4. Early Civilizations in Greece Geography Minoans Mycenaeans Dark Ages 4. Early Civilizations in Greece

Impact of Geography Relatively infertile land – 80% mountainous Isolation = independence Extensive use of the seas (no part of Greece is more than 60 mi from sea) Aegean Mediterranean Ionian

Minoans Island of Crete ~2700 - 1450 BCE Knossos Trade!! Cultural diffusion 1450 BCE – sudden destruction Tidal wave? Invasion?

Minoans

Greek Mainland – Two Main Peninsulas

Mycenaeans ~1600 - ~1100 BCE Indo-Europeans Hill forts Monarchies Main city=Mycenae Independent states Tholos tombs Burial for royalty

Mycenaeans Warrior people Heroic deeds impt Commercial network Military expansion ? Homer Iliad Odyssey

Mycenaeans Earthquakes Fighting each other Invaders 1100 BCE

Dark Ages Population declines Food production decreases ~1150-~750BCE = “Dark Age” Ionian flight Aeolians = north & central Dorians = Peloponese Iron age

Greek Alphabet From Phoenicians Version = 24 letters Homer’s work appears at end Dark Ages

Homer Epic poem Trojan war Odyssey Iliad “hubris” “arete” Heroic excellence won in brave struggle Preserve honor