Minoan Crete

The BeginningsOf

Western Civilization

Agenda

• Today:– Answer the Bell-ringer–Who are the Minoans anyway?– Story of the Minotaur–Word Wall

Bell-ringer

• Where is Crete on a political map?

• Try to define the following:–Western Civilization:–Minotaur:

(Break into groups)

Crete

Western Civilization

• It is: The modern culture of Europe and North America– It is what makes us unique from the rest

of the world

• Minotaur: Half Bull/Half Man mythical figure

*The Minoans

• An ancient civilization on the island of Crete

• The birthplace of Western Civilization

Social

• The Minoans were very advanced

• They made unique pottery

• They were polytheistic

Political/Economics

• They had a King and royal court

• Their capital was Knossos

• Question: Being an island can anyone guess what kind of economy they would have?

Economical

• They were a sea trading country

• They grew many crops and domesticated bees as well

• They were a major stopping point across the Mediterranean sea

* Please read the story silently by yourself

The Minotaur Terms and Definitions• Poseidon:

• Labyrinth:

• Athens:

Moral of the Story•

Athens

Clue: English translation of the word “clew” – “ball of yarn” in Greek

Minoan culture ends

• At some point near 1400 BC the Minoans disappear

• We do not know what happened to them

• We do know that they were heavily influenced by the Greeks near the end

• They may have taken them over

*The story of Icarus

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvrjaxNmf24

• Can you tell the moral of this story

The Greeks

The Greeks create much of the history we know today

They created much of the architecture we still use and our government

Mythology

• A collection of myths– A made up story

with a moral

• Famous Greek Myths– Birth of Zeus– Heracles– The Minotaur– Icarus

• The Greeks, who are around during and after the Minoans tell A LOT of Mythology

*Homework

• Create your own myth

• You must have a moral and at least two fictional characters

• One page – 16 sentences or more (2 paragraphs)

The Titans and Olympians

Titans• Cronus was their

leader– Father of Zeus

• They ruled the world according to the Greeks

• Overthrown by the Olympians

Olympians• Zeus was their leader

– Son of Cronus

• They ruled after they defeated the Titans

• Celebrated as the “Gods” in Greek culture