Bronze and Archaic Greece: Minoans to Mycenaeans

Minoan Civilization

First inhabited Crete around 3000 BCE.

Knossos

Famous palace complex of the Minoans.

What does it mean that no large temples have been found on Crete?

Maybe religion was a private affair

What does it mean that Crete had no walls?

Open society
-"My house is your house, you can come and go as you please!!!"
Peaceful
-Didn't have to fear War

Why did Crete Collapse?

Possibly volcanic eruptions from Thera (Santorini) which was 65 miles north of Crete in C.1400 BCE. But there is probably more to this

Linear A

Obscure early Minoan written language.

Linear B

Early form of Greek, decipherable language.

Fresco of the Bull-leaping

Ancient artwork depicting bull-leaping activities.

Mycenaeans

People who established palace complex at Mycenae C.2000 BCE.

Anax

Title for tribal chief and military leader.

Agamemnon

Most famous Mycenaean king, known from Homer.

Homeridae

Performers reciting Homer's works at festivals.

The Iliad

Epic poem about the Trojan War's final year.

Trojan War

Ten-year conflict involving Greeks and Trojans.

Heinrich Schliemann

Rediscovered the buried city of Troy.

Lion Gate of Mycenae

Famous entrance to Mycenaean palace complex.

Death Mask of Agamemnon

Gold mask found in Mycenaean tomb.

Sea Peoples

Invaders who contributed to the Bronze age collapse that only Egypt (Who give them their name.) survived

Greek Dark Age

Period of uncertainty after Mycenaean decline.

How did Greece handle the Dark age?

In an attempt to rebuild their culture, wealth and society, many Greeks left mainland Greece and founded colonies throughout the mediterranean, transporting Greek language and culture

Massilia

Ancient Greek colony, modern-day Marseilles.

Neapolis

Ancient Greek colony, modern-day Naples.

Byzantium

Ancient city-state, later known as Constantinople.

Independent City-States

Each Greek city-state operated autonomously.