Early Greece and the Bronze Age (Lecture Notes)

20 question-and-answer flashcards covering key points on Mycenaean contacts, administration, social structure, economy, slavery, trade, and religion.

Who are the “Ahhiyawan” mentioned in Hittite archives likely to be?

The Mycenaean Greeks, called “Achaeans” in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.

What do widespread finds of Mycenaean pottery and metalwork across the Mediterranean indicate?

They show the Mycenaeans’ prominent role in regional trade and possibly seaborne raiding.

Which American archaeologist discovered the “palace of Nestor” at Pylos in 1939?

Carl Blegen.

Why were Linear B tablets from Pylos preserved for modern study?

They were accidentally baked hard in the fire that destroyed the palace around 1200 BC.

In Mycenaean society, what title was given to the king?

Wanax.

What was the role of the ‘lawagetas’ in a Mycenaean kingdom?

He was the “leader of the army,” second in rank to the wanax.

Roughly how large was the kingdom of Pylos at its peak?

About 1,400 square miles containing around 200 villages and towns.

How did most ordinary Mycenaeans live compared to high officials?

They lived modestly in small one- or two-room houses while officials enjoyed a luxurious standard of living.

What evidence shows that Mycenaean palaces strictly supervised agricultural production?

Linear B tablets listing precise tax assessments, e.g., wheat quotas from specific villages.

Were free Mycenaean farmers depicted as miserable peasants on noble estates?

No; tablets suggest they farmed their plots, paid taxes, served in the army, and were not uniformly oppressed.

Who constituted the truly oppressed labor force in Mycenaean society?

Slaves—often captives or purchased individuals—used for tasks like grain grinding and weaving.

Approximately how many slave women are recorded in Pylos tablets?

Over six hundred.

Which craft sector employed the majority of palace-listed women workers?

Textile production (spinning and weaving of wool and linen).

Name two leading Mycenaean export categories.

Textiles and metalwork (also olive oil, wine, hides, and luxury goods).

What raw materials did the Mycenaeans import because they were scarce in Greece?

Copper, tin, gold, ivory, amber, dyes, and spices.

What was the central economic hub of a Mycenaean kingdom?

The palace-complex, which managed production, storage, and distribution.

Which ritual was the most solemn act of worship for Minoans and Mycenaeans?

The slaughter and butchering of animals on outdoor altars.

What deity figure dominates Minoan and Mycenaean religious art?

A nature–fertility mother goddess, often shown in outdoor, animal-filled settings.

How were Indo-European fertility goddesses integrated into Aegean religion?

The Indo-European fertility goddesses were integrated into Aegean religion by being blended with the pre-existing Aegean mother goddess. Instead of creating entirely new figures, the Aegeans combined the traits of the Indo-European goddesses with their own goddess, especially in art. As a result, the Indo-European goddesses were shown in the same style and form as the Aegean mother goddess, becoming part of her identity rather than separate deities.

What do meticulous palace records of items like “one ebony footstool inlaid with ivory” reveal about Mycenaean administration?

They demonstrate the scribes’ detailed oversight of raw materials, production, and finished goods.