Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations PDF

## The Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations ### The Minoan Civilization - Created a unified community on the island of Crete. - Palaces seem to not have had complete control over the surrounding areas or acted as hubs for all activities. - Palaces served as centers for corporate aggregation of facti...

## The Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations ### The Minoan Civilization - Created a unified community on the island of Crete. - Palaces seem to not have had complete control over the surrounding areas or acted as hubs for all activities. - Palaces served as centers for corporate aggregation of factions, likely clans or families. - Power was not stable or concentrated in the hands of a single group. - Evidence of dynastic power or a royal iconography is lacking. - No supporting evidence found in oriental sources. #### Common characteristics of the Minoan Palaces: 1. Two large central courtyards (potentially for gatherings and ceremonies). 2. Paved walkways that cross them. 3. "Koulouras" along the edges of the courtyards (could have been used for storing grain or for processions). ### The Late Minoan Period (1700-1425 BC) - Palaces underwent significant destruction (likely due to an earthquake) at the end of the 18th century BC. - Around 1700 BC new palaces were built, along with monumental administrative buildings. - A cultural homogenization emerged over time, characterized by: - Shared artistic, artisanal, and administrative practices. - The development of the Linear A syllabic script. - Participation in international trade. - The manipulation of religious activity by ruling groups for social control. - Evidence suggests that this cultural homogenization may have been a result of Cnossos' dominance over the rest of the island, or it may have been a result of independent states with an ideological link to Cnossos. #### Minoan Colonies - Evidence of Minoan influence is found in the Cyclades, Mileto, and Citera. - The relationship between these regions and Crete is difficult to discern; it could have been a result of: - Stable populations from Crete living in these colonies. - Widespread Minoan influence. #### The Decline of the Minoan Civilization (around the 15th century BC) - Major Minoan sites were destroyed, with Cnossos being the only seemingly unaffected site. - Theories for this decline: - The Mycenaeans directly invaded and destroyed Crete. - Internal rebellions occurred, possibly alongside an invasion. - Evidence from Egyptian sources suggests that a "sea peoples" invasion could be a contributing factor. - The eruption of Thera (Santorini) significantly weakened Crete. - The Mycenaeans extended their power over the Aegean Sea. ### The Mycenaean Civilization - Started to develop during the transition between the Middle and Late Bronze Ages. - Characterized by: - The emergence of local elites. - A more complex society. - The creation of the "shaft graves" in Argolide (a sign of a new type of society). - Flourished between 1600-1070 BC (late Bronze Age). #### Schliemann's Discoveries (1876) - Discovered two circles of tombs in Mycenae: - Circle A (1600-1500 BC). - Circle B (1650-1550 BC). - Discovered gold artifacts of exceptional quality within these tombs, signifying exceptional craftsmanship and a focus on artistic expression. - The Mycenaean civilization started as a sudden explosion of concentrated riches and powerful elites. - Excavated tomb structures suggest that they were likely royal tombs. - The monumentalization of Circle A points to its increasing significance and importance over time. #### Formation of Mycenaean Elites - The Mycenaeans were likely able to control trade routes to the east and west. - This control allowed them to accumulate wealth and power. - Mycenae developed in diverse geographical areas but shared a common cultural identity, evident in: - The use of Linear B script. - Shared iconography. #### The Organization of Mycenaean Palaces - Decentralized: organized into small states revolving around their palaces. - Economy focused on: - Distribution of primary goods in exchange for labor. - Palaces were located along trade routes. - Officine produced luxury goods directly under the palace's control. - Palaces maintained a powerful, symbolic image through religious spheres (offerings, funerals, etc.). - Smaller, more modest, and compact than Minoan palaces. - Focused on administration, economic, and religious matters. - The palace served as the center of the city that developed around it. #### Mycenaean Social Hierarchy Based on Clay Tablets 1. **Wanax**: The king, resided in the Megaron, the main hall of the palace. 2. **Lawagetas**: Commander in chief of the army. 3. **Telestae**: Priests or high-ranking officials who received land in return for their service. 