The Greeks

1
The First Greek Civilizations
http//ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/tjmoore/myth4web/05troy
gold.jpg.
2
The Impact of Geography

• Mountains and the sea were significant in the
  development of Greek history.
• Most of Greece is made of small plains and river
  valley surrounded by rugged mountains.
• These mountains isolated Greeks from one another,
  leading to different Greek communities to develop
  their own ways of life.
• The sea also impacted Greek society, leading many
  to become sailors and fishermen.
• The Aegean, the Mediterranean and Black Seas
  became the links to the outside world through
  trade.

3
The Minoan Civilization (2800-1400 B.C.)

• The Minoans lived on the island of Crete.
• Priest-kings ruled from their palace at Knossos.
• The palace at Knossos revealed the ingenuity and
  sophistication of the Minoans.
• Their cities were NOT surrounded by walls.
• Their economy relied on farming, fishing, and
  trading.
• Overpowered by Mycenaeans around 1450 B.C., or
  was it a tidal wave?

http//ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/tjmoore/Myth3web/05athe
seusmincan.jpg.
4
The First Greek State Mycenae

• Flourished between 1600 and 1100 B.C. and
• Their ancestors come from southern and western
  Europe, Indian, and Iran.
• Mycanae became an expanding empire in lower
  Greece
• Mycenaean civilization was made of powerful
  monarchies, each with fortified palace centers.
• They were a warrior people who engaged in
  farming, herding, and trading.
• They became most powerful people in Aegean world
  by 1400 B.C. and were allegedly involved in the
  Trojan War according to Homer.

5
The Dark Age (1100 -800 B.C.)

• Civil wars broke out following Trojan War
• Dorians conquered the Mycenaeans by 1100 B.C.
• Independent communities developed as Greek
  speaking invaders moved into Greece from the
  North.

http//ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/tjmoore/myth4web/05troy
gold.jpg
6
Developments of the Dark Age

• Phoenician alphabet adopted, with 24 vowels and
  consonants.
• Iron replaces bronze, which is more affordable
  for farming tools and weapons.
• Homers works appear in the Iliad and the
  Odyssey.