Archaic Greece

The Early Kingdoms (Achaeans) 2000 – 1600 BCE

Who were the Achaeans? Horsemen from Central Europe Invaded Greece 1st to use language that would eventually become Greek Each chieftain seized a piece of tillable land and established a small kingdom Built walled fortresses, or citadels to protect themselves

Major crops were olives and grapes Grapes were used to make wine Grapes were placed in wooden vats and trampled by the families of the farmers until the juice drained out. The liquid was poured into pots where it was fermented into full-bodied wine.

Olives were used to make olive oil, which had the following uses: Cooked with it Spread it like butter on bread Burned it in lamps Used it as soap Offered it to the gods Paid taxes with it Mixed it with honey to make a stiffening solution

By 1700 BCE, Greece was controlled by several powerful kingdoms: Tiryns, Argos, Pylos, Thebes, Athens, and of course, Mycenae! Mycenae grew to be the most powerful over the next 1,000 years!

What bound them together? Common language Similar lifestyle Shared set of religious beliefs Trade

The Mycenaean World: 2000 B.C.E. Aegean Islands – a submerged mountain range

How and why Mycenae took over Crete When the Minoan fleet sank, they saw their chance Wanted control of the vast Minoan trade routes They made Crete part of their empire

Minoan Writing System: “Linear A” Michael Ventris died in a car crash before he could decipher it.

Mycenaean Writing System: “Linear B” Deciphered by Michael Ventris

Sir Heinrich Schliemann

archaeological“tell” View of Mycenae archaeological“tell”

Approach to the Lion’s Gate

Lion’s Gate Entrance to Mycenae

Aerial View of Mycenae

Mycenae Citadel & Reconstuction

The Trojan War Mid-12century BCE

Bronze Age Enemies: The Trojan War

What were the real & mythical causes of the Trojan War??

Control of the Hellespont Would allow Mycenae to collect tolls from those who wished to enter the Black Sea

Homer, the Blind Poet Composed The Iliad and The Odyssey Stories were most likely passed down through oral story-telling tradition and refined by Homer Homer told the stories so well that other poets wrote them down

Homer’s Great Epics

Helen of Troy: “The Face That Launched 1000 Ships” Helen leaves Spartan King Menelaus and runs off with the Trojan Prince, Paris Menelaus gathers the other Greek kings, including his brother King Agamemnon of Mycenae War drags on for ten years until the fall of Troy.

The “Trojan Horse”? In The Odyssey, Odysseus devises a plan to end the war Following his orders, the Greeks build a wooden horse and place it outside the gates The Trojans think it’s a gift and bring it inside It’s filled with Greeks! They jump out at night and kill everyone!

Plan of the City of Troy

The Seven “Layers” of Ancient Troy

The Seven “Layers” of Ancient Troy Homer’s Troy (VII)

Original Wall of the City of Troy

“King Priam’s” Treasure

Sofie Schliemann With King Priam’s Jewelry

“Mask of Agamemnon”

Troy Grave Circles

The Greek "Dark Ages" Time of intellectual backwardness and poverty between 1100 and 800 BCE where the light of learning went out

Mycenae Begins to Decline Constant warfare among kingdoms weakened the strength and will of the people Despite the conquest of Troy, trade was not as great as it was during the time of the Minoans Constant presence of uncivilized warriors on borders of Greece

Dorian invasion Primitive, illiterate nomads invade from the North Invincible because they had weapons made of iron, which was stronger than bronze They fought with savage brutality

Dorians are “uncouth!” Primitive, illiterate Little interest in art, writing, and science

Dorian Contributions Superior tools and weapons made of iron Ushered in the Iron Age Ended the concept of monarchy and kingship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkbUQKyie_w