Ancient Greece
The Aegean Age&
The Dark Age
Minoan Civilization • Centered on Island
of Crete• Capital was Knossos• First Greek
Civilization• First European
Civilization
Minoan Civilization
Palace of Knossos (2000-1325 BCE)
Palace at Knossos as it would have appeared in 1700-1450 BCE
King Minos• First Thassalocracy
(sea rule)• Language was
Linear A and we haven’t translated it
• Myths of the Minotaur, Labyrinth, & Theseus
• Not sure if King Minos really existed
Copy of the Phaistos disk, written in Linear A 1850-1600 BCE
Fall of Minoan Culture
• Explosion of Thira wiped out coastal towns and navy of Minoans
• Ash ruined crops• Conquered by
mainland Greeks
Mycenaean Civilization• Traded throughout
the Mediterranean• Famous for their
large, treasure filled tombs
• Greeks that fought in the Trojan War
• Warlike
Treasury of Atreus
Mycenaean Civilization
Treasury of Atreus
Fall of Mycenae• Mycenaean lands
invaded by sea raiders called Dorians
Dark Age of Greece• Lasted 350 years• Writing disappeared• Oral History became
important• Creation of Greek
myths• Time of Homer and
his great works the Iliad and Odyssey