lecture 4 (risk and chaos): greek history

Thera

• volcano explodes and covers town of thera (engineers found the town under volcanic material)

Volcanic Theory

idea that the volcano eruption + tsunamis caused after it is what ended Minoan culture

Issues with Volcanic Theory (3)

1. marine style pottery: marine style pottery not found in Thera but other minoan pottery styles found → indicates other minoan sites flourished after eruption

2. pseira: ash covers older minoan buildings but there are new buildings (evidence of continuing civilization) on top of the ash

3. dendrochronology: tree rings show evidence that it’s too earlier to explain natural/volcanic disasters

linear B is what in present day?

greek

Troy (Bronze Age Community)

large prosperous city destroyed by earthquake; was rebuilt but was reduced in size/appearance

factors that played into collapse of late bronze age

1. economic (vulnerability, overspecialization)

2. environmental (natural disasters, climate change)

3. social upheaval (slaves revolting)

4. invasion from outside

5. changes in warfare

simply put: trojan war