The Mycenaeans

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The Mycenaeans

• (1600 B.C.E. - 1100 B.C.E.)

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• The Mycenaeans were influenced by the Minoan
  civilization.
• Their writing, Linear B, was an adaptation of
  Minoan Linear A.

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• Each Mycenaean city had its own king.
• Agamemnon of Mycenae was most important.
• His city was the center of political power.

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• Mycenae was built on high ground, surrounded by
  walls for defense.
• This type of fortified city is called an
  acropolis.

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• Later Greek city states also used this strategy
  for their cities.

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• The Mycenaean acropolis.

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• The Lion Gate of Mycenae was the entrance to the
  city.

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• The Lion Gate of Mycenae was the entrance to the
  city.

The wall surrounding the city of Mycenae.
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• Agamemnon Mycenae were written about by Homer.

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• The poet Homer who wrote the Iliad and the
  Odyssey.

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• The Greek legends of Helen of Troy, and the
  Trojan Horse come to us through Homer.

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• In 1876, archeologist Schleimann (who believed in
  the accuracy of Homers epic) discovered ancient
  Mycenae as well as the city of Troy.

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• Mycenaean civilization came to a sudden end when
  all the Mycenaean centers except Athens fell.
• Invasion by the Dorians, a new Greek speaking
  people is a possible cause, but there are other
  theories.
• For several 100 years after Greeks were
  illiterate and unable to organize or build on any
  scale.

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The Trojan War

• Queen Helen of Sparta deserted the king Menelaus
  for Paris the son of the king of Troy.
• Menelaus was brother to Agamemnon, King of
  Mycenae (overlord of all Greeks).

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• Agamemnon sailed to Troy to avenge his brother,
  and retrieve Helen.

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• Troy was under siege for 10 years.
• Heroes such as Achilles Hector found glory and
  death.

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• Mycenae was victorious.
• They sailed away as if defeated leaving a
  gigantic wooden horse.

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• The rejoicing Trojans hauled it into the city
  gates.

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• Hidden Greek warriors emerged at night and opened
  the gates to their comrades who sacked and burned
  Troy.