CHYS 3P95 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Knossos, Mycenaean Greece, Gerousia
15 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
CHYS 3P95
Week 6. Ancient Greece
Dr. Tony Volk
ANCIENT GREECE
• Region of isolated valleys, hills, small plains, peninsulas, and islands
– Sea formed its focal point
– Nothing more than barbarous fringe area to older civilizations of the
Middle East
– Tiny, unimportant, and poor in natural resources
MINOAN CIVILIZATION – WONT TEST US ON THIS
• Neolithic settlements date back to 4000 BC
– Early farmers probably came into contact with Middle Eastern civilization
around 3000 BC
• Had developed an advanced civilization of their own by 2000 BC
– Expressed in the construction and decoration of huge palace complexes
MINOAN PALACE COMPLEXES
• Complicated structures consisting of a honeycomb of various rooms surrounding
a large courtyard
• Huge
– Knossos covered three acres
• Well-built
– Strong foundations meant to withstand earthquakes
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
• Many rooms decorated with brightly colored frescoes that depicted various
aspects of Minoan life
– Know from them that men were clean shaven and generally wore short
kilts
– Women had elaborate hair-dos and wore dresses with wide sleeves and
pinched-in waists
MINOAN WOMEN
• Women played important role in society
– Most of their gods were female
• Headed by the so-called “Snake Goddess”
– Suppose to be a sign of fertility
– Women also portrayed at the head of processions and as participants in
athletic events
• Even bull-leaping
• May not have been a matriarchy but women nonetheless enjoyed a prominent
social position
BULL-LEAPING
- Women jumping over bulls
- Combining gymnastic with entertainment
- Women are socially prominent
o A degree of quality
END OF MINOAN CIVILIZATION
• Civilization came to an end between 1450 and 1350 BC
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
– All palaces destroyed and never rebuilt
• Theory 1
– Invaded by Mycenaeans in 1400 BC
• Destroyed Crete to eliminate Minoans as trade rivals
• Theory 2
– Massive volcanic eruption on island of Thera showered Crete with debris,
ash, and poison gas
• Destroyed fleets with tidal waves
• Mycenaeans arrived after catastrophe and destroyed what was left
MYCENEAN AGE
• 1600-1150 BC
• Trade is a very important aspect
– Trader has to learn to get to along with everyone
• Had some contact with Minoan civilization by at least 1600 BC
• Typical of the very warlike, semi-barbarian cultures that extended over most of
Europe
– Only difference was that contact with Minoans gradually ameliorated
some of their barbarism and allowed them to develop a more sophisticated
culture
MYCENEAN CIVILIZATION EMERGES
• Assimilation of Minoan culture was complete by 1400 BC
– About the time that they invade and destroyed Crete
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Ancient greece: region of isolated valleys, hills, small plains, peninsulas, and islands. Nothing more than barbarous fringe area to older civilizations of the. Tiny, unimportant, and poor in natural resources. Minoan civilization wont test us on this: neolithic settlements date back to 4000 bc. Early farmers probably came into contact with middle eastern civilization around 3000 bc: had developed an advanced civilization of their own by 2000 bc. Expressed in the construction and decoration of huge palace complexes. Minoan palace complexes: complicated structures consisting of a honeycomb of various rooms surrounding a large courtyard, huge. Strong foundations meant to withstand earthquakes: many rooms decorated with brightly colored frescoes that depicted various aspects of minoan life. Know from them that men were clean shaven and generally wore short kilts. Women had elaborate hair-dos and wore dresses with wide sleeves and pinched-in waists. Minoan women: women played important role in society.
