2. The Bronze Age: Minoans and Mycenaeans Flashcards
What is bronze made of?
90% copper + 10% tin
Why did the people of Greece decide to add tin to copper?
copper was too soft
What impact did bronze have on Greek society?
Massive impact on society. made work and war more efficient, increased growing gap between high rank families from the rest of the people.
Source of copper in Greece
Trade relations required to access tin
Supplies of tin had to be imported,this meant that only the wealthier people could afford. Other people made due with less quality materials
When did the excavations occur to reveal these early Greek site and what was the culture that was discovered?
1800s
Minoan culture
Focused on the island of Crete
When was Crete settled, who became the majority population?
Island settled c. 7000 BCE
Minoans c. 3000 BCE
Who discovered the palace complex of Knossos in Crete and when was it discovered? When did full excavations begin?
1894 CE – Sir Arthur Evans uncovers
the palace complex of Knossos, Crete
Full excavations begin in 1900
What are the periods of the Minoan timeline based on architectural discoveries?
Pre-palatial (early Minoan) - c. 3000-2100 BCE
Sophisticated culture, gaining wealth *No palaces
Proto-palatial (middle Minoan) – c. 2100-1650 BCE
Elaborate buildings constructed, population boom, large urban centres *Palaces exist
Neo-palatial (late Minoan) – c. 1650-1400 BCE
c. 1650 BCE = eruption on Thera
Rebuilding bigger and better
*significant damages to the palaces on Crete, had to be rebuilt bigger and better. wood framing being added to stone walls in case of earth quakes.knosos a throne was cut from stone and a new palace structure built around it.
Post-palatial – c. 1400 BCE + *After the palace
What type of society does palace culture create? What was the palace responsible for?
Earliest Aegean state level society
Re-distributive society-
Control over resources
Administrative and political centers
Centralization and stratification- social heirachy=elite becoming the ruling class that controlled the state. grain and olive oil stored in the palace created a reserve in times of famine
What does Thalassocracy come from? (break down of word)
Thalassa (sea) + kratos (power)
When was linear a writing created? Why was it used? What could of inspired it?
c. 1900 BCE – Minoans develop pictographic
writing (E.g., I ❤ New York)
Specific use/purpose
*Example- fired clay disk with spiral of stamped symbols -scholars think it is a pray to a goddess of fertility
May have been inspired by Egyptian hieroglyphics
Who discovered linear b writing? What was it use?
Sir Arthur Evans = 3000 tablets found in palace
excavations
Each sign stands for a syllable in a word
Evans determined it was kept for record keeping
What was the Minoan architectural and art styles?
Commercial and diplomatic ties to older civilizations = Minoans adopt techniques, design elements, etc.
Adapt to their own visual style
Uniquely Minoan
Eastern palaces = glorify royal house. No evidence of similar emphasis on Crete *no real images of kings as heroic warriors
Motifs in art: flora and fauna, sports, fishing,
processions, etc
Minoans were seen as slender in paintings, wore a variety of jewellery. Painting shown a clear love of the natural wold and sea
Fresco’s were popular
What style was the palace at Knossos? What did this show?
Late Minoan/Neo-palatial
Less effort on defensive walls, focus on architecture and design
*it once covered 5 acres with 500 rooms. it was constructed with stone and mud brick and reinforce with timber to withstand earthquakes. it was 2 -3 stories high with basement. drains-running water and waste disposable. had balconies and painted corridors
What did the palace emerge as?
the palace at Knossos had emerged as the one central government in which all Minoan were organized.
What are some of the theories of what caused the decline of the Minoans?
Volcanic eruption at Thera
Destruction on island – buried Akrotiri
Tsunami from eruption?
Not immediate collapse but gradual decline Damage to coast → strain on trade and communication → naval power falters → vulnerable to conquest
Evidence of destruction by fire (Knossos spared)
Mycenaeans
Who was Heinrich Schliemann? What did he discover and when?
b. 1822
Classical education
Used fortune to find legendary sites
NOT a trained archaeologists
Caused lots of damage; kept poor records
1871 – excavated Troy
1873 – “Priam’s Treasure”
1876 – excavated MycenaeWhat types of graves did the Mycenaean use? When?
Shaft graves
1700-1500 BCE
Rich grave goods esp. 1600-1500 BCE
When did the Mycenaean people start using tholos tombs and why?
c. 1500 BCE – tholos tombs (pl.tholoi)
Bigger and more elaborate than Minoans
Demonstration of wealth and power
When was linear b deciphered? By who?
in 1930 Evan did a presentation,Michael Ventris was present and became interested and took over 20 years deciphered it. he noticed that some symbols pairings were only appeared in the linear b tablets found in Crete and not from mainland Greece. thought could be places which were proven correct. he was able to unlock more of the txt linear b was a early form of Greek. proves that Mycenaean language was an early form of Greek and they adapted the script and used it the same ways as Minoan. this shows that Mycenaean took over Crete form the Minoans. used for record keeping and they are found in palace centres. linear b demonstrates cultural continuity between Mycenaean and Greeks.
Michael Ventris Some symbols on tablets on Crete, not mainland Greece = Place names Linear B = early Greek! Mycenaean's adapted Minoan script Used for record keeping, administration
When was the Mycenaean’s dominance?
1400-1200 BCE
How many confirmed Mycenaean palace centres? What are the characteristics of these palace centres?
15+ confirmed palace centres
E.g., Mycenae, Pylos, Tiryns, Athens, Thebes
Centralized control of regions
Located on dominating hills (acropolis)
Cyclopean walls
Fortification purposes
Physical division and domination
What would be included in the palace (architecture/areas/art)?
Megaron Great hall Hearth Ceremonial centre Home of the king Artistic motifs: warfare, hunting, combat
Who were the dominant groups when it came to trade?
Egypt
Hittite Empire
What were the terms in Hittite texts that refereed to the Mycenaean?
Ahhiyawa – Achaeans “king of Ahhiyawa”
Wilusa → (W(ilios) → Ilion?
