The Minoans and The Minoans and MycenaeansMycenaeans

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!

Knossos Palace ModelKnossos Palace Model

Knossos Palace - interiorKnossos Palace - interior

Dolphin SanctuaryDolphin Sanctuary

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

Mycenaen Mycenaen Technology: Linear Technology: Linear

BB

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

THE ENDTHE END

(of the Minoans (of the Minoans and Mycenae)and Mycenae)