Session 1 - What is "Greek Mythology?"

What Does Greek Mean

greek refers to a shared language, rather than geography

Mythology

traditional story, especially one concerning early history of a people or some natural phenomenon with a supernatural element

Where Is Ancient Greece?

greeks were sea people, all over the place. mainly the aegean sea, delphi was the center

Minoans of Crete - Time Period

2500 - 1700 BCE

Minoans of Create - Culture

earliest civilization | literate with 2 writing systems | integrated into Bronze Age trading era | palace system of government | minotaur, bull imagery | conquered by mycenaeans

Mycenaen Greece - Time Period

1800 - 1200 BCE

Mycenaen Greece - Culture

first true greeks, spoke earliest greek | feudal society, war like | lots of contact through trade | age of heroes, odyssey and Iliad take place during this period

Iron Age/Dark Age - Time Period

1150 - 776 BCE

Iron Age/Dark Age - Culture

isolated city states, limited trade, population decline | writing system lost, oral is key | long poems develop, Illiad and Odyssey composed | first Olympic Games | iron made for first time

Archaic Greece - Time Period

800 - 475 BCE

Archaic Greece - Culture

city states form, polis | temples become fancy | orientalized period | writing rediscovered | myths written down | women play a role in preserving stories

Classical Age - Time Period

475 - 336 BCE

Classical Age - Culture

golden age of greek arts, most cultural impact | Heracles | time of peace and prosperity | Athens democracy