Early Greek History

Minoan Civilization

• Developed on the island of Crete – Writing system – Elaborate frescoes decorate palaces at Knossos– Traded extensively by ship across the

Mediterranean and Black seas• Writing, gold work, and architecture inspired by contact

from middle eastern communities • Greeks later adopt Minoan systems of writing

• Culture spread across the Aegean Sea making landfall in Greece around 200 B.C.E.

The Mycenaeans

• Located on Greek mainland, influenced by Minoans

• Developed around 1600 B.C.E. • Each Myceanean town was governed by a

monarchy • Achievements– Bronze weapons and pottery

Dorians • Invaded Greek mainland in 1100 B.C.E. • Led to a period of violence and lawlessness known

as the Dark Ages that lasted until 750 B.C.E. • New civilization formed when mainland Greeks

mixed with the Dorians– Tribal society – Wealth based on land ownership

• Many Greeks also fled from the Dorians– Grew into settlements in remote villages – Developed into city-states

• Major political organization of ancient Greece

The Trojan War

• Warrior from Mycenaean sailed across the Aegean to attack Troy

• For centuries the stories of the Trojan War were recited • 700 B.C.E Homer shaped the stories of the Trojan War

into an epic, the Iliad• Iliad shaped Greek culture, students learned the verses

by heart– The values expressed in the epic became part of Greek

identity• Courage, bravery, strength, honor