The Bronze Age

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The Bronze Age

• The Minoans Mycenaeans

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Historical Framework
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The Ancient Greek World
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Palaeolithic Periodca 30,000 B.C.

• Evidence for habitation in the Greek world.
• Hunting and gathering society.
• Tools and weapons of stone, wood, and bone.
• No evidence for social organization, etc.

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Neolithic Periodca 6500-3000 BC

• Evidence more abundant.
• Beginnings of agricultural cultivation,
  domestication of animals, use of textiles.
• Permanent communities.
• Perhaps development of social structure
• Figurines found that may suggest the worship of a
  female fertility (or earth-) goddess and her
  ithyphallic male consort.

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Historical ContextThe Ancient Near East

• In contrast to the Greek world, the Near had
  developed elaborate civilizations (high
  culture).
• Numerous surviving documents.
• Influence on the Greek world controversial, but
  scholarly acceptance is growing (e.g. M. L. West,
  The East Face of Helicon)

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Historical ContextEgypt

• An elaborate high culture.
• Trade relations as early as the 3rd mil. BC
• Some see Egypt as the source of key aspects of
  Greek culture (e.g. the pantheon of gods)
• This is suggestive, but unconvincing
• Clear Egyptian influence on early Greek art (esp.
  in representing male figures)

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Bronze Age Chronology