The Minoans and Mycenaeans. Minoans Lived on Crete from 7000 BC Lived on Crete from 7000 BC Did NOT...
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Transcript of The Minoans and Mycenaeans. Minoans Lived on Crete from 7000 BC Lived on Crete from 7000 BC Did NOT...
MinoansMinoans Lived on Crete from Lived on Crete from
7000 BC7000 BC Did NOT speak GreekDid NOT speak Greek Imported cattle, sheep, Imported cattle, sheep,
goats, pigs, dogsgoats, pigs, dogs Also imported grainsAlso imported grains Trade was the lifeline of Trade was the lifeline of
Minoan civilizationMinoan civilization Food grown on island Food grown on island
was not sufficient to was not sufficient to sustain populationsustain population
Traded with towns along Traded with towns along Black SeaBlack Sea Crete is this islandCrete is this island
Minoan TechnologyMinoan Technology Written language called Written language called
Linear ALinear A
(remains untranslated to (remains untranslated to today)today)
Construction Construction TechnologyTechnology First constructed palaces First constructed palaces
around 3000 BCaround 3000 BC Constructed on top of Constructed on top of
original sites, just like original sites, just like Harrapan citiesHarrapan cities
Palace Complex of KnossosPalace Complex of Knossos Served as centers of government, fort, shrine, Served as centers of government, fort, shrine,
workshopworkshop Huge granaries stored food for winterHuge granaries stored food for winter Included complex sewers and flush toilets!Included complex sewers and flush toilets!
Minoan ArtMinoan Art Frescos (painted walls) Frescos (painted walls)
showed men, women showed men, women participating in sports and participating in sports and ceremoniesceremonies
Color of skin used in frescos Color of skin used in frescos represented different sexesrepresented different sexes Women’s skin was whiteWomen’s skin was white Men’s skin was reddish brownMen’s skin was reddish brown
Frescos of women vastly Frescos of women vastly outnumber that of menoutnumber that of men
Minoan CultureMinoan Culture Men and women are
thought to have held at least equal social status Based on frescos depicting
men, women playing the same sports
Minoan culture was possibly matriarchal Women shown seated on
thrones Women shown being saluted
by others Minoan art depicts no trace
of male rule
Minoan ReligionMinoan Religion Based on goddess
worship Examples
Fertility Goddess Mistress of Animals Protector of Cities Mistress of the Harvest
Potinija – mother goddess
Minoan ReligionMinoan Religion
Important symbolsImportant symbols Bull = virility Bull = virility
(maleness)(maleness)
Double Axe (right to Double Axe (right to rule)rule)
Sun DiskSun Disk
Serpent (renewal of Serpent (renewal of life – shedding skin)life – shedding skin)
Example of Double Axe SymbolExample of Double Axe Symbol
Minoan TradeMinoan Trade Pottery distribution Pottery distribution
reveals far flung reveals far flung contacts with other contacts with other civilizationscivilizations
Network of trade with Network of trade with mainland Greece, mainland Greece, Cyprus, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, SpainSpain
Traded tin – important Traded tin – important for what?for what?
Also traded ceramics, Also traded ceramics, gold, silvergold, silver
End of Minoan CivilizationEnd of Minoan Civilization Rise of iron production
led to decline in Minoan trade after 1700 BC
Volcano eruption at Thera wiped out most of Northern Crete Eruption caused huge
tidal wave Wave destroyed Minoan
navy Earthquake around 1600
BC destroyed many palaces, incl. @ Knossos
Mycenaeans invaded around 1400 BC
Area of eruption’seffect
Modern map ofCrete, Santorini(formerly Thera)
Who were the Mycenaeans?Who were the Mycenaeans? Tribes of Mainland
Greeks Ionians (future Athenians) Aeolians (future
Thessalians) Tribes had lived in area
since 3000 BC Mycenaean civilization
was the basis for Homer’s Iliad & The Odyssey
Major Mycenae settlements
Mycenae PoliticsMycenae Politics Dominated by a warrior aristocracy Dominated by a warrior aristocracy
(nobles)(nobles)
Mycenae TechnologyMycenae Technology
Written language called Linear B (translated)
Written language is a direct ancestor to modern Greek
Bronze metallurgy was common (weapons, armor)
Fought from chariots
Linear B,clay tablet
Mycenae Invasion of Crete Mycenae Invasion of Crete (ca. 1400 BC)(ca. 1400 BC)
Swept through Crete, looting and burning remaining palaces
By 1200 BC, most Minoan palace sites had fallen into ruin
Mythical Mycenae: Trojan Mythical Mycenae: Trojan WarWar
Epic Greek tale contained in Homer’s Iliad
Homer: blind poet living in about 700 BC Iliad, Odyssey were oral
poems (memorized) Both poems were myths
Myth = story told to explain life, universe Gods & humans were similar Who were some Greek Gods?
Trojan WarTrojan War
Ten year war between Greeks, led by King Agamemnon against Trojans, led by King Priam
Many heroes fought during the war (Hector, Paris, Achilles, Ajax, Ulysses)
End of the Trojan WarEnd of the Trojan War Greeks won by leaving
“Trojan Horse” outside Troy, filled with warriors; when Trojans brought it into city, Greeks poured out to open gates of city
The Iliad in Lego’s or Clay?
Fall of Mycenae CivilizationFall of Mycenae Civilization Conquered by
invaders, the Dorians (iron users from North), around 1200 BC
Led to a “Dark Age” from 1200 to 800 BC when Greeks lost ability to write
Population decreased as civ almost lost