Transcript Sir Arthur Evans

Early Aegean Civilization &
The Rise of Hellenic Civilization
Parthenon, Athens - 450 BC
• Sir Arthur Evans, 1900
Discovered the Palace of
Knossos
(Minoan civilization)
Sea themes on Cretan pottery
North entrance of Palace of Knossos
The Throne Room of King Minor c 1600 BCE
The Queen’s Room…
The Fisherman, Crete, c 1400
Prince With Lilies, c. 1500 BC
Minoan ladies, 1400
Bull leaping Mural, Palace at Knossos
The Palace at Knossos, 2200 -1400 BC
Heinrich Schleiman
Homer, The Iliad
12th C. : The Trojan Wars
Origin of the Trojan War
Helen, Paris and Aphrodite
• The
Lion’s
Gate,
1350 BC
Kyriakos Pittakis,
1841
The Treasury of
Atreus
c 1300 BCE
Two sets of gravesites
were discovered at
Mycenae
•
Pottery, swords,
knives and 100’s
of gold
ornaments have
been found
Mycenaean Queen, c. 1350
Mycenaean bull, 1350 BCE
Invasions usher in a “Dark Age.” (1100-800 BC)
Invasions usher in a “Dark Age.” (1100-800 BC)
• Mycenaean civilization disappeared- warfare,
poverty, insecurity and isolation.
• Extensive trade ceased
• The knowledge of writing was forgotten
• Palace workshops were abandoned
• Art reflected primitive forms
• Simple burials
• No massive buildings/architecture
• Fewer water wells were dug
How did life change after 800 BC?
• “The Greek Renaissance” 800 – 600 BC
• Writing again became part of Greek culture
(Phoenician script!)
• Population increased dramatically
• Urbanization quickened
• A merchant class emerged
• Colonies around the Mediterranean multiplied
• Overseas trade expanded
• Rise in use of metals
Hesiod,
wrote
The Theogony
and
Works & Days
The poet Homer: broke with the traditional treatment of the heroes
of myth and legend
• Not just deeds and
actions, but added
what the hero
thought and felt
about his behavior
• Developed
characters who
were complex in
their motives, who
expressed emotions
such as anger,
vengeance, guilt,
remorse and
compassion.
• The Polis… is the name for the independent citystate of the ancient Hellenes people.
The polis
developed into
a self-governing
community…
that expressed
the will of free
citizens, not the
desires of gods,
hereditary kings
or priests.
The great Greek contribution to political life:
• Individual members shared a sense
of belonging to and participating in
the polis.
• Community problems are caused by
human beings and require human
solutions.
• Laws expressed the rational mind of
the community to insure its will and
needs are met.
Sparta: the ultimate military state
Spartan warriors, c. 450 BC
The ruins of Ancient Sparta
Athens, cradle of democracy
Draco
620’sBC
570’sBC
Solon
Pisistratus,
540’s BC
Cleisthenes,
508 BC