On the Greek Mainland, the coast of Asia minor and the islands between

The inhabitants (Pelasgians) shared a similar language and ethnicity originating from the eastern Turkey and Mesopotamia where agriculture had replaced hunting Farmers – cultivating grains, domesticating sheep and goats. Religious goal was to keep destructive natural forces (male) happy, and worship reproductive and fertility spirits (female) Matriarchy – women ruled families (tribes) – emphasis on fertility, procreation, nurturing crops, herds, children.

A less cultured, more aggressive, they overran the Pelasgians, & either slauhtered or absorbed them Also from the east Spoke the language that would develop into classical Greek Focused on hunting and warfare. worshipped male gods of hunting and war in their mountain homes. The old Pelasgian mother goddesses became mere consorts to these male gods. Patriarchy: family traced through the male line. Ancestors to the Greeks of the Homeric (heroic) period. Heroes like Jason and the Argonauts, Heracles, Theseus, Perseus and the Medusa head, probably from this time

The Achaeans didn’t invade here and a non-militaristic civilisation thrived centred about the worship of the mother goddess. Centred on city of Knossos Ruled by king Minos Rich art, crafts, architecture Bull leaping Early writing (still not deciphered) Known through myths of their contact with the Achaeans (traders in the eastern Mediterranean) Legend of Theseus and the minotaur Volcanic island of Thera blew up around 1500BC The source of the legend of Atlantis. Knossos finally destroyed around 1380 BC at the hands of mainland Achaean warriors (Mycenaean Civilisation)

Crete: Minoan Civilization (Palace at Knossos)

Minoan Civilization

Knossos: Minoan Civilization

The Achaeans grew in strength to dominate not only the mainland but after the destruction of Crete, the eastern Mediterranean. Central government kept dominant by warrior class. Harsh geography meant that agriculture couldn’t support population, and hunting, trading, and raiding grew. plundered neighbouring regions, and grew rich and powerful, but unstable. Archaeological evidence suggests they began to decline after about 1300BC (Period of the trojan war) Troy defeated traditionally about 1250BC Their culture was finally destroyed by internal warfare about 1100 BC.

Schliemann excavated Troy and Mycenae in late 1800s The Mycenaean dig

Period of decline and chaos after the decline of Mycenae But not only decline! Iron replaced bronze – a superior technology. Oral poets (bards) retold & kept alive the old sories of the gods & heroes and of the Bronze age. These were worked up and memorised 1000s of lines of poetry passed on from bard to bard.. Writing developed and poems finally written down about 700 BC. Homer of the heroes of the trojan war Hesiod made sense of the many myths about the gods. Lived in city/village states called polis (plural = Poleis) Sense of themselves as one people with shared myths religion and language Olympic games begin 776BC Called their region HELLAS (After the mythological patriarch Hellen, son of Deucalion (Noah) – Grandson of Prometheus)

Factors bringing them together Common Language, Religion, and festivals Co-operative supervision of certain temples Belief that the Greeks were descended from the same ancestors Rugged Mountains separating the valleys Rivalries between city- states separate legal systems independent calendars, money, weights and measures Fierce spirit of independence Factors keeping them apart

Monarchies getting replaced by oligarchies (aristocracy) Colonies to Italy and Asia Minor (Ionia - modern coastal turkey) Law givers Lycergus (Sparta), Draco (Athens), Solon (Athens)- first inclings of limited democracy Coinage Persians invade Greeks colonies in Asia minor (Ionia) about 550 BC The Persian Wars: Till the defeat of the Persians at Marathon, Theromopylae (the 300), Salamis

Rise of Athenian empire (Pericles) Athens Golden age BC: Herodotus (History), Sophocles (Drama), Socrates (philosophy) Parthenon, Athen’s Democracy War against Sparta – ends Athens golden age Warfare between Greek City-states (polis) Philip of Macedon (Alexander’s father) unites the city-states Alexander the Great– conquerors the Persian empire BC)

Alexander’s conquests ruled by various greek aristocrats fighting each other In kingdoms from Egypt to Afghanistan the “world” is Hellenised :Science, learning, Classical civilation spread Meanwhile… City state of Rome risen from 600BC to dominate the region Caesar dies 44BC- the Roman city republic had grown to a world empire – civil war 31BC defeat of Antony & Cleopatra by Octavian (later Augustus Caesar, 1st Emperor of Rome) Roman Empire 30BC till 410 AD (West centred on Rome) and till 1443AD (East - Byzantium)