Minoans vs Mycenaens

Objective: To be able to describe the geography of the 2 cultures.

To identify at least 3 similarities and 3 differences using a matrix

Minoans VS MycenaeanCrete-island 3,189 square mi *Legend: birthplace of Zeus

*Mycenae-city NE of Peloponnesian Peninsula

Legend: Founded by Perseus

• culture developed on Crete about 3000BCE

• Maritime Culture

• Trade routes with Spain, Egypt, Canaan, and Asia Minor

• Social = egalitarian

• Recreation like dance, music, bull leaping

Minoans:

• Peaceful = lack of war scenes in art, festivals, culture model for Mycenae (earliest developed culture on Main land Greece).

• Minoans flourished for about 600 yrs between 2000-1400 BCE. Cretan palaces and villages destroyed in 1700BCE by earthquakes. Minoans rebuilt.

• The next 100 yrs they established settlements for trade rather than

imperialistic purposes. (Thera, Kythera, Melos and Rhodes)

• Minoans and neighbors mutually tolerant and supportive. Minoans benefited from

trade and created glorious art and architecture.

Mycenae:

• Settled 2700 BCE

• Most myths from there

• Homer used tales in his writings

• Language

• Developed agricultural economy (agrarian)

• Sea trade with Egypt and Asia Minor

• Unlike Minoans, strong military

• Art reflects militia importance (why?)

• Used horses as vehicles of war

• Hierarchy: Kings, Soldiers, Priests, Slaves

• Recreation-few, mostly religious festivals and music

• Mycenaean invaders launched invasions on Crete in the mid-15th century BCE. Causes (?):

• need for copper and other ores for weapons• disputes over land and trade routes caused exodus

to Asia Minor leaving economy weak• Mycenaeans could no longer defend against hostile

cultures and fled to the safety of Crete.

• Invasions of Crete 1450 BCE = Minoan culture ends.

• Captive artist and architects

sent to Mycenae to serve Mycenaean Kings. The Cretan palace of

Knossos was occupied

by Mycenae’s military.

Weapons, chariots and battles were now introduced into art, murals

and Cretan culture

• End of Mycenae: 1100BCE, 350 yrs later = DORIAN GREEKS (Dark Ages)

• United tribes from NW Greece and Asia Minor invaded Peloponnesus, the southern Aegean Islands and Crete, ending Mycenaean rule. However, through Dorian reign, elements of both cultures were incorporated into the art, architecture and literature of Classical Greece.