Seafaring on the Mediterranean Sea
New ideas come to new societies
The role of traders
They spread Buddhism to s.w. Asia and China
They will play the same role on the Mediterranean Sea
New ideas on god,writing,religion,art
The Minoans
2000-1400 B.C.Lived on isle of CreteEdge of the Aegean SeaProduced finest pottery of the timeBig time traders-swords,pottery,goldExported their culture
Minoan culture
They become a stepping stone for culture throughout the area
Unique architecture
Burial customs
They will influence Greece
Krossos
Minoan capital city
Probably peaceful,no signs of protection
King Minos-city named after him
Legend of the minotaur
Minoan People
Excavations tell us much about them
Their painted walls show us many aspects of their lives
Very graceful people
Minoan People
They were athletic
They enjoyed beauty
Loved nature
Liked boxing, wrestling, And bull leaping
Olympic Pommel- horse?
Role of women
They were held in higher esteem than in other culturesMother earth goddessRuled over the other godsIn charge of the shrinesAided by men!
Animal sacrifice
Worshipped bulls ( no, not the Chicago Bulls)
Sacrifice animals to their gods
Possibly human sacrifice
End of their culture
In 1470 B.C.-earthquakes,volcanoes,tidal waves,dealt a blow to their city/culture that they never recover from.
They hold on about 300 more years
End about 1200 B.C.
Probably overrun by Greece who take advantage of their weakened state
The Phoenicians
These guys are why you know your ABC’s
Phoenicians-not a true “empire” as we know it
They establish wealthy city-states
BYBLOS
TYRE
SIDON
All are important trading centers
Shipbuilders/Sailors
They will excel at this!
First to past the Straits of Gibraltar
Great Britain?
Africa?
Phoenician colonies
Carthage-greatest of allFounded 814 B.C.30 miles apartOne days sailTraded papyrusMost popular was a purple-red dye made from snailsPurple cloth-only very rich could afford
Phoenician alphabet
Traders needed records
Needed to record quickly,clearly
One symbol-one sound
Many similarities to Greek/English letters
Alpha-Bet
First two letters of their new way of writing were alpha and beta
Alpha-bet get it?
They will introduce this everywhere they go
Phoenician Traders
Their boats can travel 30 miles in one day
They set up city-states 30 miles apart
Reload/unload as needed
Cities will compete with each other
Trade routes take a hit
Assyrians capture eastern cities
Persia and Babylon take over
Exiled Phoenicians will set up more cities west of Carthage
Their culture will spread even further
Things to remember
Alphabet- made reading/writing easier for all
Opened trade to most of civilized world
Insured exchange of culture/beauty/art/religion/new ideas
Heavily influenced emerging Greek civilization