MINOANS 2000 1400 BCE LIVED ON THE ISLAND

MINOANS 2000 -1400 BCE LIVED ON THE ISLAND OF CRETE VERY ADVANCED CULTURE ENDED MYSTERIOUSLY

This civilization was both powerful, and advanced. Their might allowed them to control the Aegean Sea, keeping it free from criminals, and pirates. Evidence from archeological finds show that the Minoans curled their hair, wore gold jewelry and belts. Just as this society was growing and seeing great success, it suddenly disappeared. Many archeologists believe it was destroyed by a giant tidal wave. Others believe they were conquered by another group of people known as the Mycenaeans.

1600 – 1200 BCE, GREECE WARLIKE PEOPLE • After 1500 B. C. , Mycenaeans adopt Minoan sea trade and culture FOUGHT THE TROJAN WAR AGAINST TROY • Once thought to be fictional, archaeological evidence has been found

In order to protect their people, the Mycenaeans built large fortresses astride the hills and mountain tops of their villages. These fortresses offered a place of refuge during times of danger.

Troy Another major Bronze Age civilization in the Aegean was Troy. It was located at the Hellespont, today called Dardanelles, a narrow strait of water from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. The Mycenaeans and the Trojans often battled for supremacy of the Aegean Sea. Hellespont Asia Minor Troy Mycenea Crete

Epics of Homer • Oral tradition grows, especially epics of Homer a blind storyteller • Epic—a narrative poem about heroic deeds • Homer’s epic the Iliad, about Trojan War, shows Greek heroic ideal

Depiction of funeral games in honor of Patroclus, influenced by Homer's Iliad (book 23).

The Trojan War: The Myth According to Homer, the Trojan War began when the Greek gods Peleus and Thetis forgot to invite Eris, the goddess of discord, to their wedding. Eris came uninvited and played a trick at the wedding. She threw a golden apple on the banquet table and said that it belonged to the most beautiful goddess at the party. The goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all reached for the apple at the same time. Zeus, the King of the Gods, decided that Paris, prince of Troy and most handsome human on earth, would decide which of the goddesses was most beautiful. Discord – absence of agreement

The Trojan War: The Myth Each goddess offered Paris a prize. Hera promised power, Athena promised wealth, and Aphrodite promised the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen, wife of Spartan King Menelaus. Paris chose to have Helen and left for Sparta. While in Sparta, Paris was treated as a royal guest. However, when Menelaus left Sparta to go to a funeral, Paris captured Helen and took her to Troy to be married. This occurred around 1200 BCE. Helen of Troy by Evelyn de Morgan 1898

The Trojan War: The Myth Menelaus gathered more than a thousand ships under the command Agamemnon and set sail for Troy. In total, 100, 000 men from 28 city states throughout the Greek mainland joined Menelaus to attack Troy. Achilles, the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, would defy Agamemnon and challenge his authority. Achilles in Armor Achilles was known as the warrior of destiny. Achilles was killed by Paris, the weakest warrior, with an arrow to the heel, his weakest point. Achilles Death

The Trojan War: The Myth The Trojans, led by Hector (brother of Paris), had allies from city-states throughout Asia Minor. Hector was later killed by Achilles. Hector’s body returned to Troy. Arriving at Troy, Agamemnon sent Odysseus, known for his great speaking abilities, and Menelaus to ask King Priam, Paris’ father, to return Helen. Priam refused. For nine years the Greeks and Trojans fought without either side gaining a victory. The wall surrounding Troy held back the Greek army.

The Trojan War: The Myth The Greek soldiers invaded Troy as the Trojan soldiers slept. All males, including infants, were killed; all females taken as slaves, and all of Troy’s treasures taken as booty. The city was completely demolished.

Troy: the archaeologist’s story For thousands of years Troy was a legend. However, using clues from the Iliad, an amateur archaeologist named Heinrich Schliemann discovered the location of Troy at Hisarlik, Turkey in 1871. Heinrich Schliemann Ruins of ancient Troy

The Nine Cities of Troy In total, there were nine cities built at the location of Troy, each on top of the other. The sixth city is the most grand resembles the Troy in Homer’s Iliad, but it was destroyed by an earthquake, not by war, in 1250 BCE. The seventh layer of the city appears to be the legendary Troy and has been dated to 1180 BCE. Its towers and walls can still be seen in the ruins and there arrowheads lying in the streets. Troy, archeological ruins of two small walls.

Trojan Horse In Greek legend, a huge hollow wooden horse used by the attacking Greeks to gain entrance to the city of Troy, thus ending the Trojan War. Unable to capture the city after a siege of ten years, the Greeks resorted to stratagem. They sailed away and left the horse, filled with armed warriors on the shore. Sinon, a Greek spy, persuaded the Trojans to take the horse into the city, convincing them that to do so would mysteriously Troy invulnerable. That night, Sinon let out the armed Greek troops; killing the guards, they opened the gates to the Greeks and Troy was captured and burned.

DORIANS – 1200 – 800 BCE By 1200 B. C. E. the Mycenaean fortresses, which had fallen into disrepair due to neglect and battle, were conquered by a new people from the North called Dorians, who spoke the Greek language. Using iron weapons, they had little difficulty defeating the Mycenaeans.

The Dark Ages 1200 – 800 BCE Dorians were uncivilized, lacking a written language. After conquering the region, the Dorians fell into a ‘Dark Age’. Poverty became widespread, and important skills such as reading and writing were lost. This dark age lasted for 300 – 400 years.