lecture 3 (people in the bronze age): greek history

Based on the bones found, what do we know about the people of Greece?

they were in severe pain (dental malocclusion, iron deficiency anemia)

timeline of greek people (progression)

1. 18000-8000: hunting and gathering

2. 8000-6000: fishing (known by bones), fruit, andacite + obsidian (used to grind grains)

3. 6000-5000: pottery, burials (more advanced?)

sesklo

neolithic triad/permanent settlement

Describe the typical sesklo

• usually 2 stories

• storage throughout

• food prep below, sleep upstairs

• simple yet protective design

• made of mudbrick

Dimini: what is it? what does it indicate? explain the design significance

chief’s house

• indicates the beginning of stratification (social levels)

• significance: structure indicated it was built for defense and/or to control animals

What is lerna?

feasting, storage, further stratification

• feasting was used as a way for higher ups to display their power → people could see the powerful people feasting + admire them

chamber tombs

tombs for middle-classed people; could hold family or individual

Describe how Knossos economy worked

• hierarchial system (organized labor)

• farmers give 1/10 of their crops to king → king gives them food in times of need/crop failure (redestributive economy)

Floor plan of Knossos + significance

• controlled access to throne room + building (labyrinth)

• storage (magazines) with ceramic vessels that held 50L

• stored valuables

• redistributive economy!! things come into palace, palace manipualtes it, redistributes it to other people

bull-leaping

• event to advertise god/person

• people would jump over bulls/dodge them; believed to be a ritual of some sort

minoan jewelry

• jeweler has high skill + full time employee of palace

• artisans are NOT tied to the land (will travel around to build/make stuff) → this is how cultural transmission takes place

What is the idea of “mutual gift-giving” in the Bronze Age?

trade

cretan palaces

• trade war in aegean between 1600-1400

• crete connected to a big trade network with ancient mesopotamia and egypt

• after 1400, cretan palaces taken over by myceneans

types of cloth produced

1. telapa: cloak, womens clothes

2. telapu: thick red/purple cloth, loin cloth

3. telate: heavy duty cloak used for bedding/tapestry

lions gate: what is it?, significance, etc

• monumental entrance to Mycenae’s citadel

• symbol of royal/elite?

Significance of Grave Circle A?

Archaeological proof of social stratification → an elite warrior class buried with immense wealth

• highlights Mycenean emphasis on warrior identity

Face of Agamemnon

Schlemer claims he saw Agamemnon (lied about his wife being there as witness)

• pieces he found had to be pieces together by string to use

Pylos + its significance

Mycenean palace with written records that helped reveal more about life back then

• linear B

• showed info about taxes, offerings, rations, military prep, social status standings, etc

Sacrifice and Feasting in the Megaron

• sacrifice made, bard/lyre entertains people with stories

• stories are often exaggerated + magical → leads to Greek myths

Stratification of Feasting: how was it done?

based on social class, where you sat in the megaron/palace, type of dishware, and type of seating differed