early aegean civilization october 3, 2007. minoans ca. 2000-1200 b.c. based on crete palace at...
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Early Aegean Civilization
October 3, 2007
Minoans Ca. 2000-1200 B.C. Based on Crete Palace at Knossos Discovered by Arthur
Evans
Minoans (2) Seafaring Culture
Commercial economy Trade with Egypt Relatively peaceful
King and bureaucracy
Minoans (3) Minoans in Greek myth
King Minos and Labyrinth Theseus myth
Sudden collapse Thera? Mycenaeans?
Mycenaeans Ca. 1600-1100 B.C. Inhabited the Greek
mainland Numerous monarchies
based in hill fortresses, palace complexes
Heinrich Schliemann
Amateur archeologist Was convinced Greek epics were grounded in fact Excavations
MycenaeTroy
Mycenaean Culture Violent—frequent warfare Art (pottery, weapons) Trojan War (12th c.?) Peak – 1400-1200 Collapse around 1100
Homer: The Poet
The importance of the poet in the city Was Homer a real person? Head of the literary tradition for Western
civilization Iliad and Odyssey: the Greeks’ “Bible”
Iliad: Plot
Background Judgment of ParisSeduction of HelenAchaean invasion of Troy
Achilles and Agamemnon quarrel Achilles leaves the fighting
Iliad: Plot (2)
Desperation of Achaeans Patroclus rallies Achaeans but is killed Achilles reenters fight, kills Hector, desecrates
body Priam begs for Hector’s body, Achilles gives in Aftermath: Trojan Horse, Death of Achilles
Characters of the Iliad Achilles
Hector
Agamemnon
Themes in The Iliad Warfare Honor and Glory “Immortality” Fate The gods Achilles Shield