A History of Ancient Greece
Author: Robert Guisepi
Date: 1998
AEGEAN CIVILIZATION
The earliest civilization in Europe appeared on the coasts and islands of the Aegean Sea. This body of water, a branch of the Mediterranean Sea, is bounded by the Greek mainland on the west, Asia Minor (now Turkey) on the east, and the island of Crete on the south. While the rest of Europe was still in the Stone Age, the Minoan-Mycenaean peoples achieved a highly organized Bronze Age culture.
Two different civilizations flourished in this region from about 3000 BC to 1000 BC:
- Minoan Civilization
- Centered at Knossos on Crete, the legendary home of King Minos.
- According to mythology, Minos was the son of Zeus and Europa, a Phoenician princess.
- Mycenaean Civilization
- Named after Mycenae, a city in the Peloponnesus.
- Mycenae was ruled by King Agamemnon, leader of the Achaeans in the Trojan War.
The Mycenaeans (or Achaeans) invaded the Greek mainland between 1900 BC and 1600 BC. They established Mycenae as their cultural center, which flourished from about 1500 to 1100 BC. Before 1400 BC, they conquered the Minoans, and the Trojan War occurred in the 13th or early 12th century BC.
The Minoan Civilization
The origin of the Minoans is unknown, but by 1600 BC, they dominated the Aegean region. They lived on Crete from about 2500 BC to 1400 BC, relying on seafaring and trade with the Middle East and Egypt.
Discoveries at Knossos:
- Excavations by British archaeologist Arthur Evans in 1900 revealed a vast palace covering 5.5 acres.
- The palace lacked surrounding walls, protected instead by a powerful navy.
- Features included:
- Storerooms with oil jars.
- Bathrooms with advanced drainage systems.
- Fine pottery and paintings showing elaborate clothing.
The palace was destroyed in the 14th century BC. The Minoans worshiped a mother goddess symbolized by a double-bladed ax, or labrys, linking to the myth of the labyrinth and Minotaur. After the Greeks conquered Crete, they absorbed such myths into their mythology.
Mycenae and Other Achaean Cities
Excavations by Heinrich Schliemann in 1876 at Mycenae uncovered:
- An acropolis with massive stone walls and the Lion Gate.
- Graves with gold masks, breastplates, and ornate jewelry.
Schliemann mistakenly believed he had found Agamemnon's burial site; the graves dated to 400 years earlier. Other notable cities included:
- Pylos: King Nestor's capital.
- Tiryns: A key Achaean city.
The Mycenaeans controlled extensive trade networks reaching Sicily, Egypt, Palestine, Troy, Cyprus, and Macedonia.
Written Language:
Scholars initially thought the Mycenaeans lacked written language. However, in 1952, Michael Ventris deciphered Linear Script B, revealing it as an archaic Greek dialect. The tablets, found at Knossos and Pylos, contain inventories but provide insights into Mycenaean society:
- They practiced agriculture, industry, commerce, and warfare.
- Their pantheon included Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and other Olympian gods.
Linear Script A, used earlier by the Minoans, remains undeciphered.
Decline of the Aegean Civilizations
Around 1100 BC, Greece was invaded by barbaric tribes, including the Dorians and later the Ionians, ending the Minoan-Mycenaean era. Greece did not regain similar power until the Golden Age of Athens in the 5th century BC.
