Late Bronze Age Flashcards
1
Q
A ‘Minoan Thalassocracy’
A
- Sea Empire?
- Minoanisation of the Aegean? Lots of material culture found but unsure if this is a precursor to colonies
- 1600-1400 BC, M Minoan IIIA, IIIB, L Minoan IA-B, Neopalatial (New Palace)
2
Q
Main sites showing Minoan traits
A
- Minoan influence around the whole Aegean Basin
- Kythera - Kastri + Agios Giorgos
- Melos - Phylakopi
- Keos - Agia Irini
- Thera (Santorini) - Akrotiri
- Rhodes - Trianda
- Kos - Sergalio
- Anatolia- Miletus, Iasos
3
Q
Minoanisation = presence of Minoan cultural traits
A
- Presence of Minoan and Minoanising objects - not necessarily actual Minoans
- Minoan architectural features
- Minoan Frescoes
- Minoan religious customs
- Minoan tombs
- Minoan scripts and administrative system
4
Q
What processes underline the Minoanisation of the Aegean?
A
- Thalassocracy?
- Colonization: a) Governed colonies, b) Settlement colonies, c) Community colonies?
- Emulation/Acculturation?
- Network Analyses
- Mono-causal explanations not sufficient or useful to explain the variety of ‘Minoanisation’ we see in the archaeological record
5
Q
Keftiu and their curls
A
- Depicted on freizes in tomb chapel of Rekhmire, Dyn XVIII, c 1450 BC
- Foreigners, bringing ‘tributes’ - may be trade more than offerings - bringing oxhide ingots of copper and distinctive pottery
6
Q
Bull leaping friezes
A
- Depicted in friezes in Tell el-Daba (Avaris) in Egypt - these paintings are distinctive of Minoan palace decoration
- Site of Tell el-Daba royal seat of Hyksos kings - thought to be an alliance between Hyksos and Minoans but now thought to be later than Hyksos occupation
7
Q
The Thutmoside Empire
A
- Pharoahs of the 18th dynasty annex large areas outside of Egypts borders, beginning with Thutmose I, likely due to having being invaded from both sides previously - establishes the full extent of Egyptian power
- Reinforced by his grandson Thutmose III - seen as the consolidator of the Egyptian Empire
- Lower Nubia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, some of Syria - local city state rulers kept in power in Syria-Palestine but under power of Egypt
- Children of leader sent to be educated in Egypt
- Nubia becomes a Viceroyalty
8
Q
Tomb of Hatsheput
A
- All but one female rulers are co-rulers with a male
- Ruled alongside her step-son
- Cartouche scratched out after death - no longer an acceptable individual
- Built her temple at Deir el-Bahari
- Trade expeditions to Punt - best records come from depictions from her memorial temple
9
Q
Mycenae grave circles
A
- Late Helladic IIA -1510-1430 c -Mycenae reaches peak prosperity and size
- Grave circle A moved inside the walls
- Lion Gate added
10
Q
Mycenaeans in the Southeastern Aegean
A
- Links between Mycenae and the rest of the Aegean strengthen around 1500-1400 BC
- Similar to Minoans, material culture found around the Aegean but unknown if this is cultural or political power spreading
11
Q
Sacking of Crete
A
- 1450 BC destruction of all palaces outside Knossos - unknown why Knossos was spared
- By late 15th c BC, Mycenean Occupation - genuine take over, not cultural borrowings - may suggest other material in the Aegean represents genuine Imperial power expansion
- Discovery of baked clay tablets indicates burning, as these were usually unbaked
12
Q
Amenhotep III Plaques
A
-Stronger links between Mycenae and Egypt in 14th century BC
Dyn XVIII, 1350 BC - Egyptian Embassy travelling the
-Military expansion ended by this point - peak in Egyptian riches and monumental temples built, particularly in Nubia
- One found at Mycenae, in LH IIIB context
- Souvenirs for leaders/rulers during diplomatic visits?
