1. Ancient Greece

2. 3 Major Periods of Ancient Greece Civilizations
1. Early Civilizations: Minoans (Crete) and Mycenaens 2. Classical Greece (flourishing of arts, literature, philosophy; domination by Sparta and Athens) 3. Hellenistic Age: Macedonian Empire and Alexander the Great

3. 3 Major Periods of Ancient Greece Civilizations

4. Geographic Features
1.Sea: heavy influence on physical environment of Greece (Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea) 2.Mountains (with narrow valleys): cover more than ¾ of Greece’s surface area and islands: more than 2000 islands (Crete being the largest) 3.No major rivers on Greek mainland but fertile soil 4.Climate: winter= mild climate; summer= hot climate with rainfall from October to March = long growing season

5. Resources and Crops
RESOURCES • grain • fine cheese made of goat’s milk • timber • wild game • wool of sheep = cloth MOST IMPORTANT CROPS • olives = oil • grapes = wine • clay = pottery

6. Effects of Geography
Seafaring tradition:   reliance on navy and fleets for power and protection
Sea provided link to trade and cultural exchange with Mediterranean communities
Isolationism:  protection but lack of effective communication
Greece was (eventually) organized into polis -independent city states- separated by seas and rugged mountains
Emergence of dominant city states (Athens, Sparta)

7. The Minoans

8. Minoan Civilization 3000 – 1100 BC
developing on the island of Crete while Egypt and Mesopotamia were flourishing
civilization was named after legendary King Minos, whose father was said to be Zeus

9. Early Greeks: Early Bronze Age The Minoans c. 3200 -1400 BCE
Lived on island of Crete
Great navigators and farmers
Palace led political, social and economic organization at Knossos
Artistic expressions and grand construction
Advancements in bronze
Matriarchal society
Center of worship was a mother goddess
Earth goddesses portrayed in various forms.

10. Palace of Minos at Knossos (NOSS-oss)
Palaces controlled all agricultural goods and products
Palaces became the centers of exchange for Minoan economy
Palaces had dozens of interconnecting rectangular rooms on two or more stories which were grouped around a large open courtyard (administrative and religious)

11. Palace of Minos at Knossos (NOSS-oss)

12. Minoan Culture
Art work at Knossos shows dangerous sports such as leaping over the backs of charging bulls as well as dancing, athletics, and festivals .
Sacred horns and labrys (lab-riss)

13. Minoan Culture - Religion
Minoan Snake Goddess
Minoan Priest

14. THEORIES FOR DECLINE OF MINOANS
1750 BCE- earthquake destroys Minoan palaces
1628 BCE- volcano erupts at Thera
1400 BCE- War between Minoans and Mycenaeans led to decline of power

15. The Mycenaean World

16. Mycenaean c – 1100 BCE
The civilization named by archeologists after the fortress city, Mycenae.
Mycenaeans were more aggressive, patriarchal in nature
May have come from Russia or parts of Mesopotamia (Kurgans).

17. Mycenaeans c – 1100 BCE
Mycenaeans took control of Crete at Knossos by 1300 BCE
Mycenaeans controlled mainland Greece = main political centre was Mycenae
More interested in war as pottery and grave sites reflect hunting, weapons, armor and war as well as fortified palace walls

18. Mycenae Citadel & Reconstuction

19. Mycenaean religion
Seems to have been a mixture of Minoan influences and local deities. There were two types of deities…
1. Some were predecessors of Olympian gods and goddesses worshipped by later Greeks and bore the same name.
2. Others were nature divinities and spirits.

20. THEORIES FOR DECLINE OF MYCEANEANS
Shift in climate leading to drought forcing Mycenaeans to migrate to more fertile lands
Tribe of nomadic warriors from north of Greece (Dorians) destroyed Mycenaeans

21. Dark Ages: 1100—800 BC
After collapse of Mycenaean civilization, a 300 year period called Dark Ages
Domination by Doric speaking inhabitants from the north
Bronze gives way to iron
Transitional time: literacy, culture and daily life; scarce records
Mycenaeans flee to Asia Minor. Early Greeks establish life around Aegean and Mediterranean Seas
Development of polis: small, independent & loyal

22. The Archaic Greek Age (Renaissance): 800—450 BC
After the Dark Ages, the Greeks emerged with a common language, heroic stories, myths, religious practices and trading interests.
Oligarchies flourished until emergence of Greek democracy ≈ 6th century BC
Eventual creations by Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides and the philosophical schools of Socrates and Plato

23. Archaic Period: Greek Renaissance 800 – 450 BCE
Significant events
1)  National literature
2)  Resurgence of trade   
3)  Colonization of Sicily and Italy   
4)  Olympic Games -776 BCE  
5)  Stone sculptures of human figures
6)  Rise of city states (polis)

24. Archaic Period: Greek Renaissance 800 – 450 BCE
Homer: Iliad & Odyssey