Ancient Greece

The Aegean Age&

The Dark Age

Minoan Civilization • Centered on Island

of Crete• Capital was Knossos• First Greek

Civilization• First European

Civilization

Minoan Civilization

Palace of Knossos (2000-1325 BCE)

Palace at Knossos as it would have appeared in 1700-1450 BCE

King Minos• First Thassalocracy

(sea rule)• Language was

Linear A and we haven’t translated it

• Myths of the Minotaur, Labyrinth, & Theseus

• Not sure if King Minos really existed

Copy of the Phaistos disk, written in Linear A 1850-1600 BCE

Fall of Minoan Culture

• Explosion of Thira wiped out coastal towns and navy of Minoans

• Ash ruined crops• Conquered by

mainland Greeks

Mycenaean Civilization• Traded throughout

the Mediterranean• Famous for their

large, treasure filled tombs

• Greeks that fought in the Trojan War

• Warlike

Treasury of Atreus

Mycenaean Civilization

Treasury of Atreus

Fall of Mycenae• Mycenaean lands

invaded by sea raiders called Dorians

Dark Age of Greece• Lasted 350 years• Writing disappeared• Oral History became

important• Creation of Greek

myths• Time of Homer and

his great works the Iliad and Odyssey