13
Q
Aegean Place Name List
A
- Kom el-Hetan
- Blocks bear names of conquered peoples
- One has name rings of Aegean locations e.g. Mycenae, represented as men with their hands behind their back
- Representations didn’t necessarily show conquering of them - just theological that king owns the whole world
- Does show there was a connection between Amenhotep III and the Aegean world
14
Q
Boars Tusk Helmets
A
- Shown on papyrus, 14th c BC from Amarna
- Boars Tusk Helmets distinctive of the Aegean - shows there are Greeks serving as mercenaries in the Egyptian army
- Plate armour also worn
- Examples from 16th -13th c, LH II
- Pottery also finds its way from Greece to Egypt
15
Q
Hittite Empire
A
- 16th C BC: campaigns into Mespotamia
- Mid 15th C BC: formation of Empire in Anatolia and Syria
- Most likely to be a real threat to Egypt
- Nearby Mittani previously crushed by Egypt and became allies
- Hittite empire eventually swallows up Mittani
- Capital at Hattusa - now Bogazkoy - great fortress in the Highlands
16
Q
King Sethy I Syro
-Palestinian campaign
A
- Depicted at Karnak
- Dyn XIX, c. 1270 BC
- Land changing hands constantly at this point
- Change in art style/depiction from king smiting enemies to king driving a chariot into battle
17
Q
Battle of Qadesh
A
- Depictions in all of Rameses II’s memorials and temples although Rameses doesn’t come off too well
- Peace Treaty between Kings- earliest surviving treaty in the world
- Rameses II & Hattusilis III signed - depicted on wall in Karnak temple and on baked clay tablets in Hatti
- Both sides claimed they had won
18
Q
Merenptah Year 5: attempted Libyan invasion
A
-Dyn XIX, 1200 BC
-Israel Stela - only text to ever mention Israel
Libyan’s Allies include ‘Sea Peoples’
• Eqwesh (Achaeans?)
• Lukka (Lycaeans?)
• Shekelesh (Sicilians?)
• Sherden (Sardinians?)
• Teresh (Tyrrhenians?)
19
Q
Egypt: late Dyn XIX civil war
A
- c1190–1175 BC
- Major problems within the royal family and between North and South
- Ends with female pharoah, Tawasret of the 19th Dynasty
20
Q
King Taa
A
- Dyn XVII, 1550 BC
- Number of wounds on mummified head
- Dagger thrusts behind the ear, axe wound on upper cheek, other cheek smashed by club
- Native Egyptian leaders throw out Nubias in south and Hyksos in south in this period
21
Q
War of Liberation
A
King Ahmose I Dynasty XVII 1540-1515 BC
Fully expels Hyksos invaders and a new era begins
22
Q
King Akenhaten and Queen Nefertiti
A
- At Amarna, first known experiment with monotheism anywhere in the ancient world - worship of the sun disk god the Aten - sun based cult
- Link to hebrew god Yahweh?
- Associated change in art style
- New capital at Tell el-Amarna
- Rapid conversion to traditional religion after Akenhatens death
- Son Tutankhamun originally called Tutankhaten but changed his name when he gave up the Aten cult
23
Q
Amarna
A
- Akenhaten’s new capital, Dyn XVIII
- Important archaeologically as it was never built over
- Building work begun by Amenhotep
- City abandoned shortly after the 18th dynasty
- Famous letters found here - unsure what order they go in and this could change our view of when things happened
- Written in lingua franca of the time, Akkadian cuneiform
- Includes letters from Hatti (east turkey), Mittani, Babylonia, Assyria, Arzawa (west turkey), Alashiya (cyprus) and Egypt
- Nothing from Mycenae or Crete but we know there was a connection due to Amenhoteps plaques and Mycenaen pottery in Egypt
24
Q
Rameses II
A
- Most building projects/self promotion
- Abu Simel
- Carries on battles in North Syria against the Hittites, particularly at Qadesh
25
Q
Rameses III
A
-Dynasty XX ‘Last Great Pharoah’ after which there is the collapse in the Iron Age, c.1200 BC
