Early Civilization In Greece Chapter 8 Lesson 2

Objectives Describe the achievements of the Minoans and Mycenaeans. Describe the importance of Homer. Explain the importance of Greek mythology to the everyday life of the ancient Greeks.

Vocabulary Peasant – poor farmer Cultural Borrowing – when a culture takes ideas from another culture Bard – professional story tellers that traveled from town to town Legend – stories handed down from earlier times that explain the past Epic – long poems Myth – stories about the actions of gods and goddesses and how they affected the lives of people Mythology – all the stories passed down from generation to generation

The Minoans Minoan culture developed on the island of Crete Crete is a long narrow island with rugged mountains and flat plains In about 2,000 B.C., the Minoans began building cities In each city, they built a large palace that was the center for government and religion The mild climate made Crete a pleasant place for the Minoans to live Page 279 shows the city of Knossos; the largest Minoan palace

Minoan Life Minoans developed a rich culture They enjoyed painting, dancing, music and sports. In many of the paintings, both women and men wear gold jewelry and have long flowing hair Wrote on clay tablets They were expert sailors and traded with other cultures around the Mediterranean The Minoan culture had come to an end by about 1100 B.C.

Minoan Life They produced olive oil, wine, wool, pottery and other goods. In return they received copper, tin, and gold. Historians believe there could be many ends to the Minoan civilization such as: A fire Volcanic Eruption Earthquake Arrival of Mycenaeans

The Mycenaeans The Mycenaean civilization developed on the Peloponnesus (map on page 281) They adopted many customs from the Minoans and made them their own They spoke an early form of the Greek language Used Minoan art and pottery styles The warlike Mycenaeans controlled Crete and much of the Peloponnesus until about 1100 B.C. How did the location of Crete help the Mycenaeans trade with other cultures?

The Mycenaeans How did the location of Crete help the Mycenaeans trade with other cultures? The Mycenaeans were in an ideal location to sail throughout the Mediterranean

Legends and Myths Greeks developed a tradition of storytelling Myths and legends were passed down through generations and were important to everyday life The stories were entertaining, but they also taught Greek ideals, values and beliefs The legend of the Trojan War comes from the bard Homer’s two epics, the Iliad (describes attacks on Troy)and the Odyssey (story of Odysseus on his way home from Trojan War.

Legends and Myths Each Greek god and goddess possessed a special power or controlled a specific part of human life Zeus was god of thunder and lightning Hera was goddess of marriage and childbirth Zeus and Hera were king and queen over all the Greek gods at Mount Olympus Myths were very important to Greek religion

Legends and myths Recap What do the artifacts on page 282 tell you about Greek culture and religion? How do we know that at least some events in Homer’s epic about the Trojan War are probably true? Why were Greek gods important to the Greek’s daily lives?

Legends and Myths Recap What do the artifacts on page 282 tell you about Greek culture and religion? Show that the ancient Greeks worshipped and celebrated a number of gods and goddesses How do we know that at least some events in Homer’s epic about the Trojan War are probably true? Archaeologists have found evidence that suggests that Troy was in fact attacked and burned Why were Greek gods important to the Greek’s daily lives? The Greeks believed that each god or goddess controlled a specific part of daily life

The Greek Dark Age During the Greek Dark Age culture declined They abandoned their palaces and cities Trade stopped, poverty set in Many cultural achievements were lost during this time Through legends and myths the traditions and beliefs of the early Greeks survived About 750 BC the Dark Age was coming to an end

Summary The Minoans and Mycenaeans developed two of Greece’s earliest civilizations. The Minoans built cities around great palaces. Considered the first Greeks, the Mycenaean culture borrowed from the Minoan culture. By the 1100s BC these civilizations had disappeared. Legends and myths kept the traditions and beliefs of Greece’s early civilizations alive.