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The Minoan culture was located in Crete and is considered one of Europe's earliest advanced civilizations. Sir Arthur Evans gave the Minoan civilization its name after the legendary Greek King Minos, the mythical ruler of Crete. Evans also divided Minoan history into the Early, Middle, and Late periods, each of which have three subdivisions. -
Minoan civilization established maritime trade and foreign bases with other civilizations across the Mediterranean, leading to a time of prosperity for Crete. Their main exports were timber, foodstuffs, cloth, olive oil, and fine goods. They imported metals, ivory, fine stones, and other manufactured goods. -
Minoan culture reached its height around 1900 BCE. Civilization was centered around palaces that concentrated political and economic power, religious rituals, artistic activity, and redistribution of agricultural commodities like wheat, wine, and other grains. The Minoan writing system, Linear A, also developed mainly as a way of keeping track of palace records. -
Around 1500 BCE is when there was increasing Mycenaean influence on the Greek mainland before Crete was destroyed in 1450 BCE, most likely by a Mycenaean invasion. -
Mycenaean civilization was also centered around palaces. They were the center of government, agricultural storage, and artisanal production. Nobels lived outside palace walls on estates. Linear B writing developed for record keeping. And the Mycenaeans pushed beyond the boundaries established by the Minoans for foreign trade. They used this wealth to expand military strength. -
The Mycenaeans fought the Trojans in modern-day Turkey. The events of the war were turned into the epic the Iliad by Homer. Archaeologists later proved that there were lower cities below the acropolis and the population of Troy matched what was stated in the epic of about 10,000 people. Archaeologists also unearthed nine cities stacked atop each other in this location, but there is still uncertainty whether Troy 6 or Troy 7 is the city described in the epic. -
This period in time is marked by the collapse of palace culture, art, urban life, and, most importantly, the loss of writing, but there were still many cultural contributions and advancements during this time. Some of them include: the creation of the phalanx, improvements in ship design that allowed for more cargo space or troops, the first use of olives for food, the spread of wine, and the spread of iron. Migration from Greece was frequent during this time. -
Mycenaean culture had started to collapse with kingdoms fighting one another and repeated earthquakes destroying palaces. Evidence also points to a prolonged drought. This messed with the trade routes for their goods. The Dorians also maybe invaded the Greek mainland and took control of most of the region. The Sea People were also active in the Mediterranean at the time wreaking havoc wherever they went. As a result, people fled the Greek mainland and settled on the Aegean islands and Anatolia. -
By c. 750 BCE, descendants of the Greeks who fled returned to mainland Greece. During this time, farmers grew surplus food, which led to increased trade with the Egyptians and Phoenicians. As a result, Greek writing developed to track trade and record oral histories and stories. Populations also expanded and colonies along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea were founded. Specialized trades developed, as well as the system of trading goods for money. Oligarchies held all the power. -
By the end of the Dark Ages, nobles had replaced kings in ruling the numerous city-states of Greece. Rugged mountains and deep valleys kept communities separated, so each city-state, or polis, developed their own identities and ran like an independent country. At the center of each polis was a hilltop that a fort stood on, an acropolis. They also built temples to honor the local Gods. Outside the acropolis was an open area, agora, that was used as a marketplace and general meeting place. -
The first Olympic Games were held in Olympia as a religious festival to honor Zeus. The Sacred Olympic Truce halted any conflict leading up to and during the Olympic Games to allow for safe passage and participation for all attending. Attendees were mainly men from every level of society, but women weren't allowed. Participants had to be freeborn males of Greek descent. They competed naked as they believed nakedness removed any markers of class or social status. -
Homer is perhaps the first and most well-know Greek poet. Homer composed the Iliad and the Odyssey. These two epics were told orally by bards before being written down and have endured to the present day. They were prime examples of the Greek values of heroism, honor, and hospitality. Scenes from Homer's works were later featured in Greek sculpture, pottery, and plays. There is still debate whether Homer was just one man or many, or even a woman, who composed the epics. -
Athens is ruled by nine archons who shared civic, religious, judicial, and military responsibilities. The chief archon was the Eponymous Archon who gave his name to the year. One was the Basileus and presided over the Council and was essentially king. A third was the Polemarch who commanded the military. The six others sat in judgement on court cases. They were elected for a year at a time. -
Cylon was an aristocrat and former Olympic victor who wanted to be tyrant. He seized power by capturing the Acropolis but was killed illegally after asking for sanction in a temple. This was during the time tyrants ruled other city-states.
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Draco was an Athenian lawmaker who instituted legal reforms and established the first written laws of Athens. Draco's legacy is one of harsh legal code in Athens, hence the term Draconian to describe excessively harsh or severe laws.
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By 600 BCE, the commoners of Athens were growing frustrated with the oligarchy that ruled. They faced struggles in growing crops, paying taxes, and debtors slavery. Protests erupted frequently. The rich landowners that ruled Athens turned to Solon since he was also a landowner but had once been poor before building his wealth through trade. -
Sappho was highly active on Lesbos c. 612-550 BCE. She is the first and best-known female Greek poet. She was in charge of a girls' school and many of her poems are directed towards her students. She wrote her poems to be accompanied by a lyre, thereby innovating lyric poetry. Her cultural legacy still persists today despite the loss of most of her poetry. -
Solon replaced Draconian law (except the ones dealing with homicide) and laid the foundation for democracy in Athens. He revamped Athenian social structure, created the Council of 400, essentially ended serfdom and freed those enslaved, introduced coinage and a corresponding system of weights and measures, and granted citizenship to immigrant artisans all to stimulate trade and industry. -
Pisistratus, another rich and powerful landowner, took control of Athens from Solon. Pisistratus tried to become tyrant twice before becoming successful the third time with a military coup. Under his rule, Athenians' rights were restricted and governmental power was centralized. But he also promoted the arts and infrastructure. -
This technique was created in Athens and is the reverse of black-figure technique. -
Cleisthenes is often considered the “Father of Athenian Democracy” for the reforms he made to the Athenian government. Under him, aristocratic power was weakened and an Assembly and the Council of 500 was established. The Assembly became the city's lawmaking body and every citizen got a vote. The Council of 500 expanded citizen participation in government--ideas for laws and taxes started here before being taken to the Assembly for a vote. He also introduced the idea of equality under the law. -
Under the rule of Darius I, Persia was expanding into mainland Europe. In 490 BCE, Greek forces led by Athens fought off the Persian forces in the Battle at Marathon. Xerxes took up the mantle in 486 BCE, and then again in 480 BCE to gain more land for Persia. -
Direct democracy began. All free Athenian men were able to participate in the democratic process by joining the Assembly or voting. Men could also be selected to the Council of 500 through a lottery system. Men selected to the council could serve no more than two one-year terms. This ensured every citizen had the chance of being a council member.
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