HIST1017 ANCIENT GREECE

updated as needed, going through the slides one at a time; last updated 09/16/25

Crete

Island in the Mediterranean, advanced, wealthy civilization, impressive, well built ships

The Minoans

Heavy influence on later Greek societies, centered on Crete, named after later legendary King Minos

Linear A

early writing system developed, unable to be deciphered by scholars

Frescoes

one of the most important pieces to understand Minoan Civilizations without written language

Knossos

An early Minoan palace located here, a huge center for economic and political opportunity, no real symmetry in architecture, wandering halls; also remarkable for its association with labyrinths

Thera

Island with influence of later Greeks, island is modern day Santorini; best influences Theseus and the Minotaur

Snake Goddess Statue

Symbol of fertility & rebirth, i.e snakes loosing their skin and producing mass amounts of eggs

Art

We can understand and interpret the culture of the Minoans through their ____?

What happened to the Minoan civilization?

Palaces suddenly abandoned, invaded by outsiders, volcanic eruption on Thera

Mycenaeans

2000BCE, indoeuropean groups settled in the Greek Peninsula, influenced by nearby wealthy Minoans, took over in 1540 BCE as a power-civilization in the Mediterranean

Mycenae

Center city for Mycenean civilization, other cities include Sparta & Thebes

Linear B

Writing system developed by the Mycenaeans

Mycenaean warfare

creating walls around cities and palaces for defense, more advanced weapons and battle tactics.

The Trojan War

Greeks invading the city of Troy, 10 years long, ends with trickery of the Trojan Horse; legends of the war told by the poet Homer

What Happened to the Mycenaeans?

1100 BCE, the Mycenaean civilization ends; this can be due to a drought which caused crop failure = population loss, internal conflict after the end of the Trojan War, invasions from war with other people from the Greek Peninsula