Greece in the Heroic Age CHW 3MR Lesson 30

Greece in the Heroic Age Learning Goal: Analyze the role that Homer and mythology played in framing the Greek identity Finish “Aegean” and discuss questions Note and discussion Complete Chapter 3 textbook questions

Minoans Lived on Crete Traded with other Mediterranean and Near East societies Most important palace was Knossos; centre of political power Very impressive buildings, designed to withstand common earthquakes but not invasion Destroyed around 1750 BCE by a massive earthquake

Thera This island exploded around 1628 BCE (volcano) Remains of the town were uncovered in 1967 Today it is the island of Santorini

Mainland Greece

Mycenaeans Greece evolved at the same pace as Crete until 1700 BCE when chiefdoms emerged There were palaces and kings, and a state religion Mycenae was the most powerful of these Similar to a feudalistic state  land owners owed their allegiance to the king of Mycenae Around 1200 BCE, disasters struck

Dark Ages of Greece 350 years of recuperation took place…

Geography of Greece Mountains surrounding small pockets of arable land Natural separation between regions The ‘polis’ or ‘city-state’ naturally emerged The sea is the main route of communication Greeks became great sailors, bringing ideas and wealth back to Greece

Re-Birth The writings of Homer gave the Greeks a glorious past, shared by citizens of all regions. Resurgence of trade in the Mediterranean and beyond led to new skills (ship-building) and new goods Better knowledge of the world around them An alphabet only 27 letters, easy for anyone to learn

Olympic Games to honour Zeus, began in 776 BCE Relationships formed with Italy, as Greeks emigrated to the rich lands of Rome and Sicily Led to colonization and Greek communities abroad Olympic Games to honour Zeus, began in 776 BCE Continued until 393 CE when they were banned by the Roman emperor of the day