabet, the emergence of hoplite warfare, and significant advancements in art, literature, and early forms of government like democracy and tyranny.

Polis

A Greek city-state, which was an independent community consisting of a central urban area and its surrounding territory, serving as the fundamental political and social unit of ancient Greece.

Colonization (apoika)

spread of greeks around Med/ Black Sea

Hoplite

a system of combat used by ancient Greek citizen-soldiers, known as hoplites, who fought in close-order, rectangular formations called the phalanx.

Early Athenian laws/reforms

layed groundwork for democracy: expanding political participation and establishing more representative government by the late Archaic period

Rise of Tyrants

Many city-states came under the rule of tyrants, powerful individuals who often seized power with popular support to resolve crises and address social unrest before being replaced by other forms of government. 

What is Linear B and its significance for Greek History?

Linear B was a syllabic script used by the Mycenaeans. An early form of greek, primarily recorded palace inventories and economic transactions. Significance, it proved that the Mycenaeans were the first greek speaking people and provided insight into the centralized palatial economy

How did geography shape the political development of Ancient Greece?

Greeces mountainous terrain divided the land into small, isolated regions, making political unification difficult. This encouraged the development of independent city-states (poleis). At the same time, access to the sea promoted trade, colonization, and cultural exchange across the Mediterranean. Thus, geography fostered both fragmentation (local independence) and connectivity (maritime networks).

Compare and contrast Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations.

• Minoans (Crete, 2000–1450 BCE): Palace culture at Knossos; Linear A (undeciphered); artistic frescoes; focus on trade; palaces not heavily fortified.

• Mycenaeans (Mainland, 1600–1200 BCE): Fortified palaces (Mycenae, Tiryns, Pylos); Linear B (early Greek); wanax (king); warrior and chariot warfare; tholos tombs.

Significance: Minoans influenced Mycenaean art and administration. Mycenaeans adopted and adapted Minoan features but emphasized militarism. Their collapse c. 1200 BCE marks the end of the Bronze Age and transition to the Dark Age.

What changes occurred in Greek society during the Dark Age (1200–800 BCE)?

 After the collapse of the Bronze Age palaces, Greece saw population decline, loss of writing, and simpler village life. However, by 900 BCE recovery began: Protogeometric and then Geometric pottery showed cultural renewal; trade revived; the Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet (with vowels); Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey were composed, preserving heroic traditions. By 800 BCE, the foundations for the polis and Panhellenic sanctuaries (Olympia, Delphi) were in place.

Why did the Bronze Age collapse around 1200 BCE?

Multiple factors likely converged: external invasions (Sea Peoples, Dorians), internal revolts against palace elites, economic disruption, and environmental stress (climate change, drought, famine). Malcolm Wiener argues the collapse was not simply climate-driven but the interaction of human decisions with climate stress. The collapse dismantled palatial economies, leading to the Greek Dark Age.

 What role did hoplite warfare play in the development of the polis?

Hoplite warfare (citizen soldiers fighting in the phalanx) emerged in the Archaic period. Because success depended on discipline and cooperation, it fostered ideas of equality among soldiers. This linked military service to political rights, encouraging broader citizen participation in governance within the polis, especially in Athens.

How did religion serve to unify the Greeks despite political fragmentation?

While Greece was divided into independent poleis, all shared a common pantheon of gods (Zeus, Athena, Apollo, etc.) and ritual practices like sacrifice and festivals. Panhellenic sanctuaries (Delphi, Olympia) provided neutral ground for competition (Olympic Games, 776 BCE) and consultation (Delphic oracle). These practices reinforced a shared Greek identity, even amid constant political rivalry.