Origins of Classical Western Society Who are the three ancient peoples that shaped Western society...

Origins of Classical Western Origins of Classical Western SocietySociety• Who are the three ancient peoples Who are the three ancient peoples

that shaped Western societythat shaped Western society

• What are important contributions What are important contributions from each?from each?

German-ic Peoples

Later influence, with the Medieval period

SPICESPICE

• SS

• PP

• II

• CC

• EE

AncientAncient Greece Greece

5.1 - Bronze Age, Iron Age5.1 - Bronze Age, Iron Age

And the Dark AgesAnd the Dark Ages

Indo-European InvasionIndo-European Invasion

• The first “Greeks” in GreeceThe first “Greeks” in Greece

• 2000 BCE2000 BCE

How does Geography shape How does Geography shape civilization?civilization?

• SeaSea

• LandLand

• ClimateClimate

How do we know? How do we know? ArchaeologyArchaeology• Excavation: the unrepeatable Excavation: the unrepeatable

experimentexperiment

““Archaeology is like reading a book, Archaeology is like reading a book, and after finishing each page, tearing and after finishing each page, tearing it out and throwing it away.” -Dr it out and throwing it away.” -Dr Michael CosmopoulosMichael Cosmopoulos

Bronze Age 2000 – 1200BCBronze Age 2000 – 1200BC

• Why is it called the Bronze age?Why is it called the Bronze age?

• Who were the Minoans?Who were the Minoans?

• Who were the Mycenaeans?Who were the Mycenaeans?

““Iron Age” or the “Dark Age” Iron Age” or the “Dark Age” Begins 1200BCBegins 1200BC– Dorians migrate south 1150Dorians migrate south 1150

• Illiterate but know heavy metalIlliterate but know heavy metal

? Minoans? Minoans Mycenaean Mycenaean DorianDorian

Where?

When/Yrs?

Reason for Decline?

Significant Events, Characteristics?

Bronze Age 2000 – 1200BC Bronze Age 2000 – 1200BC

• MinoansMinoans

– Island culture on Island culture on CreteCrete

– Knossos PalaceKnossos Palace• Plumbing TechnologyPlumbing Technology

– Artistic: jewelry, Artistic: jewelry, muralsmurals

– TradersTraders– Linear A scriptLinear A script

Between 1400-1200: Minoans came to an abrupt end…Why?

Minoan throne room at Knossos, CreteMinoan throne room at Knossos, Crete

Who Were the Mycenaeans?Who Were the Mycenaeans?• 1600-1100BC1600-1100BC

– PeloponnesusPeloponnesus– Warrior society – ruled Warrior society – ruled

by kings & aristocratic by kings & aristocratic familiesfamilies

• Political Political OrganizationOrganizationFour-tiered HierarchyFour-tiered Hierarchy– King’s Palace - WanaxKing’s Palace - Wanax– Regional administrative Regional administrative

centers district capitalscenters district capitals– Small agricultural villagesSmall agricultural villages– FarmsFarms

Beehive Tomb

The Wanax:The Wanax:AgamemnonAgamemnon

– WealthyWealthy– TradedTraded– InvadedInvaded– Mycenaeans Mycenaeans

declined declined c.1200BC as a c.1200BC as a result of a result of a “people from the “people from the sea” ?sea” ?

How do we know? Linear BHow do we know? Linear B

Kingdom of PylosKingdom of Pylos• Pylos – the Kingdom of Nestor, the Pylos – the Kingdom of Nestor, the

WanaxWanax

• Messenia Messenia

Dorians in the Iron Age: Dorians in the Iron Age: 1150-750BC1150-750BC

• WHY is this period also called a Dark Age?WHY is this period also called a Dark Age?

• Invaders from the northeastern mtnsInvaders from the northeastern mtns• Iron developersIron developers• Drove out most southern tribes to islandsDrove out most southern tribes to islands

– Except Ionians of Attica , Ancestors of AtheniansExcept Ionians of Attica , Ancestors of Athenians

• Dominated Peloponnesian peninsula, and much Dominated Peloponnesian peninsula, and much mainlandmainland– Ancestors of Spartans !!!!!!!Ancestors of Spartans !!!!!!!

• Began Olympic Games in Olympia, 776BCBegan Olympic Games in Olympia, 776BC

Homer Homer - circa - circa 800BC800BC

• DorianDorian• Epics in oral tradition: Epics in oral tradition:

Iliad,Iliad, OdysseyOdyssey– IliadIliad : Trojan War (c1200) : Trojan War (c1200)– OdysseyOdyssey: the journey : the journey

homehome– Hector v. Achilles: Hector v. Achilles:

individuals battleindividuals battle

• What is the reason What is the reason for myth?for myth?

• AreteArete

How is ancient Greek How is ancient Greek religion different from religion different from Egyptian?Egyptian?

• ZeusZeus

• Few if any Few if any lifelong powerful lifelong powerful

priestly castepriestly caste

• Religion linked Religion linked to govtto govt

BibliographyBibliography

• Images. Images. http://historylink101.net/greece1/pic-main.htm (Sept 8, 06). (Sept 8, 06).