Early People of the Aegean

1. Early People of the Aegean

3. Theseus and the Minotaur

4. Mycenaean Civilizations

5. Minoan Civilization • Crete • Birthplace of Zeus • “First Europeans”

6. Minoan Civilization1750-1500 BC • Named after Minos the legendary king • Palace at Knossos • Maritime culture • Traded with Spain, Egypt, Canaan Asia Minor • Fishing • Farming • Art

7. Is this King Minos’ Throne?

8. Minoan Culture • Egalitarian • Men and Women held respected positions in religion, agriculture and craftwork • Music and song • Bull-leaping • Boxing • Lack of fortresses, war equipment, battle scenes

9. Minoan Metalwork • Worked with both bronze and gold • Decorative and functional

10. Palace at Knossos Prince with the Lillies

11. Minoan Fisherman & Dolphin

12. Minoan Fleet

13. Minoan Women

14. Minoan Bull Leaping

15. Minoan Civilization Disappears 1400 BC • Vanished • Volcanic eruption • Earthquake • Tidal wave • Invaders • Atlantis?

16. Minoan Artifact: Pendant of Bees • Metalworkers used both bronze and gold • Jewelry • Tools

17. Minoan Palaces • Government • Community • Multistoried • Interior and exterior staircases • Light wells • Massive columns • courtyards • Weapons storage

18. Minoan Artifact : Palace • Centers of the community • No locks, bolts, or protective outside walls • Large rambling collections of rooms • Workshops

19. Minoan Pottery • Made by hand or on a wheel • Red & white glazes yellow, green

20. Minoan Religion • Peaceful Mother Goddess • Carried figurines in processions • Sacred symbols; lion, bull, snake

21. Minoan Water Management • bathtubs decorated with colorful tiles • Primitive showers • Flush toilets • Fountains in bedrooms for cooling

22. Samples of Minoan Linear pictograms and script

23. The Phoenicians Spread Trade and Civilization • Wealthy city-state in eastern Mediterranean • Skilled shipbuilders, seafarers; sailed around continent of Africa • Set up colonies • Famous for red-purple dye from Murex snail

24. Tyrian Purple • purple-red dye • made from mucus of Murex shell • used as a fabric dye • very expensive • color became associated with power & wealth

25. What was the Great Legacy of the Phoenicians? • Developed system of writing to record trade deals • developed into western alphabet

26. Ancient Trade Routes • Phoenicians wanted metals • traded finished manufacture items for Iberian silver

27. Mycenae 2700 BCE • Ancient Greek Myths originated here • Homer used them in his writings • Spoke early form of Greek • Agriculture based on grains, grapes, olives • Traded with Egypt Asia Minor

28. Mycenaean Culture • Strong military culture • Circular royal tombs • Decorated uniforms, elaborate helmets • Chariots, • Daggers • Axes • Horses • Vehicles of war • Society was hierarchical • Kings and soldiers at the top • Prisoners of war were slaves • No recreation/entertainment • Only religious festival

30. Mycenaean Soldiers on a Vase

31. Mycenaean weapons • Bronze smiths worked only with bronze • Goldsmiths worked only with gold • Weapons • Buried gold objects with kings and nobles in tombs

32. Mycenae palace • Centers of government & defense • Surrounded by high walls • Orderly rows of various rooms

33. Mycenaean Pottery • Created pottery by hand • Functional • Goblet was used for celebrations and religious rituals

34. Mycenaean Religion • Worshipped an Earth Goddess who protected warriors • Bathed and prayed in palace sanctuaries

35. Mycenaean Water Management • Bathtubs set into the walls and fixed to the floor • Bathrooms had tilted floors to drain excess water

36. Mycenaean Palace • Highly structured • Orderly rows of rooms • High stone walls for defense

37. Mycenae Written Language • Linear B has been deciphered. • made up of characters, which resemble letters, and ideograms, which represent ideas.