Trade Routes of the Sea Peoples

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Lecture 5 The Early Greeks
Trade Routes of the Sea Peoples
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-- Greek history began around 2000 BCE
and reached its height around 400 BCE -- Greeks
were Indo-Europeans who originated in central
Europe and moved into southern and eastern
Europe, India, Iran, Asia Minor, and the
Mediterranean -- Until 1870 CE prehistory of
Greeks known only through legends and epic
poetry (Homer Iliad and Odyssey) -- Archeologis
ts Arthur Evans and Heinrich Schliemann discover
Troy and Mycenae 1952 Michael Ventris discovers
Linear B -- Early Greek culture was Minoan
(Cretan) -- Minoans form a cultural bridge
between Mideast and mainland Greece
(Peloponnese) -- Minoan society begins around
3000 BCE with Neolithic immigrants from Asia
Minor
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-- Minoans used bronze, cement stucco,
bought copper from Cyprus, rich in grain, wine
and cypress -- By 2000 BCE cities clustered
around palaces at Knossos (near modern capital
of Heraklion) and Phaestos -- Used hieroglyphic
script (Linear B) which may be Egyptian since
Minoans traded with Egyptians -- Minoans were
secure, pleasure-loving, loved sports,
festivals, art, nature -- Minoans had a mother
goddess who personified abundance believed that
Minos (ancient god/ king) visited the gods every
9th year may have inferred succession cycle
for kings) -- Around 1500 BCE, earthquake
destroyed Knossos mainland Greeks then
invade -- Greek warriors introduce horse and
chariot warfare to Crete by 1400 conquer the
Minoans
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Minoan Kamares Style Beaker Jug from Middle
Period c. 1800 BCE
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Late Minoan Style Octopus Vase (c. 1500 BCE)
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Minoan Snake Goddess, Gold/Ivory, c. 1600 BCE
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Minoan Sphinx, Molded Clay, c. 2100-1500 BCE
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Minoan Aerial View of Palace of King
Minos at Knossos,
c. 1500 BCE
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Minoan Porch from Palace of King Minos,
Knossos, c. 1500 BCE
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Minoan Palace at of King Minos at Knossos
Queens Megaron, c. 1500 BCE
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Enlargement of Dolphin Frescoes, c. 1500 BCE
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-- Origins of Achaeans (mainland Greeks)
unknown by 1950 BCE Greek peninsula invaded by
Greek-speaking tribes who rode horses and
produced distinctive pottery -- Between 16th and
13th centuries BCE Achaean chieftains dominated
the Greek mainland dominated by Mycenaean
kings -- By 1100 BCE Mycenaean civilization
in decline, possibly because of invasion
by other Greek-speaking tribes from the north,
the Dorians -- Little known about the Dorians,
so that period between 1100 750 BCE known as
Dorian Dark Ages -- After invasion by Dorians,
other Greeks from north and central Europe
occupy Asia Minor (Ionia or modern Turkey) and
Aegean islands -- By 8th century, Greeks adopt
Phoenician alphabet, epic poetry appears
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-- 8th century Greek culture based on
agriculture, society controlled by landed
warrior aristocracy in which kings are first
among equals -- Between 750 500 BCE Greeks
colonize the Mediterranean and Black Seas polis
(city- state) becomes the central institution of
Greek life -- Polis included central meeting
point (Acropolis in Athens), frequently walled,
an open agora (assembly and market
place) -- Poleis could be only a few square
miles to a few hundred square miles, or could be
conglomeration of several smaller
poleis -- Adult males were citizens with full
political rights, women and children were
citizens with no political rights, slaves and
resident aliens were non-citizens
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Mycenaean Warrior Krater, c. 1200 BCE
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Enlargement of Warrior Krater
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Mycenaean Family Group in Ivory
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Mycenaean Terracotta Goddess
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Mycenaean Orpheus Fresco from throne Room
of Palace of Nestor at Pylos
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Fragment of fresco from Palace at Tiryns
Procession of Women
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Reconstruction of Megaron at Pylos
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Aerial view of Citadel of Mycenae
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Lions Gate entrance to Mycenae
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Entrance to the Tomb of Atreus
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Beehive Ceiling from Tomb of Atreus
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Gold Funerary Mask Found in Grave Shaft (Mycenae)