1. Early Greek Civilizations

2. Dardanelles Sea of Marmara Persian Empire

3. Why Greek Colonization? ●Only 20% of Greek land was Arable – could support farming ●Needed food to support growing populations

4. Why Greek Colonization? Spreads Greek Culture

5. Early Greek Civilizations ●1.Minoans ●2.Mycenaeans ●3.Dorians

6. The Minoans ●Great trading powers ●Often compared to Phoenicians ●Located on Crete ●Traded: o – swords o –pottery o – figurines o –precious metals

7. Minoans

8. ●Knossos = Minoan capital city ●Named for most famous ruler, King Minos

9. Minoans ●Legend says Minos kept a Minotaur (half- human, half-bull) inside labyrinth of palace. Theseus v. the Minotaur

10. Minoans ●Athletic people who enjoyed sports, colorfully painted walls, & beautiful pottery. Bull-leaping Frescoes

11. End of Minoan Civilization ● Earthquakes & volcanic eruptions ●1470 BCE – earthquake/possible tsunami devastate city ●Invaders take advantage of weakened condition ●Ends around 1200 BCE

12. Mycenaeans ●Indo-Europeans settle on Peloponnesus Peninsula ●Main city = Mycenae ●Ruled by warrior kings ●Invade Minoans & adopt culture = preserve Minoan ideas

13. Mycenaeans & the Trojan War ●10 year battle ● Troy vs. Greek city-states including Mycenae ●Helen wife of Sparta’s king Menelaus o –‘kidnapped’ by Paris, a prince of Troy ●Sparta & her allies won ●The Iliad & The Odyssey Real Cause? Still Disputed

14. The End of the Mycenaeans ●Collapses not long after Trojan War ●Sea raiders enter city, destroy palace

15. The Dorians – The Dark Age ●1150-750 BCE ●Far less advanced ●No written records - illiterate society ●‘Dark Ages’ of Greek civilization ●Dorians meld into other Greek city- states