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The first historical stage of Greek culture is the Mycenaean, which receives its name from Mycenae, the most important city of that period, of which, according to mythology, was the legendary Agamemnon who led the expedition against Troy.
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After the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization comes the Dark Ages, named for the almost total absence of important sources of information. At this time, iron metallurgy spread in the Aegean basin, which will have a special impact on the manufacture of weapons. The economy is agricultural and livestock. However, there are certain colonizing movements, especially on the coasts of Asia Minor and the eastern islands of the Aegean Sea, where Greek settlements are established.
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In this period some decisive achievements for the future of the ancient Greek civilization are obtained. The introduction of the alphabet, which occurs in the middle of the 8th century BC. C., will be of decisive importance. From then on everything can be recorded in writing: from the more or less insignificant things of private life to the common affairs of the city
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The beginning of the classical era is located at the turn of the 6th to 5th century BC. C., when in Athens the stage of the democratic government is inaugurated. On the other hand, it is considered 323 a. C., year of the death of Alexander the Great, end of this period because the new political and social situation derived from the conquests of the King of Macedonia justifies it.
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Upon Alexander's death, his generals divided the empire, which was divided into various kingdoms, at whose head an absolute king was placed, who was even worshiped, all of which was the product of the influence exerted by the eastern world on the new Greek settlements located on Asian soil.
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Around this time, Rome has imposed its hegemony in Italy and, since the beginning of the 2nd century. C., begins its attacks on the kings of Macedonia, a region that they end up turning into a Roman province after the battle of Pidna. This success leads the Romans to deal harshly with the remaining Greek cities,
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Above all, one reality prevails: individualism. The old conception that man was basically a social being has been lost. The citizen of this new world feels alone.
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All cultural manifestations bear witness to this new reality: from poetry to philosophical speculation. And to this we must add that the Hellenistic age is the moment of the great advancement of the sciences: from mathematics and astronomy to literary studies.
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Since then Greece was a part of the vast Roman empire and when the occasion required, it was used in the internal or external struggles of Rome, but culturally Greece plays an important role: Rome comes into contact with the Greek civilization and Hellenizes
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The Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital Constantinople, or Istanbul, survived the fall of the Western Roman Empire a thousand years. The city of Constantine the Great was a splendid one-empire metropolis very agitated by wars and revolts, but with periods of political and cultural splendor.
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As was the time of Emperor Justinian, (from the 7th century), who reconquered large coastal areas of the Mediterranean, Italy and Africa, compiled Roman law and ordered to build the temple of Saint Sophia. Byzantium preserved much of the classical tradition in its libraries and developed architecture, music, and theology.
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The city-state of Athens was the center of Greek civilization during the classical era. In the 7th century BC, Athens was still a politically and economically underdeveloped city. But in the passage to the 6th century BC. C. circumstances begin to occur that will be the starting point for the success achieved in the 5th century BC. C
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In the 8th century BC. C., Sparta adopts a policy of expansion, which leads it to start a war with its Messenian neighbors (first Messinian war). The victory and subsequent annexation of the conquered territory makes Sparta an important economic and cultural power, which achieves a great artistic flourishing.
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Until now, the most developed cultural center was the island of Crete, with a population not yet Indo-European. Now attracted by the brilliance of the Cretan civilization (also called Minoan by the mythical King Minos), the Mycenaeans adopt many of the cultural characteristics and end up taking over the Aegean: the Mycenaean ships sail in all directions the Mediterranean. And in this context the heroic origins of the Iliad and the Odyssey are well understood.
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Between 1200 and 1100 a. C., the different Mycenaean enclaves are attacked and destroyed. Scholars do not agree on the causes: some think of the arrival of a new Greek wave, the so-called Dorians, which destroy the Mycenaean palaces; Others lean towards social revolt. In any case, around 1100 B.C. Mycenae's fortress is destroyed, ending an important stage in Greek history.