Greek Civilization

1. Greek Civilization

2. ANCIENT GREECE • Region of isolated valleys, hills, small plains, peninsulas, and islands • Sea formed its focal point

3. Greece also benefited from its position on the edge of the civilized world • Far enough away to escape domination by the various Middle Eastern Empires but close enough to absorb the rich culture of its eastern neighbors

4. The earliest Greeks… • Either were Neolithic farmers who migrated from Asia Minor around 3000 BC • Or were an Indo-European tribe from southern Russia who migrated into the region around 2300 BC • In either case, when people did arrive in the peninsula, they soon came into contact with an already civilized people who lived on the nearby island of Crete • The Minoans

5. The Minoans at Crete • Minoan civilization developed as early as 3000 BC • Lasted nearly 2,000 years • Minoan ships sailed over Aegean Sea, possibly farther’ • Important trade and commerce • Colonies established on dozens of Aegean islands • Ships filled with trade goods sailed back and forth between Crete and her colonies • Excavations at Knossos

6. The decline… • Much history of Minoan civilization result of guesswork, speculation • Historians cannot read Minoans’ writing, Linear A. • Does not appear to be related to languages of mainland Greece • Until writing deciphered, most knowledge will come from art, objects • Minoan civilization fell apart rather suddenly, possibly from disaster. • Large eruption of volcanic island near Crete may have affected worldwide weather patterns. • Damage to Minoan ports, crops may have weakened society • Minoans conquered by warlike Mycenaeans

7. The Mycenaeans… • The Mycenaean States • Myceaneans built small kingdoms, often fought with each other • Name comes from fortress, Mycenae • Minoan Influences • Mycenaeans traded with Minoans, copied writing • Became great traders • Trade increased after they conquered Crete • First Greeks • Mycenaeans considered first Greeks, spoke form of Greek language • Earliest kingdoms owed much to Minoans • Mycenaean Differences • Society dominated by intense competition, frequent warfare, powerful kings • Kings taxed trade, farming to build palaces, high walls

8. The Mycenaean age… • 1600-1150 BC • Had some contact with Minoan civilization by at least 1600 BC • Typical of the very warlike, semi-barbarian cultures that extended over most of Europe • Only difference was that contact with Minoans gradually ameliorated some of their barbarism and allowed them to develop a more sophisticated culture

9. Civilization emerges… • Assimilation of Minoan culture was complete by 1400 BC • About the time that they invade and destroyed Crete • Took the place of Minoans as commercial middlemen between civilized Middle East and barbarian Europe

10. Mycenaean Strengths and Downfall…. • Mycenaean Strength • To show off strength, Mycenaeans built great monuments like Lion’s Gate • Kings’ constant quest for power, glory inspired legends • Most famous, story of Trojan War • Trojan War • War supposedly involved early Greeks, led by Mycenae, who fought powerful city called Troy, in what is now Turkey • War may not have happened, but ruins of city believed to be Troy found • Downfall • War played part in end of Mycenaean civilization, as did drought, famine • By end of 1100s BC, Mycenaean cities mostly in ruins; dark age followed • Greek civilization almost disappeared

11. ORAL LITERARY TRADITION • Dark Age was the firm establishment of an oral tradition that recounted a glorious and heroic past • Thanks to wandering minstrels • Tradition would culminate with the magnificent epic poems of Homer • Iliad and Odyssey • Composed at the end of the Dark Age

12. EPIC POEMS • All epic poems have common theme • Recounting the deeds of superhuman heroes of earlier times • Served function of providing a legendary history which explained how people got where they were and why • Greek epic poems had developed the plots of the siege of Troy and various Heracles legends in centuries before Homer • Wandering poets used these basic plots but embellished them in order to appeal to their particular audience Heracles

13. WORLD OF THE ILIAD AND ODYSSEY • In terms of values and attitudes, Homer was describing the late Dark Age • Imposed values, attitudes, and motivations of his own age on historical characters • World he described was made up of tiny, autonomous political units • Each self-sufficient and inward-looking • Each ruled by a chieftain • Main job was to protect his people from constant outside aggression Mask of Agamemnon, king of Argos

14. VALUES • Chieftains were military men par excellence • The values they prized most highly were military virtues • Physical strength, endurance, bravery, selflessness • Any sign of weakness opened the door to his neighbors to take advantage of him • Explains almost childish sensitivity of Homer’s heroes to insults and their war-like behavior.

15. The Greek Spirit… • People’s deeds are subject to the demands of fate…”actions must have their consequences.” • The development of the idea of excellence (arete’): Thought and action go hand in hand. • Development of humanism (the concern with man’s achievements)

16. Greek City-States A new type of society emerged in Greece in the 800s BC. The society was centered on the polis, or city-state. Each polis developed independently, with its own form of government, laws and customs.