Greeks The Greeks developed the following kinds of government: monarchy, aristocracy, tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy. Our word politics is derived from the Greek word polis.

ANCIENT GREECE

GEOGRAPHY Mountainous Peninsula –¾ Mountains –¼ Fertile Soil Mediterranean Sea Aegean Sea Ionian Sea Black Sea 1,400 islands

LAND –Rugged Mountains –Not many Natural Resources –No timber or precious metals –Distance between Sparta and Olympia 70 miles 7 days to travel CLIMATE –Winter – 48 degrees –Summer – 80 degrees

TIMELINE 2000 BC - Crete – Minoans rule 1600 BC – Greece – Mycenaean Kings rule 1450 BC – Crete – Mycenaeans invade Crete 1400 BC – Crete – Minoans disappear 1200 BC – Anatolia – Trojan War Dorian Age

MINOANS Civilization developed on island of Crete Narrated history Kept extensive records Bureaucrats and Trade Culture and Art Not a military state – proved to be downfall

RELIGION Worshiped Goddesses Snake Goddess Performed Sacrifices

Double sided Bronze Axe Used to slice and kill human sacrifices

SACRIFICES AT ANEMOSPILIA

MINOAN PALACE

THEORIES OF DISSAPPEARANCE 1. Volcanic eruption Thera – Island 100 km from Crete Volcanic eruption rated 6 2. Trade collapsed Imported grain Famine broke out 3. Mycenaeans invaded and conquered

Mycenaeans 2000 BC – Mainland Greece Last phase of Bronze Age in Greece Warrior Kings Militaristic Rulers Developed City-States

LIFE OF MYCENAEANS Nobles –Life of Splendor –Drank from Gold Pitchers and Silver cups –Buried with Treasures Commoners –Farmers, weavers, goat hearders –Leftovers from Nobles

MYCENAE Leading City-State On top of steep rocky ridge 20 Ft walls 90 km SW of Athens Military Strong Hold

Ruins at Mycenae Outline of the City walls

Recreation of Mycenae

Lion’s Gate at Mycenae

MYCENAEANS ATTACK MINOANS Invade Crete – home of Minoans Learn value of Seaborne trade Adapted writing of Minoans Minoans lived through legends

DORIANS 1200 BC – Mycenaeans were attacked by sea raiders Burned civilization to the ground Dorians moved in later –Spoke Greek dialect Distant relatives of Bronze Age Greeks

DORIAN AGE Almost no writing Trade cased Economy collapsed Greek Dark Ages 1150 – 750 BC –No written record

Q&A Describe the life of the Mycenaeans. Who invaded the Mycenaeans? Who were the Dorians? Describe the Dorian Age.