Unit 4 The GreeksChapter 9

Beginnings 2800 B.C. – 750 B.C.

Introduction

Section 1 – The Minoans• Minoan Civilization rose by 2800 B.C. on Crete• Island in Mediterranean Sea

• Forests on Crete provided wood to build ships• Minoans worked w metal• Used metalworking & carpentry skills to build ships• Earn living from SEA TRADE instead of FARMING

• Built ships better, faster to avoid PIRATES

The Minoan People • Small people, bronze skin, long, dark hair

• Farmed, fished, raised cattle, sheep, goats

• Loved sports. Built world’s first arena

• Held Boxing Matches, Bull Leaping – a form of bullfighting

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Rulers & Religion

• Bull Leaping• Rulers of Crete – Priest-Kings• Made laws/represented Gods on

Earth• Polytheistic – main God: the Great

Goddess Mother Earth– Built shrines to honor her—sacred – places to worship in palaces,– hill tops, caves

• Bull leaping

Fall of the Minoans• Believed certain things were sacred – the

lily (sacred flower)

• Around 1400s B.C.• Control of Sea & Crete• Passed to the Mycenaeans

• No one certain why Minoan civilization ended

Ch. 9 Beginnings 2800 B.C.—750 B.C.Section 2 The Mycenaens

Mycenaens• Mycenaens came from Grasslands of

Southern Russia • Around 2000 B.C. small groups moved

west into Europe & then Greece

• EMPIRE BASED ON SEA TRADE

• Megaron – square room w/ fireplace on hilltop that protected villagers in times of attack

• King held council meetings & entertained there

• Land divided into Farming Estates– Slaves or tenant worked them

• Land owners gave king goods like horses, chariots, weapons, farm animals in exchange for protection– Mycenaens traded gold & bronze w/ Minoans– Borrowed Minoan language, fashion, ship-

building

The Trojan War• GREAT WARRIORS• High shields protected them,

swords/spears• • The city-state of Troy controlled trade

routes thru narrow strait leading to the Black Sea

• In order to sail thru, ships had to pay a tax to Troy

• Greeks did not like this and event to war over it

A “Dark” Age• The Trojan War served as inspiration

for the legendary stories of the Trojan War as told in Homer’s Epic Poem the Illiad

• Material for Illiad• came from• Legends/Word of• Mouth

• Aegean world entered a “Dark” Age lasting until 800 B.C. due to civil wars & northern Dorian Invasion– Time of wandering & killing– Trade stopped, Forgot to write/record

• New People called Hellenes redeveloped Greek culture 700-336 B.C.

Questions/Activity• Compare/Contrast • Why did the Ancient

Greeks fall into a Dark Age when the Dorians took over?