the greek dark ages
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The Greek Dark Ages. The Greek dark age was a period which dated between 1100-800BC It was was a period of limited cultural advancement in terms of art, architecture, and writing Former Mycenaean fortresses continued to be occupied but in a very limited capacity - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Greek Dark Ages
● The Greek dark age was a period which dated between 1100-800BC
● It was was a period of limited cultural advancement in terms of art, architecture, and writing
● Former Mycenaean fortresses continued to be occupied but in a very limited capacity
● The invasion from the Dorians set off this dark age
Who is to blame?
● Greek tradition attributed the invasion to the Dorians who came from the Balkans
● The Dorians considered themselves the sons of Heracles
● The Dorians easily conquered the Mycenaeans with their “Iron weapons”
Did anything happen?
● The Cemetery of Petari tells us that some cultural advancement / contact DID take place
● Grave goods included jewelry, clothing accessories, weapons, tools and pottery
● Numerous items were found to be from other civilizations such as Egypt, Syria, and Cyprus.
● Sadly, the last occupied burial dates to 1075 BC
The Greek Migration
● Known settlements in Greece declined from 320 sites to just 40!
● The Greeks either joined the “Sea people” or scattering to places of refuge.
● The Greeks would settle to the coast of Asia Minor.
● Major cities established included Miletus, Ephesus, Myus, Priene, Colophon, Lebedos, Teos, and Samos.
Was the Dark Age that bad?
● The loss of imports of tin and copper forced the the remaining Greeks to learn “Ironworking”
● Greeks migrated into Asia Minor creating cross cultural contacts
● The loss of writing created a strong oral story tradition in Greece (Homer)
● The loss of the central palace system would be the beginning for the smaller city state.
The end of the Dark Age
● The Dark Age slowly parted when Homer hymned the Trojan War and the first Olympic games were founded in 776BC
● Around the same time there was a huge population explosion along with higher quality grave goods.
The Olympic Games!
● The games were originally created to celebrate the Olympian gods
● Quickly the games became about encouraging good relations between the city states.
● The Greeks would stop warring between city states so citizens could travel safely to the games
The Events
● The Olympic events were typically preformed in the nude
● Athletes in some cases would lather themselves up in olive oil
● Events included Stadion race (200M dash), boxing, Pentathlon (Discus, Javelin, Jumping, Wrestling), and Equestrian events
The Victor!
● Rewards would be handed out after the competition
● Hellanodikis (Greek Judge) would place a palm branch in the victors hands
● A herald would announce his name, his father's name, and his homeland.
● A more formal victory presentation would take place on the last day of the games at the temple of Zeus. The victor was given a sacred laurel
Greek life and sports
● Sports and physical education would play a critical role in Greek life and education. People would pay for an athletes' Gloios
● The Gymnasium would become a community training facility, a place for education, and philosophical pursuits
● A young persons education primarily took place in the Gymnasium