1. The Mycenaeans The Mycenaeans (1900-1100 BCE)‏

2. The Mycenaean Legacy Greeks recognize Mycenaean civilization as part of their heritage. Political System: Feudal Rigid class structure – exploited those who were not warrior class or above. Family ties, marriages, tentative alliances and sketchy truces bound local rulers into smaller kingdoms Buried dead with honour, surrounding them with precious objects and pottery (Egyptian influence?) Worship of Heroes – “The Age of Heroes” – Homeric epics the Iliad and the Odyssey – pursuit of heroic excellence

3. The Mycenaeans “Archaean” invaders entered mainland Greece around 2500 BCE from Asia Minor By 1600 BCE they had developed a complex culture around the Peloponnesian peninsula One of the central cites names “Mycenae” Mycenae Remains

4. Mycenaean Palace States A number of palace states fought each other for power, each has a warrior king who was both a military and religious figure Warlike society controlled by the ruling class, peasants and craftsmen served the nobles

5. Agamemnon Alleged Mask of Agamemnon found by Schliemann Famed king of Mycenae in Greek Myth 1250 B.C. attacked city of Troy Long and exhaustive leads to weakened

6. Interior reconstruction of a Megaron

7. Mycenaean Religion Many Gods, including Zeus, supreme ruler of Mount Olympus and of the Pantheon of gods who resided there, and Poseidon Other gods were nature divinities and spirits Shaft graves and burial practices Religious practices influenced later classical Greek culture Zeus

8. Mycenaean Achievements Perfected Linear “B” Elaborate royal graves (first shaft graves, then beehive shaped)‏ Defeated the Trojans in the “Trojan War” in 1250 BCE Agamemnon a famous king

9. Decline of The Mycenaeans The long and costly war with Troy weakened the city state of Mycenae which fell around 1100 BCE “Dorians” form the north invaded with iron weapons Dark Ages – 3 centuries Invasions also came from many sea peoples