Quiz 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Who are Heinrich Schliemann and Sophia Schliemann?

A

Heinrich Schliemann: discoverer of Troy but used poor excavation skills to uncover the city; assumed that Troy II was Homeric Troy but Troy VI was the closest archaeological match

Sophia Schliemann: wife to Heinrich; could recite Homer; modelled “Jewels of Helen” from “Priam’s Treasure” (Troy II), but the jewelry was actually too old to be Helen’s

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2
Q

What are the four associations to the Minoans?

A
  1. Europa and the Bull: Zeus the Bull abducts Europa; their child is Minos, the first king of the land → Minos for “Minoans” and Europa for “Europe”
  2. Pasiphae and the Bull: Pasiphae has sex with a literal bull and gives birth to the Minotaur, who is kept within the Labyrinth
  3. Bulls appear fairly often in Minoan art and architecture (eg. horns of consecration, bull leaping fresco).
  4. Labyrinths in Minoan architecture appeared as ground plans of palaces (eg. Knossos, Phaistos, Mallia, and Zakros)
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3
Q

Characteristics of Minoan Palaces

A

labyrinth-like floor plans; built outward from central courtyard; large storage areas with large storage jars (pithoi); bathrooms with flush toilets and drainage system; few defensive walls; residential quarters had stairwells and light wells

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4
Q

Functions of Minoan Palaces

A

centers for collection, storage, and redistribution of food and other goods; centers of craft productivity; centralized administration; cult activities embedded in the palaces (eg. lustral basin and ritual pool at Knossos)

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5
Q

Economy of Minoan Palaces

A

mixed farming and crafts; specialized production of wine, olive oil, pottery and textiles; overseas contacts with Aegean, Anatolia, Cyprus, Levant, and Egypt for trade; used seals for record keeping

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6
Q

Minoan Religion

A

used extra-palatial shrines for peaks, caves, and trees

Peak sanctuaries: palaces established in their vicinity; horns of consecration framed views of peak sanctuaries

Cave: Plato said Minos visited the cave where Zeus was born; led to offerings to the goddess of childbirth

Tree: depicted on rings and seals; ecstatic dancing and activity

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7
Q

Near Eastern Influence on Crete?

A

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR: similar appearance and features between Near Eastern palatial buildings and that of Crete

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8
Q

Minoan Thalassocracy

A

referred to Minos’ rule of the sea because he had the first navy and conquered/colonized Cycladic islands (eg. Thera Expedition Fresco); led Thucydides to believe that the Minoans had an empire

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9
Q

Archaeological Evidence for Minoan Overseas Settlements

A

at Kythera, other Aegean islands, Miletus; motivation to go oversea was to find sources of copper and tin to make into bronze; Thera (aka Santorini) became the Bronze Age city of the Akrotiri and had lots of Minoan influence (eg. architectural features, linear A tablets, horns of consecration, Minoan pottery)

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10
Q

Fall of Knossos

A

indicated by signs of mainland presence on Crete; eg. warrior burials, new vase type, tholos tombs, linear b tablets, megaron centered palaces

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11
Q

Mycenaeans

A

had Minoan influence; first greek speakers of history; early Mycenaeans existed in the Middle Helladic, Late Helladic II (aka ca. 1600 - 1400 BC) and had tholos (beehive) tombs in Messenia Argolid but shaft graves in Mycenae

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12
Q

Shaft Graves of Mycenae

A

discovered by Schliemann; Mycenae is the city over which Agamemnon ruled; abandoned when Bronze Age ended; monumental in size; held bodies, vases, treasures, and death masks (eg. Warrior Vase, Gold Mask “of Agamemnon”, silver rhyton portraying a siege, inlaid swords and daggers) * rhytons are drinking vessels

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13
Q

Mycenaean Palaces + Features

A

Menelaion at Sparta, ca. 1450 - 1400 BC ; Mycenae, Tiryns, Thebes, ca. 1400 - 1340 BC; Pylos, Gla, ca. 1340 - 1200 BC

Features: built outwards from a megaron (great hall) with large hearth at center; “cyclopean” fortifications; no staircases or light wells; had bathroom and rainwater drainage but no flush toilets; Minoan style frescoes but depicted hunting and battle scenes (eg. Boar Hunt Fresco)

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14
Q

Linear A and Linear B Writing Differences + What did we learn from Linear B tablets?

A

Linear A: greek but not deciphered; from Crete and likely not Indo-European
Linear B: early form of greek and deciphered; from Mainland Greece

Linear B taught us 5 things:

  1. Social and political hierarchy: wanax (highest rank); lawagetas; basileus (king/chieftain)
  2. Skilled workers: wheel makers, furniture makers, gold and glass workers, smiths
  3. Slaves: women with working children
  4. Close control over craft production, agriculture, animal husbandry
  5. Writing used for administration, therefore there was a low literacy rate
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15
Q

Mycenaean Religion

A

Mycenaeans adopted features of Minoan religion (Eg. snakes, double axes, Great Goddess/Mistress of Animals, bull rhytons, horns of consecration); mentioned names of non-Minoan gods (eg. Hera, Poseidon, Zeus, Artemis); cult centered at heart in megaron

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16
Q

Turmoil at the End of the Bronze Age

A

1186 BC – Attack on Egypt by “Sea People”
Ca. 1200 BC – Collapse of Hittite Empire (Anatolia) due to famine, civil unrest, rebellion, and attacks
Ca. 1200 BC – 1200 Attacks on Cyprus
Ca. 1200 BC – Destruction of Ugarit (Syria)

17
Q

What happened in Ca. 1200 - 1100 BC?

A

Preparing for Attacks: Mycenaeans strengthened fortifications, ensured water access during sieges, built walls across Isthmus of Corinth

Attacks on Mycenaean Sites: palaces and large private houses attacked and destroyed (almost repeatedly) which often ended occupation of the site; only the Phoenicians escaped destruction and resumption of maritime track leads to the recovery of the Mediterranean area

18
Q

Cause for Collapse of Bronze Age

A

Ancient Greeks: Dorian invasion (returns of sons of Herakles)

Sea Peoples: historically documented in Hittite correspondence and Ramesses’ funerary inscription

Climate change, earthquakes, violent epidemics OR the domino effect of small/minor conflicts (eg. issues with trade)