Geography The Land –Mountainous, rugged terrain with few natural resources –NOT ARABLE –Made it difficult to unite under one government The Sea –Connected the Greeks –You could say, the Greeks did not live on a land, but around a sea

Powerful traders from the island of Crete on the Aegean Sea. Ruled by King Minos who was said to keep a minotaur in a labyrinth. Characterized by athletics and colorful paintings found at Knossos (capital city). Created much of what would become Greek mythology. Minoans

Mycenaeans B.C. Indo-Europeans who migrated and settled on the Greek mainland. Named after their leading city Mycenae. Ruled by warrior-kings who lived in fortified cities on a hill and who got their wealth by controlling local production and commercial trade. Conquered the Minoans but took on much of their culture including their religious practices.

Lion’s Gate: entrance to the city of Mycenae Death Mask of Mycenaean warrior-king

Believed to be a myth until 1870 when Heinrich Schliemann discovered the remains of the city. 10 year battle between Mycenae and Troy. Troy: independent trading city located in Anatolia (present day Turkey) Allegedly fought over Helen, a beautiful queen of Greece who was kidnapped by a Trojan (Troy) youth. Another theory suggests it was fought over control of a crucial waterway in the Aegean Sea. Trojan War

The Mycenaeans destroyed the city of Troy.

Greek Dark Ages B.C. Mycenaean civilization collapses around 1200 B.C. after sea raiders attack and burn down cities Less advanced Dorians move in –No written language or record –Collapse of trade and centralized economy

Homer was a blind storyteller who composed the epics The Iliad and The Odyssey Epic: long narrative poems celebrating heroic deeds These poems take place under the backdrop of the Trojan war What do the Greeks value? –Read excerpt from The Iliad on p. 114 Epics of Homer

From the Iliad (about the Trojan War) by Homer (movie version). Achilles – Greeks’ greatest warrior, part god part human, said to be semi- immortal (heel). Agamemnon – leader of Greek forces in the war against Troy. Is jealous of Achilles and the two do not get along.