4. Early Civilizations in Greece

GeographyMinoans

MycenaeansDark Ages

Impact of Geography• Relatively infertile

land – 80% mountainous

• Isolation = independence

• Extensive use of the seas (no part of Greece is more than 60 mi from sea)• Aegean• Mediterranean• Ionian

Minoans• Island of Crete• ~2700 - 1450 BCE• Knossos• Trade!!• Cultural diffusion• 1450 BCE – sudden

destruction• Tidal wave?• Invasion?

Minoans

Greek Mainland – Two Main Peninsulas

Mycenaeans• ~1600 - ~1100

BCE• Indo-Europeans• Hill forts• Monarchies• Main city=Mycenae• Independent states• Tholos tombs

• Burial for royalty

Mycenaeans• Warrior people• Heroic deeds impt• Commercial

network• Military

expansion ?• Homer

• Iliad• Odyssey

Mycenaeans• Earthquakes• Fighting each other• Invaders 1100 BCE

Dark Ages• Population declines• Food production

decreases• ~1150-~750BCE =

“Dark Age”• Ionian flight• Aeolians = north &

central• Dorians =

Peloponese• Iron age

Greek Alphabet• From Phoenicians• Version = 24

letters• Homer’s work

appears at end Dark Ages

Homer• Epic poem• Trojan war• Odyssey• Iliad• “hubris” • “arete”

• Heroic excellence won in brave struggle

• Preserve honor