Warm upWarm up

What do you already know about the What do you already know about the Ancient Greeks?Ancient Greeks?

The Minoans and The Minoans and MycenaeansMycenaeans

Who were they?

Where did they come from?

What did they accomplish?

Where did they go?

Minoan civilization arose on the island of Crete.

Legacy (or gift from the Legacy (or gift from the past)past)

Their legacy was as Their legacy was as masters of the sea masters of the sea and great and great shipbuilders.shipbuilders.

Bull LeapingBull Leaping

Bull leaping or bull Bull leaping or bull fighting was both a fighting was both a sport and a religious sport and a religious ceremony. Don’t try ceremony. Don’t try this at home.this at home.

The PalaceThe Palace

One of the largest cities on Crete was One of the largest cities on Crete was Knossos. A great palace was located there - Knossos. A great palace was located there - the Palace of Knossos where the legendary the Palace of Knossos where the legendary King Minos lived.King Minos lived.

The palace had several The palace had several passageways.passageways.

Labyrinth Labyrinth

The palace had a The palace had a network of paths through network of paths through which it was difficult to which it was difficult to find one’s way.find one’s way.

Labyrinth means double Labyrinth means double ax so the palace was ax so the palace was called the “House of the called the “House of the Double Ax.”Double Ax.”

In this labyrinth, it is In this labyrinth, it is said, lived a Minotaur said, lived a Minotaur - a beast that was - a beast that was half man and half half man and half bull. bull.

To construct a To construct a labyrinth, go to labyrinth, go to

www.puzzles.com/PuzzlePlayground/www.puzzles.com/PuzzlePlayground/

KnossosLabyrinth/KnossosLabyrinth.htmKnossosLabyrinth/KnossosLabyrinth.htm

Every year for nine years, seven youths and maidens came as Every year for nine years, seven youths and maidens came as tribute from Athens. These young people were also locked in tribute from Athens. These young people were also locked in the labyrinth for the Minotaur to feast upon.the labyrinth for the Minotaur to feast upon.

When the Greek hero Theseus reached Athens, he learned of the Minotaur and When the Greek hero Theseus reached Athens, he learned of the Minotaur and the sacrifices, and wanted to end this. He volunteered to go to Crete as one of the sacrifices, and wanted to end this. He volunteered to go to Crete as one of the victims. Upon his arrival in Crete, he met Ariadne, Minos's daughter, who fell the victims. Upon his arrival in Crete, he met Ariadne, Minos's daughter, who fell in love with him. She promised she would provide the means to escape from the in love with him. She promised she would provide the means to escape from the maze if he agreed to marry her. When Theseus did, she gave him a simple ball of maze if he agreed to marry her. When Theseus did, she gave him a simple ball of thread, which he was to fasten close to the entrance of the maze. He made his thread, which he was to fasten close to the entrance of the maze. He made his way through the maze, while unwinding the thread, and he stumbled upon the way through the maze, while unwinding the thread, and he stumbled upon the sleeping Minotaur. He beat it to death and led the others back to the entrance by sleeping Minotaur. He beat it to death and led the others back to the entrance by following the thread.following the thread.

Why did they end?Why did they end?

No one is certain No one is certain why Minoan why Minoan civilization came to civilization came to an end. But about an end. But about 1400 B.C., control of 1400 B.C., control of the sea and Crete the sea and Crete passed to the passed to the Mycenaeans.Mycenaeans.

Where did they come Where did they come from?from?

The Mycenaeans came from the grasslands of The Mycenaeans came from the grasslands of southern Russia to the lowlands of Greece. southern Russia to the lowlands of Greece. They traded with and learned much from the They traded with and learned much from the Minoans.Minoans.

Trojan War/Homer’s IliadTrojan War/Homer’s Iliad

The Mycenaeans The Mycenaeans went to war with Troy went to war with Troy because Troy was because Troy was controlling a trade controlling a trade route and unfairly route and unfairly taxing ships going taxing ships going from southern Russia from southern Russia to Greece.to Greece.

The IliadThe Iliad

About 500 years About 500 years later, a blind Greek later, a blind Greek poet, Homer, told the poet, Homer, told the story of the Trojan story of the Trojan war - but not quite war - but not quite exactly as it exactly as it happened.happened.

Homer’s versionHomer’s version

The Trojan prince The Trojan prince Paris fell in love with Paris fell in love with Helen, the wife of the Helen, the wife of the Mycenaean king. He Mycenaean king. He kidnapped her, kidnapped her, taking her to Troy. taking her to Troy. The Mycenaeans The Mycenaeans followed to get her followed to get her back.back.

After ten years of After ten years of fighting, Odysseus fighting, Odysseus suggested they build suggested they build a large wooden horse a large wooden horse and place their best and place their best soldiers in it. Then soldiers in it. Then the rest of the the rest of the Mycenaeans returned Mycenaeans returned to their ships and to their ships and sailed away.sailed away.

When the Trojans saw When the Trojans saw the horsethe horse

and the soldiers leaving, they thought it and the soldiers leaving, they thought it was a gift and pulled it into the city. was a gift and pulled it into the city. Once out of sight, Odysseus turned the Once out of sight, Odysseus turned the ships around and began to sail back ships around and began to sail back toward Troy. During the night, the toward Troy. During the night, the soldiers inside the horse climbed out, soldiers inside the horse climbed out, opened the gate and let the returning opened the gate and let the returning soldiers into Troy.soldiers into Troy.

What happened. . .What happened. . .

The Mycenaeans The Mycenaeans killed the king of Troy killed the king of Troy and burned the city.and burned the city.

Then they returned Then they returned to their homes with to their homes with Helen.Helen.

A Dark AgeA Dark Age

The Mycenaeans never returned to The Mycenaeans never returned to a peaceful existence. The Dorians a peaceful existence. The Dorians drove them out of Greece.drove them out of Greece.

The Dark AgeThe Dark Age

The Mycenaeans settled in the Aegean islands The Mycenaeans settled in the Aegean islands and on the western shore of Asia Minor. Later, and on the western shore of Asia Minor. Later, this was known as Ionia.this was known as Ionia.

One step back. . .One step back. . .

This began a time of This began a time of wandering and wandering and killing. Trade killing. Trade stopped. Many skills stopped. Many skills were forgotten were forgotten including how to read including how to read and write, fresco and write, fresco painting, working painting, working with ivory and gold, with ivory and gold, etc.etc.

Here we go again. . .Here we go again. . .

The people had to The people had to create a new create a new civilization on their civilization on their own beginning with own beginning with herding and farming.herding and farming.

A New Name:A New Name:

Eventually they developed independent Eventually they developed independent communities and began calling themselves communities and began calling themselves Hellenes, or Greeks.Hellenes, or Greeks.

The rest is history.The rest is history.

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