Minoans VS Mycenaean

1
Minoans VS Mycenaean

• Crete-island 3,189 square mi Legend birthplace
  of ZeusMycenae-city NE of Peloponnesian
  Peninsula Legend Founded by Perseus

2
Minoans

• culture developed on Crete about 3000BCE
• Maritime Culture
• Trade routes with Spain, Egypt, Canaan, and Asia
  Minor
• Social egalitarian
• Recreation like dance, music, bull leaping

3

• Peaceful lack of war scenes in art, festivals,
  culture model for Mycenae (earliest developed
  culture on Main land Greece).
• Minoans flourished for about 600 yrs between
  2000-1400 BCE. Cretan palaces and villages
  destroyed in 1700BCE by earthquakes. Minoans
  rebuilt.

4

• The next 100 yrs they established settlements for
  trade rather than imperialistic purposes. (Thera,
  Kythera, Melos and Rhodes)
• Minoans and neighbors mutually tolerant and
  supportive. Minoans benefited from trade and
  created glorious art and architecture.

5
Mycenae

• Settled 2700 BCE
• Most myths from there
• Homer used tales in his writings

6

• Language
• Developed agricultural economy (agrarian)
• Sea trade with Egypt and Asia Minor
• Unlike Minoans, strong military
• Art reflects militia importance (why?)
• Used horses as vehicles of war

7

• Hierarchy Kings, Soldiers, Priests, Slaves
• Recreation-few, mostly religious festivals and
  music

8

• Mycenaean invaders launched invasions on Crete in
  the mice 15th century BCE. Causes (?)
• need for copper and other ores for weapons
• disputes over land and trade routes caused exodus
  to Asia Minor leaving economy weak
• Mycenaeans could no longer defend against hostile
  cultures and fled to the safety of Crete.

9

• Invasions of Crete 1450 BCE Minoan culture
  ends.
• Captive artist and architects
• sent to Mycenae to serve Mycenaean Kings. The
  Cretan palace of
• Knossos was occupied
• by Mycenaes military.
• Weapons, chariots and battles were now
  introduced into art, murals
• and Cretan culture

10

• End of Mycenae 1100BCE, 350 yrs later DORIAN
  GREEKS (Dark Ages)
• United tribes from NW Greece and Asia Minor
  invaded Peloponnesus, the southern Aegean Islands
  and Crete, ending Mycenaean rule. However,
  through Dorian reign, elements of both cultures
  were incorporated into the art, architecture and
  literature of Classical Greece.