The Greek Dark Ages ● The Greek dark age was a period which dated between BC ● It was was a period of limited cultural advancement in terms of art, architecture, and writing ● Former Mycenaean fortresses continued to be occupied but in a very limited capacity ● The invasion from the Dorians set off this dark age

Who is to blame? ● Greek tradition attributed the invasion to the Dorians who came from the Balkans ● The Dorians considered themselves the sons of Heracles ● The Dorians easily conquered the Mycenaeans with their “Iron weapons”

Did anything happen? ● The Cemetery of Petari tells us that some cultural advancement / contact DID take place ● Grave goods included jewelry, clothing accessories, weapons, tools and pottery ● Numerous items were found to be from other civilizations such as Egypt, Syria, and Cyprus. ● Sadly, the last occupied burial dates to 1075 BC

The Greek Migration ● Known settlements in Greece declined from 320 sites to just 40! ● The Greeks either joined the “Sea people” or scattering to places of refuge. ● The Greeks would settle to the coast of Asia Minor. ● Major cities established included Miletus, Ephesus, Myus, Priene, Colophon, Lebedos, Teos, and Samos.

Was the Dark Age that bad? ● The loss of imports of tin and copper forced the the remaining Greeks to learn “Ironworking” ● Greeks migrated into Asia Minor creating cross cultural contacts ● The loss of writing created a strong oral story tradition in Greece (Homer) ● The loss of the central palace system would be the beginning for the smaller city state.

The end of the Dark Age ● The Dark Age slowly parted when Homer hymned the Trojan War and the first Olympic games were founded in 776BC ● Around the same time there was a huge population explosion along with higher quality grave goods.

The Olympic Games! ● The games were originally created to celebrate the Olympian gods ● Quickly the games became about encouraging good relations between the city states. ● The Greeks would stop warring between city states so citizens could travel safely to the games

The Events ● The Olympic events were typically preformed in the nude ● Athletes in some cases would lather themselves up in olive oil ● Events included Stadion race (200M dash), boxing, Pentathlon (Discus, Javelin, Jumping, Wrestling), and Equestrian events

The Victor! ● Rewards would be handed out after the competition ● Hellanodikis (Greek Judge) would place a palm branch in the victors hands ● A herald would announce his name, his father's name, and his homeland. ● A more formal victory presentation would take place on the last day of the games at the temple of Zeus. The victor was given a sacred laurel

Greek life and sports ● Sports and physical education would play a critical role in Greek life and education. People would pay for an athletes' Gloios ● The Gymnasium would become a community training facility, a place for education, and philosophical pursuits ● A young persons education primarily took place in the Gymnasium