1. Early Civilizations of the Mediterranean
Subtitle

2. Greek Origins
The origins of Greek culture lies in two earlier civilizations and period of city-states
Minoans
Mycenaean's
Age of City-states
Athens (Golden Age)
Sparta
Many others
Hellenistic Era (350 – 200 BCE)
Alexander unites Greece and conquers Egypt, Persia and N. India
In 2nd century BCE Roman Empire conquers Greece

3. Minoan Civilization (2000 BCE -1500 BCE)
Based on the island of Crete
Ends abruptly due to invasion or natural disaster
Economics:
Fishing, agriculture
Extensive trade network through the Med. (pottery found throughout the Med)
Traded with the early Greeks and Egyptians.
Politics:
Ruled by a king (monarchy)
Legendary king Minos is the most famous Minoan king
The civilization was named after him

4. Minoan Continued Culture: Society:
Built roads, temples, and lavish palaces
Bronze metallurgy
Writing system called Linear A (not deciphered)
Polytheistic: worshiped the fertility goddess (snake/ fertility goddess may be origin on Medusa)
Society:
Typical Social Hierarchy of ruler then nobles then rich then traders then peasants, women and slaves
Women regarded as important; given more freedom than many other early civilizations

6. Mycenaeans (1600-1200 BCE) Social -
typical patriarchic society. 
Ruler then nobles, then merchants, then farmers then slaves. 
Women had less rights than the Minoan Civilization.
Culture and legacy -
Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad, great metal workers, arch for the first time in Europe
Trojan War and the Trojan Horse
Famous for the Lion’s Gate and the Mask of Agamemnon
Earliest civilization based on mainland Greece
Politics -
Warlike
absolutist kings over various city states
conquered Minoans. 
Colonized along Persian coast
Economy – sailors, farmers, merchants
Religion – polytheist Greek mythology

8. Phoenicians (900- 202 BCE) Legacy: Centered in modern day Lebanon
Around 900 they began to move westward across the Med.
Greeks called them “red men”
Known for creating a red-purple dye from glands of a snail
Major trade networks that established colonies throughout the Med.
Ex. Carthage
Legacy:
Alphabet:
Consisted on 22 consonants
No pictorial symbols
Depicted only sounds
Ancestor of the Roman alphabet