OA Pg. 102 – Geography and History question Pg. 104 – caption question

Chapter 5 Early People of the Aegean Global History I Mr. Schoff

OA In 3-5 sentences, describe a story/fairy tale/fable that you heard (now or when you were younger) that you thought was definitely true, yet later on you found out that it was 100% completely false.

Let’s read! Setting the Scene Page 102 in your textbooks

Minoan Civilization Crete was an island, home to a brilliant civilization Reached its greatest success between 1750-1500 B.C. Success based on trade, not conquest Set up outposts all over Aegean world Contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia, acquired ideas and technology that they adapted to their own culture (a.k.a._______ _______?)

Palace at Knossos Rulers lived here Rooms for royal family, banquet halls, and working areas for artisans Religious shrines Walls of palace covered with colorful frescoes

Minoan Frescoes

Minoan Frescoes

Palace of Knossos Leaping dolphins reflect the importance of the sea to the Minoan people Religious images indicate that they worshiped the bull and a mother goddess Jumping through the horns of a charging bull

Disappearance 1400 B.C., Minoan civilization vanished Not sure why May have been due to… Sudden volcanic eruption on a nearby island Earthquake may have destroyed the palace Tidal wave may have drowned the people of the island Invaders certainly played a role Mycenaeans (1st Greek-speaking people that we have a written record about)

Successful Sea Traders Mycenaean civilization dominated Aegean sea trade between 1400-1200 B.C. Reached Sicily, Egypt, and Mesopotamia Learned many skills from the Minoans including art of writing Absorbed Egyptian and Mesopotamian influences that they later gave to Greeks They lived in separate city-states In each, a warrior-king built a thick-walled fortress from which he ruled the surrounding villages Wealthy rulers – treasure, fine gold ornaments

The Trojan War Took place around 1250 B.C. Mycenaeans best known for their part in Trojan War with Troy, a rich trading city in present-day Turkey Troy controlled straits that connect the Mediterranean and Black Seas Greek legend says that the cause of the war was romance-based

Romantic Cause After Trojan Prince Paris kidnapped Helen, beautiful wife of a Greek king, the Mycenaeans sailed to Troy to rescue her For the next 10 years, they battled until the Greeks seized Troy and burned the city to the ground

For centuries, most people thought the Trojan War was just a legend until the 1870s when a wealthy German businessman, Heinrich Schliemann, set out to prove that it is fact-based Excavated the site of ancient Troy, found evidence of fire and war dating to about 1250 B.C. Although most details remain lost in legend, today’s historians believe that the Trojan War was an actual event Legend vs. Fact

Fix this… Based on an island in the Black Sea, Minoans spread their civilization through a series of conquests.

Fix this… Minoan rulers lived in small, undecorated forts.

Fix this… Minoan civilization was wiped out by a virulent plague and marauding invaders from Egypt.

Fix this… Because they were poor sailors, Mycenaeans had to rely on other civilizations to come to them to trade.

Fix this… In the 1870s, Heinrich Schliemann proved that the legendary Trojan War between the Minoans and the Trojans never occurred.

The Age of Homer Dorians invaded Mycenaean civilization not long after the fall of Troy and the Mycenaeans fell apart Their power faded, people stopped trading, and abandoned cities From 1100-800 B.C., Greek civilization stepped backward, forgetting many skills, including writing

Age of Homer – Iliad and the Odyssey 2 epic poems – learned about life during this time period based on these poems May have been a combination of authors, but people credit the poems to Homer, who probably lived around 750 B.C. Blind poet, wandered from village to village, singing of heroic deeds Passed on orally for generations before they were finally written down

Iliad Main source of information on the Trojan War Even though story involves gods, goddessses and even a talking horse At the start of the poem, Achilles, mightiest Greek warrior, is sulking in his tent because of a dispute with his commander Even though the war turns against the Greeks, Achilles stubbornly refuses to listen to pleas that he should rejoin the fighting He returns to battle after his friend is killed

Odyssey Tells of struggles of the Greek hero Odysseus, and his return home to his wife Penelope, after the fall of Troy Odysseus encounters a sea monster, a race of one-eyed giants, and a beautiful sorceress who turns men into pigs Land of Odysseus - History.com

Both Poems Tells much about the values of the ancient Greeks Heroes display honor, courage, and eloquence “Every man make up his mind to fight And move on his enemy! Strong as I am, It’s hard for me to face so many men And fight with all at once…. And yet I will!” For almost 3,000 years, the epics of Homer inspired European writers and artists

Looking Ahead Centuries after Dorian invasions, Greeks lived in small, isolated villages No writing and few contacts with the outside world They developed a civilization that influenced many parts of the world These stories became part of the Greek heritage

Let’s Review!!! Write down any 3 facts that you did not know before you took these notes on the Early People of the Aegean