geography › sea fishing, trade › proximity to fertile crescent & egypt cultural crossroad...
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Greece in the Bronze Age
Geography› sea
fishing, trade› proximity to Fertile
Crescent & Egypt cultural crossroad
› rocky, mountainous mainland small fertile river
valleys› islands
Minoan Civilization, 2900-1150 bce
Crete result of cultural diffusion
technology, art, & architecture
› elaborate palaces› art – frescoes› writing system› complex govt.
Minoan Culture, c. 1700-1400
Cultural expansion› north to Greek islands
& mainland› not conquest – trade
Decline› Initial causes unclear› series of natural
disasters volcanic eruptions
tidal waves› followed by invasions
from north Mycenaeans
Mycenaean Migration, 1900-1400 bce
Indo-European migrants from north, c. 1900-1700› same migration as
Hittites warlike, tribal herdsmen moved south
through mainland› then across islands
Mycenaean Civilization, 1700-1150 BCE
herdsmen gradually picked up Minoan culture› including agriculture
villages small city-states signs of frequent warfare
› also the idea of writing developed own system
“Linear B”
Mycenaean Collapse c. 1250-1150:
“Dorian” migrations› further wave of
Indo-European migrants?
› part of chaos that disrupted entire region Hittites,
Egyptians
Mycenaean culture collapsed› ushered in “Dark Age”/”Homeric
Age”› writing was lost for about 400
years
Harappan Civilization, c. 3000-1700 BCE
Urban society› many small
cities, and several large ones
› grid pattern› advanced water
technology irrigation/dams reservoirs sewer systems running water
Harappan Civilization unknown date: writing c. 2500: bronze metallurgy
› increased production increased population expansion of cities, culture
c. 2300-1700: regular, large-scale trade with Mesopotamia
Harappan Collapse, c. 1900-1700
Competing theories› natural disasters› manmade disasters› overpopulation desertification
By 1900, the civilization was in serious decline› cities being deserted
c. 1750: Indo-Aryan migration from the Iranian Plateau› ushered in a “dark age” – the Vedic Age
c. 1700-800 BCE
The Vedic Age, c. 1700-800 bce
c. 1700-1000: struggle for control of the Indus Valley› Aryans gradually conquer Harappan people
adopt agriculture, but not cities form small villages small to medium city-states
most aspects of Harappan civilization lost language, writing, religious beliefs, government, etc.
› new society revolves around warfare Aryan vs. Harappan; among tribes/city-states
› after about 1200, Vedic society expands east into the Ganges Valley
The Vedic Age By 1000 BCE, a new culture had emerged
› government: city-states, governed by kings constant warfare
› society: rigid hierarchy 1. nobility (warriors & priests), 2. peasants, 3.
Dasas Dasas: descendants of Harappans, darker skinned
› religion: polytheistic, based on the Vedas Vedas: “wisdom”; hymns, prayers, rituals, &
stories composed c. 1500-500 – not written until c. 700 most important was the Rig Veda (c. 1500-1200)
Vedic Age ended with introduction of iron metallurgy (c. 1000) and writing (c. 800)