Study Notes on the Bronze Age in Greek Civilization

Overview of Greek Civilization - Week Two: The Bronze Age

Introduction

  • Focus on the Bronze Age
  • Three main topics:
    • Basic overview and chronology of the Bronze Age
    • Primary Bronze Age civilizations: Minoans and Mycenaeans
    • Mycenaean relationship to the Trojan War and Greek literature

Key Terms and Geographical Context

  • Asia Minor: Synonymous with Anatolia, modern-day Turkey; specifically refers to the West Coast where Troy is located.
  • Crete: Epicenter of Minoan civilization; predates Mycenaean civilization.
  • Egypt and the Nile Valley: Geographical context of the ancient civilizations.
  • Mesopotamia: Means "the land between the two rivers" (Tigris and Euphrates); flows into the Persian Gulf.
  • Near East: Coastal lands from Southern Israel through Lebanon into Northern Syria; significant trade and cultural exchange routes with Greece.
    • Also known as Lofont, homeland of the Phoenicians involved in Greek civilization.

Periodization of Greek History

  • Greek history is traditionally divided into:
    • Dark Ages
    • Archaic Period
    • Classical Period
    • Hellenistic Period
    • Roman Times
  • The Bronze Age precedes all these periods, approximately from 3300 BCE to 1200 BCE.

The Bronze Age

  • Named for the development of bronze metallurgy in Greece.
  • Bronze: Alloy made by adding tin to copper, resulting in a harder metal beneficial for:
    • Agriculture
    • Warfare
    • Architecture
Key Developments in the Bronze Age
  1. Urbanism: Development of cities and complex societies.
  2. Literacy: Emergence of writing systems, notably Linear A and Linear B.
  3. Trade: Increased commerce and exchange among civilizations.

Key Civilizations

Minoans
  • Flourished from approximately 2000 BCE to 1450 BCE on Crete and other Aegean islands.
  • Considered the oldest civilization in Europe, identified by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans.
    • Name Origin: Derived from King Minos of Greek mythology.
    • Key site: Knossos - featured a labyrinth, reflecting mythological themes.
  • Archaeological findings include:
    • Written tablets in Linear A and Linear B
    • System of palace bureaucracy involving economic redistribution.
    • Palaces as full economic centers with workshops for various crafts.
  • Peak sanctuaries: Sacred sites for worship, often without architecture.
  • Key religious symbols:
    • Double Ax symbol
    • Horns of Consecration
Mycenaeans
  • Early Greek people who spoke a form of Greek known as Linear B.
  • Flourished from approximately 1700 BCE to 1200 BCE, particularly the Peloponnese region.
  • Key sites include:
    • Mycenae
    • Tiryns
    • Pylos
  • Societal structure included:
    • Aristocratic elite controlling land and resources
    • Palace economies linked to agricultural production and military ventures.
  • Grave Circle A and B at Mycenae reveal wealth and artifacts indicative of Mycenaean society.
    • Grave Circle A: Featured rich warlike items and suggested hero worship.
    • Grave Circle B: Contained different types of graves, indicating evolving burial practices.

Relationship to the Trojan War

  • Trojan War: Central theme in Greek literature, detailed in Homer's Iliad.
    • Mycenaeans believed to have waged this war against the city of Troy.
    • Conflict started over Helen's abduction.
  • The historical authenticity of the Trojan War was questioned until the 19th century.
  • Heinrich Schliemann: Key figure in the archeological quest to connect Homeric texts with real history.
    • Discovered and excavated the site believed to be Troy.

Archaeological Discoveries

  • Schliemann uncovered valuable artifacts, mistakenly categorized as treasures from the Trojan War.
  • Post-Schliemann excavations by Wilhelm Dorpfeld and others advanced understanding of the site's timeline and significance.
    • Troy 6: Recognized for its wealth and connection to the Mycenaean trade network.
    • Troy 7a: Considered by Karl Blegen as the most likely site of the actual Troy described by Homer.

Hittite Civilization

  • An influential Bronze Age civilization east of the Mycenaeans, dominant from approximately 1700 to 1200 BCE.
  • The Hittites also had a significant relationship with Troy, referring to it as Wilusa.
  • Language connections between Hittites and Mycenaean Greeks, both being Indo-European.
  • Hittite civilization collapsed around 1200 BCE, coinciding with the events described in the Iliad.

Decline of Bronze Age Civilizations

  • By the end of the 12th century BCE, Mycenaean society was in disarray; many towns burned or abandoned.
  • Common theories for collapse:
    • Invaders known as Sea Peoples
    • Natural disasters such as drought
    • Internal conflict leading to social and economic decline.
  • The end of the Bronze Age brought significant targeted destruction across the Mediterranean and Near East; population movements were common.

Conclusion

  • The Bronze Age established a foundation for later Greek civilization, including literature, economic practices, and social structures.
  • Next lectures will cover the transition to the Iron Age and the significance of the Homeric poems.