Seafaring on the Mediterranean Sea

New ideas come to new societies

The role of traders

They spread Buddhism to s.w. Asia and China

They will play the same role on the Mediterranean Sea

New ideas on god,writing,religion,art

The Minoans

2000-1400 B.C.Lived on isle of CreteEdge of the Aegean SeaProduced finest pottery of the timeBig time traders-swords,pottery,goldExported their culture

Minoan culture

They become a stepping stone for culture throughout the area

Unique architecture

Burial customs

They will influence Greece

Krossos

Minoan capital city

Probably peaceful,no signs of protection

King Minos-city named after him

Legend of the minotaur

Minoan People

Excavations tell us much about them

Their painted walls show us many aspects of their lives

Very graceful people

Minoan People

They were athletic

They enjoyed beauty

Loved nature

Liked boxing, wrestling, And bull leaping

Olympic Pommel- horse?

Role of women

They were held in higher esteem than in other culturesMother earth goddessRuled over the other godsIn charge of the shrinesAided by men!

Animal sacrifice

Worshipped bulls ( no, not the Chicago Bulls)

Sacrifice animals to their gods

Possibly human sacrifice

End of their culture

In 1470 B.C.-earthquakes,volcanoes,tidal waves,dealt a blow to their city/culture that they never recover from.

They hold on about 300 more years

End about 1200 B.C.

Probably overrun by Greece who take advantage of their weakened state

The Phoenicians

These guys are why you know your ABC’s

Phoenicians-not a true “empire” as we know it

They establish wealthy city-states

BYBLOS

TYRE

SIDON

All are important trading centers

Shipbuilders/Sailors

They will excel at this!

First to past the Straits of Gibraltar

Great Britain?

Africa?

Phoenician colonies

Carthage-greatest of allFounded 814 B.C.30 miles apartOne days sailTraded papyrusMost popular was a purple-red dye made from snailsPurple cloth-only very rich could afford

Phoenician alphabet

Traders needed records

Needed to record quickly,clearly

One symbol-one sound

Many similarities to Greek/English letters

Alpha-Bet

First two letters of their new way of writing were alpha and beta

Alpha-bet get it?

They will introduce this everywhere they go

Phoenician Traders

Their boats can travel 30 miles in one day

They set up city-states 30 miles apart

Reload/unload as needed

Cities will compete with each other

Trade routes take a hit

Assyrians capture eastern cities

Persia and Babylon take over

Exiled Phoenicians will set up more cities west of Carthage

Their culture will spread even further

Things to remember

Alphabet- made reading/writing easier for all

Opened trade to most of civilized world

Insured exchange of culture/beauty/art/religion/new ideas

Heavily influenced emerging Greek civilization