2. “Bronze Age”
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use
of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard
materials in the manufacture of some implements and
weapons.
Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and
Iron Age.
3. Two Civilizations
During the Bronze Age, in Greece, two important
civilizations ruled over all the others:
Minoans
Mycenaeans
They left a legacy of stories and art that amazed even
the Greeks who came after them.
4. Minoans
While sailing about, the
Greeks stumbled across
a tribe of people living on
the island of Crete.
These people, the
Minoans, were a very
advanced civilization for
the times. They had a
strong navy, which is
probably why the Greeks
never succeeded in
colonizing the Minoan
people.
5. Living like a King
The Minoan king lived in the
capital city of Knossos, in a
maze of a palace with 1500
rooms! It was a gorgeous
palace.
But during Minoan times, even
poor people on the island of
Crete had 4-room houses, with
running water for drinking and
bathing, and bathrooms that
flushed! This was a very
advanced civilization.
6. Traders
Minoans spent much of their time at sea, because of
where they lived (an island). Thus they became some
of the best shipbuilders of their time.
Their ships carried goods such as olive oil and pottery
all around the eastern Mediterranean, trading them for
gold, silver and jewels.
7. Historic records: Minoan Art
The ancient Minoans did have
a written language. Far more
than the records they left
behind, the paintings on the
walls of the palace at Knossos
share the daily life of these
ancient people.
Some walls were painted with
pictures of starfish and water
scenes, much as you would
expect from a civilization that
lived on an island.
8. Historic records: Minoan Art
But some walls were painted with pictures of young people,
both boys and girls, jumping over bulls (who represented
the sun god). Scholars believed that bull jumping must
have been a very popular sport in Minoan times.
9. Where did they go?
Around 1700 BCE, an
earthquake hit Crete. Much
of the Minoan civilization
was destroyed. The Minoans
rebuilt. Around 1500 BCE, a
volcano erupted near the
island of Crete. Tidal waves
followed the eruption.
The Minoans might have been wiped out by natural disaster or by
war. There were warrior tribes on the mainland of Greece. But
scholars believe the tidal waves certainly weakened them.
Whatever the cause, around 1500 BCE, this civilization
disappeared from the island of Crete.
10. Mycenaeans
Filling the void:
As the intriguing
Minoan Civilization
disappeared, due to
natural disasters or
losses in war, a new
tribe, the
Mycenaeans, came to
power on the Greek
mainland.
11. Tough People
The Mycenaeans believed themselves
to be great warriors. They fought with
everyone with whom they came in
contact. Some people think that they
might have been responsible for the
disappearance of the Minoan
civilization. They fought with stone
weapons.
The Mycenaean age is sometimes
called the “Heroic Age” or The Age of
Heroes. This is because much of their
art depicts single warriors performing
heroic feats, sometimes in war and
sometimes against wild animals.
They also believed trade should not be
conducted peacefully and often
attacked other kingdoms.
12. Leaving a Legacy
We know quite a bit about the ancient Mycenaeans because they
wrote things down. We know, for example, they worshiped a great
many gods. The ancient Mycenaeans prayed to their gods for help.
They expected their gods to take care of them, provided they said
the right words in the right way.
Also, they are suspected to be the attackers of the legendary city of
Troy.
13. Healthy Habits
The Mycenaeans built their palaces on hilltops. By building on hilltops, the
Mycenaeans caught what rainwater they could. These early people learned
from experience that if you drank dirty water, you got sick or died.
A source of clean water was very important to them, as it is to all
people, everywhere. They built on hilltops, but they also prayed to their gods
to make their water safe to drink.
14. The End
These prosperous period
in history came to an end
with the invasion of the
Dorians, which led the
way into a period of Greek
history called the “Greek
Dark Ages”
15. Ask Yourselves
Recall:
Were was the Minoan civilization located?
Compare:
How did Minoans and Mycenaeans relate with their
neighbors?
Locate:
Where is Knossos located? (afterwards, locate it on a map)
Analyze:
How might the Minoans’ location provide them with
protection?
