ANCIENT GREECE. 3 Major Periods of Ancient Greece Civilizations 1. Early Civilizations: Minoans (Crete) and Mycenaens 2. Classical Greece (flourishing.

ANCIENT GREECE

3 Major Periods of Ancient Greece Civilizations

1.  Early Civilizations:  Minoans (Crete) and Mycenaens

2.  Classical Greece  (flourishing of arts, literature, philosophy; domination by Sparta and Athens)

3. Hellenistic Age:  Macedonian Empire and Alexander the Great

3 Major Periods of Ancient Greece Civilizations

Geographic Features

1.Sea:  heavy influence on physical environment of Greece  (Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea)

2.Mountains (with narrow valleys):  cover more than ¾ of Greece’s surface area and islands: more than 2000 islands (Crete being the largest)

3.No major rivers on Greek mainland but fertile soil 

4.Climate:   winter= mild climate; summer= hot climate with rainfall from October to March = long growing season

Resources and Crops

RESOURCES • grain • fine cheese made of goat’s milk • timber • wild game • wool of sheep = cloth MOST IMPORTANT CROPS • olives  = oil • grapes = wine • grain • clay = pottery

Effects of Geography

Seafaring tradition:   reliance on navy and fleets for power and protection

Sea provided link to trade and cultural exchange with Mediterranean communities

Isolationism:  protection but lack of effective communication

Greece was (eventually) organized into polis -independent city states- separated by seas and rugged mountains

Emergence of dominant city states (Athens, Sparta)

The MinoansThe Minoans

Minoan Civilization3000 – 1100 BC

developing on the island of Crete while Egypt and Mesopotamia were flourishing

civilization was named after legendary King Minos, whose father was said to be Zeus

Early Greeks:  Early Bronze Age The Minoans c. 3200 -1400 BCE

Lived on island of Crete Great navigators and farmers Palace led political, social and

economic organization at Knossos

Artistic expressions and grand construction

Advancements in bronze Matriarchal society

Center of worship was a mother goddess

Earth goddesses portrayed in various forms.

Palace of Minos at Knossos  (NOSS-oss)

Palaces controlled all agricultural goods and products

Palaces became the centers of exchange for Minoan economy

Palaces had dozens of interconnecting rectangular rooms on two or more stories which were grouped around a large open courtyard (administrative and religious)

Palace of Minos at Knossos  (NOSS-oss)

Minoan Culture

Art work at Knossos shows dangerous sports such as leaping over the backs of charging bulls as well as dancing, athletics, and festivals .

Minoan Culture - Religion

Minoan Culture - Religion

Minoan PriestMinoan Snake

Goddess

THEORIES FOR DECLINE OF MINOANS

1750 BCE- earthquake destroys Minoan palaces

1628 BCE- volcano erupts at Thera 1400 BCE- War between Minoans

and Mycenaeans led to decline of power

The Mycenaean World

The Mycenaean World

Mycenaean c. 1500 – 1100 BCE

The civilization named by archeologists after the fortress city, Mycenae.

Mycenaeans were more aggressive, patriarchal in nature

May have come from Russia or parts of Mesopotamia (Kurgans).

Mycenaeansc. 1500 – 1100 BCE

Mycenaeans took control of Crete at Knossos by 1300 BCE

Mycenaeans controlled mainland Greece = main political centre was Mycenae

More interested in war as pottery and grave sites reflect hunting, weapons, armor and war as well as fortified palace walls

Mycenae Citadel & Reconstuction

Mycenae Citadel & Reconstuction

Mycenaean religion

Seems to have been a mixture of Minoan influences and local deities. There were two types of deities…

1. Some were predecessors of Olympian gods and goddesses worshipped by later Greeks and bore the same name.

2. Others were nature divinities and spirits.

THEORIES FOR DECLINE OF MYCEANEANS

Shift in climate leading to drought forcing Mycenaeans to migrate to more fertile lands

Tribe of nomadic warriors from north of Greece (Dorians) destroyed Mycenaeans

Dark Ages:1100—800 BC

After collapse of Mycenaean civilization, a 300 year period called Dark Ages

Domination by Doric speaking inhabitants from the north

Bronze gives way to iron

Transitional time: literacy, culture and daily life; scarce records

Mycenaeans flee to Asia Minor. Early Greeks establish life around Aegean and Mediterranean Seas

Development of polis: small, independent & loyal

The Archaic Greek Age (Renaissance):800—450 BC

After the Dark Ages, the Greeks emerged with a common language, heroic stories, myths, religious practices and trading interests.

Oligarchies flourished until emergence of Greek democracy ≈ 6th century BC

Eventual creations by Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides and the philosophical schools of Socrates and Plato

Archaic Period: Greek Renaissance800 – 450 BCE

Significant events1)  National literature 2)  Resurgence of trade    3)  Colonization of Sicily and Italy    4)  Olympic Games -776 BCE  5)  Stone sculptures of human figures6)  Rise of city states (polis)

Archaic Period: Greek Renaissance800 – 450 BCE

Homer: Iliad & Odyssey