2. Mycenaean Civilization Flashcards
What did greeks call the people before them?
the Pelasgoi (“Pelasgians”)
How do we know they existed?
- Desctruction of House of Tiles
- Great writers (like Plato) seemed to reflect that they knew Greeks came here and had a word for the people before hand
- Horse Skeletons
- New Pottery Style
- New Burial Style - (“shaft graves”) emerges at the site of Mycenae, circa 1600 B.C.
Where are shaft graves found?
Mycenae, circa 1600 B.C.
What is the House of Tiles?
They think a prince or leader lived there and after their defeat his palace was burned down
built circa 2200 B.C. by non-Greek aboriginal people
destroyed circa 2100 B.C., presumably by the invading Greeks
About how many modern languages are in the Indo-European Family?
59
Where did the Indo-European Language Family originate?
originating in southern Russia or perhaps the Caucasus Mountains? But proliferating gradually after 4200 B.C
Who made the Indo-European Language connection? (and when?)
Sir William Jones 1700s
How do we know about the early Indo-Europeans?
Main source of information – Language analysis of Indo-European Languages - Both modern and now-obsolete
Supplemented by archaeology at various locations
What key technology did the Indo-Europeans possess?
Chariots
What do we know about the Indo-European tribes? (+ years active)
4200-2200
- were a warlike society
- were patriarchal, ascending to a king or a male tribal chief
- had domesticated the horse and other farm animals
- had acquired the wheel. (They didn’t invent it, however.)
- perhaps did invent the chariot-design: two wheels, two horses, and a lightweight box of wood or wickerwork, to carry up to two people
- originally had no knowledge of the sea
- were polytheistic—they worshipped multiple gods
Who were the first Greeks?
The Mycenaeans
How did the Indo-Europeans enter Greece?
Most likely from the land north where they worked their way south and eventually crossed to Crete
Were the minoans greek?
NO
Where did the Minoans live?
on the aisle of Crete
Who inhabited Crete?
the Minoans
Who did the greeks copycat?
Everyone. (Egyptians, Minoans, )
Which Mycenaean City was the largest?
Mycenae
Who discovered Mycenae ?
A rich, retired, German businessman-turned-amateur-archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann
where is the lions gate?
Mycenae
When were the shaft graves dug?
1600 BC
When were the tholos tombs dug?
1500 BC
What were the differences between the shaft graves and tholos tombs?
Tholos tombs were more elaborate
When did the Greeks invade and conquer the Minoan Crete?
1490 BC
How many Mycenaean Kingdoms were there at their prime?
15 or so
Why do we think the Mycenaeans were under stress?
There stopped being as much gold in their tombs.
When did the Mycenaeans get destroyed?
1200 BC
Why did ancient civilizations seek copper?
To mix it with tin and make bronze.
Why did ancient civilizations seek tin?
to mix it with copper to make bronze.
How do you make bronze?
Mix copper and tin.
Where is Hellespont?
The Hellespont connects the Sea of Aegean to the Sea of Marmara and then to the Black Sea.
Could there have been a real Trojan war?
Yes! but not over a princess, instead it’s very possible Troy, located at the end of Hellespont, tried to disrupt the Mycenaeans’ trade route.
