Why Study Dark Ages?

• Patterns of social and political integration occurred• A new kind of state Government would arise. • “The cradle of western democracy”

The “Dark Age” of Greece

Decline and Recovery

• Near total absence of finely made and expensive artifacts.• The course of decline and recovery is charted mainly through pottery.• 1125 – 1250 “submycenaean”• Low amount of pottery as well as low quality. Graves and above ground.• This shows a _______ and _______ decline.• Population levels dropped 60 to 90%• Large Movements/ Relocation / Emigration of Peoples.• Centralized political and economic organization disappeared with palaces.

Change and Continuity

Daily life at the level of household and village remained very similar.

Foods, wine, cheeseSpun wool and flaxPotteryCentralization had

changed.

RecoveryLarge permanent

Greek settlements occur in Asia Minor.

Mastery of smelting and working iron. (Borrowed from east)

Protogeometric Pottery.

Society In the Early Dark AgeVillages on their

own politically and economically.

Reverted to a government of local chiefs.

Little Social differentiation.

The BasileusHad been mayors of town

or village.The title survives into dark

ages.Centralized village lifeTells us about lack of

change in economy, government, and social institutions.

Created and preserved rules for social conduct.

Ancient traditions.

Late Dark Age (Homeric) Society How powerful were

Basileus?Judicial System?Diplomatic relations

between chiefdoms

RevivalMaterial ProgressGeometric VasesGold Jewelry, ivory

carvingsAvailability of Raw

materials.What does this

show?

Social Values and Ethics

• Warriors• Bravery, skill, athletics, competition.• Public Speaking, debate.• Honor gods, honor promises.• Self-control.• loyalty, Respect.• Hospitable• Respect to women and elders.• Pity to beggars

Women

• Housewife / mother.• Value beauty and skill• Household management• Weaving• Practical sense• Modesty, Chase.

Religion

• Formal, Ritualistic, and communal.• No official set of doctrines or compulsory beliefs• Various gods mirror the human environment and conditions• Mortals are playthings of the gods.• limited concern with morality.• Afterlife? • Psyche and Hades

The gods and goddesses Aphrodite The sensual goddess of love

and beauty Apollo The youthful god of the sun

and the music Ares The fierce god of war Artemis The wild goddess of the hunt Athena The sophisticated goddess of

wisdom and Arts Demeter The natural goddess of the

harvest Dionysus The joyful god of the wine Hades The gloomy god of the

Underworld Hephaestus The ill-favored god of

Metallurgy Hera The mature goddess of the

family Hermes The cunning god of the trade Hestia The calm goddess of the hearth Poseidon The moody god of the seas Zeus The superior King of the Gods

and ruler of mankind

Community, Household, and Economy in the late Dark AgeVillage life Customary Law /

public disappovalDemosPatrilineal &

PatriarchalLarge FamiliesKleros – ancestral

plot of landSmall social class

distinctions

End of the Greek Dark AgeRise in populationPastureland to agricultural

landLand distribution problems

and effectsNeed for raw materials

(metal)The Alphabet and writing

Borrowed from Phoenecians

Easy to learn / phoneticHistory, drama,

philosophy, math, science, law, medicine