Download Early Greek ppt.

Minoa and Mycenae
Trading Creativity
A Unique Type of Civilization
• Ancient Crete
– geographically
small
– No major rivers
– Infertile soil
• Therefore, it
became trade
dependant
• Possible origin:
Phoenicia (Byblos)
A Unique Type of Civilization
"A huge industrial development was required to
produce the metals, cloth, pottery, oil, and wine,
which Greece exported in exchange [for food].
Fifth-century Attic [Greek] vases have been
found in the Rhineland and on the banks of the
Marne [France]. Industrialized to an extent which
was then a novelty, and which was facilitated by
the fact that the mother-city of democracy had a
population that was about one-half slave, Athens
would have starved but for the continuing
reputation of its pottery, bronzes and the other
metalwork, and furniture, which brought the
corn-ships to the Piraeus [port of Athens]."
– T.K. Derry and T. I. Williams, A Short History of
Technology
Minoans
(2000-1400 BC)
• Named for king of Crete
(Minos)
• Island isolation meant
no defenses were
necessary
• Peace
• Stable civilization
–
–
–
–
Sufficient food (by trade)
Specialized labor
Hierarchy
Writing (Linear A, not yet
fully decipherable)
Minoans
(2000-1400 BC)
• Infrastructure
– Aqueducts and sewers
– Grain storage
– Cooling and heating
systems for the home
– Open court yards and
assembly halls
– Administrative offices
– Lesser homes and
palaces
– Palaces had divisions
between
•
•
•
•
Private
Government
Religious
Public
Minoans
(2000-1400 BC)
• Importance in art
– For Beauty and Leisure
– Not for ruler or religion
• Bull and Minotaur
significant
– Legend of 14 youths
being sacrificed yearly to
the minotaur who lived in
a labyrinth
– Cycle was broken by
Theseus (son of the king
of Athens) with the help
of Minos’ daughter and
the goddess Aracnid
• Myths are fictitious, but
they are rooted in truth
Minoans
(2000-1400 BC)
• Society mysteriously
ceased to exist
– Possibly a volcanic
eruption on Thera
(Santorini)
• Polluted Crete’s air and
soil making Crete
uninhabitable
• Possibly explains the
plagues of Egypt
– Part of a reasonable
story that is symbolically
told through the
Minotaur Myth
– http://youtu.be/kpR0R1kADbU
Thera, Santorini Island
Minoans
(2000-1400 BC)
• Thera Explosion
and the Plagues
of Egypt
• Legend of
Atlantis
Minoans
(2000-1400 BC)
• Minoan society
mysteriously ceased
to exist
– Part of a reasonable
story that is
symbolically told
through the Minotaur
Myth
• Mainland Greeks
(Mycenaeans) filled
the vacuum of
power in Aegean
Thera, Santorini Island
Mycenaean Period
(1400-1000 B.C.)
• Originally dominated
culturally and
politically by the
Minoans
– Art adopted Minoan
style and mediums but
was more somber in
color, tone and topic
Mycenaeans
• “The Age of Heroes”
• Rooted in War
• Fortified palaces and
massive walls were built
because the Mycenaeans
were on the mainland
• Soon developed their own
identity
– Focused on trade and used
their military to manage any
problems
Mycenaean Major centers
(1400-1000 B.C.)
Mycenaean Period
(1400-1000 B.C.)
Trojan War (1200 B.C.)
• Fought because of trade
dominance?
• Fought because of Love?
• It did happen
– Archeological evidence
– Story told by Homer 400
years later because the
Minoan and Mycenaean
languages (Linear A and
Linear B) were accounting
languages that are not well
suited to telling stories
Mycenaean Period
(1400-1000 B.C.)
Later Greeks were very interested in both the
Minoan and the Mycenaean cultures and
combined the two to make their society
Minoans
Mycenaeans
• Love of Peace
• Beauty
• Leisure
• Religion
• Warfare
• Traits of heroes
– Bravery
– Sacrifice for country
– Honor
The “Dark Age” of Greece
(1000-800 B.C.)
• Dorian Invasion defeated Mycenaeans
– Mycenaeans had fallen to fighting amongst
themselves, which made them easy prey
• Not completely without Creativity
– The Greek polis or city state came about
– Beneficial: it kept the government at a local
level so experimentation in politics, philosophy
and other areas could flourish
– A Curse: local pride became bitter jealousy so
there was almost constant war
The “Dark Age” of Greece
(1000-800 B.C.)
Sparta
• One of the most important and warlike of the
city-states
• Depended on the domination of small cities
surrounding them
• Military-based culture
– Boys taken at age of seven to learn military skills
– Military obligation was over at age of 60
– Women focused on bearing sons
• No art
• Continued this militaristic culture long after the
dark ages
Minoans and Mycenaeans –
Creativity
• Trade-based society
• Leisure
• Arts for art sake (not as a religious
symbol or representation of a ruler)
• Heroic ethics
Think Greek!