The Early The Early GreeksGreeks

Before City-StatesBefore City-States

Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations

The First Greek Society

The MinoansThe Minoans Lived on the island of Crete, Lived on the island of Crete,

subtropical climatesubtropical climate Named after legendary King Named after legendary King

MinosMinos Island had poor soil, forced Island had poor soil, forced

the Minoans to trade with the Minoans to trade with other peopleother people

Built impressive palaces at Built impressive palaces at Knossos, decorated it with Knossos, decorated it with frescoesfrescoes

Minoans disappeared Minoans disappeared because of invasions and because of invasions and natural disasters (volcano natural disasters (volcano and tidal wave)and tidal wave)

Geography of CreteGeography of Crete

Palace at KnossosPalace at Knossos

The Palace at KnossosThe Palace at Knossos

Views of the Palace at KnossosViews of the Palace at Knossos

Inside the Palace

Frescoes

Minoan Life Palaces and homes of nobles had running water They probably worshipped bull and earth

goddesses; women probably had a major role in society

Kings built a really strong navy They got along well with other cultures because of

their need to trade They wrote a lot, but we cannot translate these

writings; they are written in LINEAR A

The MycenaeansThe Mycenaeans

Mycenae History

• Lived mostly on the Greek mainland, conquered the Minoans on Crete

• Very successful sea traders• Influenced by Minoans,

Egyptians and Mesopotamians

• Ruled many city-states on the mainland, each was ruled by a warrior-king and had a thick-walled fortress

• Wrote in LINEAR B, which we can translate

Mycenaean Wealth

More on the Mycenaean People

• Rulers gained huge amounts of wealth in gold and treasures by fighting with other people

• Fought in Trojan War against Troy – Mycenae won and burned Troy to the ground

• Mycenaean power faded because of many reasons– Cities fought with each

other– Invasion from

outsiders– Famine– Drought

Then What Happened?

• Greek civilization fell apart• Cities were in ruins• People fled to the countryside• Greece was constantly invaded by

outsiders• Greek civilization almost disappeared• This period of confusion lasted for over

300 years