4. **Basileus**: Leader of a smaller group (for example, metalworkers, artisans, etc.). 5. **Hequeta**: Warriors who served the king, potentially forming a personal guard. 6. **Gerons**: Elders, likely forming a council of advisors. 7. **Doulos**: Slaves, owned by individuals or deities. ### Mycenaean Influence on Crete - Linear B derives from Linear A, indicating a possible Mycenaean presence in Crete during the Late Minoan period. - Archaeological evidence confirms that Mycenaeans did not forcefully invade Crete as a mass movement. - Mycenaeans did have some influence in and around Crete: - This is evidenced by the presence of Linear B tablets dated between the 14th and 13th centuries BC. - The Minoan and Mycenaean cultures were not entirely distinct; they intermingled in some ways, resulting in a blend of these two civilizations. ### Mycenaean Expansion and Decline (16th to 13th Century BC) - Reaching its peak between the 14th and 13th centuries BC, Mycenaean influence stretched from the Iberian Peninsula to the Near East. - The expansion was likely driven by: - Acquiring raw materials. - Trading high-value goods produced by Mycenaean artisans. - Unlike other great powers of the time, Mycenaeans did not maintain formal diplomatic relations with other states, only engaging in trade. - The decline began in the second half of the 13th century BC: - Trade networks weakened and eventually collapsed. - Sites were abandoned or destroyed. - Rural areas were deserted. - The collapse was not isolated to Mycenae; it also affected the Hittite Empire, the Mitanni kingdom, and other Near Eastern states. - Only Egypt under Ramesses III seemed to be unaffected. #### Explanations for the Mycenaean Collapse 1. **Invasion from Northern Europe**: No archaeological evidence supports this theory. 2. **Drought**: Potentially plausible, especially if it affected such a large area. Could have led to internal unrest and contributed to the Mycenaean downfall. 3. **Mercenary armies**: Mercenaries might have played a role in the instability, contributing to widespread destruction and collapse across the Mediterranean region. ### The Dark Ages (12th to 9th Century BC) - Characterized by: - Poverty. - Decline in cultural development. - Isolation. #### Changes in Mycenaean Society During the 11th Century BC: 1. **Burial Practices**: - The shift from multiple burials to individual burials. - The introduction of the practices of cremation and iron weaponry. - This shift was used as justification by some scholars for the supposed arrival of the "Dorians" in Greece, but this is a controversial theory. 2. **Economic Changes**: - Feudal society replaced by a more egalitarian, pastoral system. - Increased use of iron tools. 3. **Social Changes**: - Less centralized power: societies became more egalitarian, without the strict hierarchies of the Mycenaean era. - A focus on local communities and limited centers. - Less reliance on organized power structures. #### The Rise of the Greek Polis - Greece started to develop its own identity, particularly in central Greece: - Attica and Argolide: - Retained elements of palace society and military orders. - Emphasized social hierarchy and a strong military focus. - Other regions: - Developed new forms of political organization, with influential leaders controlling trade or resources. - This happened in areas like Eubea, where political structures remained unstable. - Traditionally, historians believe a wave of "Greek colonization" originated in Attica during the 10th and 9th centuries BC. - Evidence suggests that while the movement happened in the 8th century BC, it may have been the result of renewed contact with the Eastern Mediterranean. ### Crete During the 12th-9th Century BC - The 12th century BC saw widespread destruction and abandonment of settlements. - Population movements led to new settlements or increased density in existing major sites. - The Minoan cultural heritage persisted but was incorporated into a new order of independent political entities. - Crete's political organization was decentralized. - While society was largely homogeneous, suggesting a common social structure, individual communities were largely independent. - The elite was primarily composed of warriors, as evidenced by the use of monumental tombs for burials. #### Reinterpreting the Past - Crete’s inhabitants drew upon the island’s past, using historical artifacts to legitimize their own power and provide them with a sense of cultural continuity. - This was apparent in the use of old palaces as burial sites and the creation of new artistic interpretations of the Minoan past. - The information presented in this document sheds light on the history of the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, highlighting their interconnectedness and influence on the later development of Greece.