Classical Studies 1000 Lecture 2: Classics Week 2.docx

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 1000
• Professor: Richard Brown

Document Summary

Beginning of bronze age, evidence of significant habitation. In contrast to greek world, near east (civivilizations that border on the greek world, to the east) had elaborate civilizations ( high culture") = cultures that developed architecture, literary and artistic production; usually follows after a certain state of prosperity. Influence on greek world is controversial, but scholarly acceptance is growing (e. g. martin. Bronze age: sea and language were barriers between greek world and near east, so scholars assumed there was little or no influence; long-standing tradition, but probably wrong. Helicon, the mountain upon which the muses (goddesses who inspire poetry) live eastern interface of culture for greek world. But the truth is there was trade contact from an early day. Phases of bronze age culture very broad outline. Also in terms of region: minoan (refers to crete), cycladic (islands), helladic (mainland. Greece); hellas is what the ancient greeks called greece.