The MycenaeansThe MycenaeansCharacter # 2 - The First GreeksCharacter # 2 - The First Greeks

Heinrich Schliemann (1870)

Heinrich Schliemann spent years excavating a walled palace in the 1870’s.

He names the people Mycenaen after the large city Mycenae.

Where are we talking?

Peloponnesus Peninsula

When are we talking?The Mycenaeans began to develop c. 2200 BC

They continued to grow stronger as the Minoans grew weaker.

The Minoan Influence:They lived in a VERY mountainous terrain, which made it hard to sustain solely on farming.

So they traded with the Minoans and stole their ideas.

Grew/Traded- Olive oil for cooking and fuel for lamps.

On the Island:Wheat

Barley

Sheep

Olives

Copy-Cats!Dress: Same as Minoans

Architecture: Same as Minoans

Craftsmanship: Same as Minoans (Gold and Bronze)

Excellent Navy-- Same as Minoans

Writing:

They even adopted the Minoan form of writing, mixed it with Greek to form Linear B script.

We WANT WAR:

Much more war-like than the Minoans.

They invaded and conquered many lands because of lack of resources, including the Cretan invasion which cause the fall of who??

Enter if you dare...

Fortress Walled Cities

Ever Growing:This attack allowed them to become the

main traders in the eastern Mediterranean.

The colonies of the Mycenaeans

Weapons and Armor:

Animal hide shields with wooden frames and bronze swords using spears.

Another Conflict Arises:

The Trojan War:

c. 1200 B.C

One of the Most Infamous Wars in History:

Asia Minor

Trojans have trade route that Mycenaeans want.

Control trade to the Black Sea and made money by taxing ships that carried grain and gold.

Mycenaeans wanted control so attacked Troy c. 1200 BC-- King Agamemnon of Mycenae launched the attack.

The war lasted

10 years!!!

Disappearance✤The Mycenaean desire for warfare led to their own demise.

✤Too many little cities, who all want control.

✤Caused civil wars... lots of civil wars.

✤Weakened and conquered by the Dorians.

The Dark Ages

1100 BC- c. 800 BC

•Character 3: The Dorians were an uncivilized group of Barbarians who destroyed the Mycenaean culture but did not replace it with something better.

•They did not trade during their rule.

•Had no written language so no records were kept..... we will never know exactly what this time period entailed.