BRIEFLY DESCRIBE BOTH CIVILIZATIONS:
Minoan:
Looking back at the Neolithic times (in 3000 B.C.E), some people began settling in Crete. We don't know which people and how they came. Since the Mycenaeans were the most civilized at that time, they wanted to conquere Crete, but they couldn't because they didn't know how to sail boats, and so they never conquered Crete. As time passed, Cretans (Minoans) were building palace murals, they painted pottery, and they depicted boats to fish so they could live. They were master seafarers and they set up long distance Trade Routes (in Spain, Egypt and Asia Minor- which is in Turkey today).
In 1700 BC, a terrible earthquake shook the island of Crete, and all of their palaces were destroyed. But the Cretans rebuilt even bigger and better palaces. Their biggest palace was called 'Knossos' which had hundres of rooms. Think of a shopping mall these days! They had even painted pictures showing plants and animals and people in fancy clothes. There were also bathtubs and running water (But this was only for the king and queen). By 1450 BC, Crete has been destroyed by fire. But luckily Knossos was still safe. However, it was destroyed too later. This time, Palaces were'nt rebuilt, and Crete became a much poorer place. Finally, the Mycenaeans were the most powerful, and it seemed that they destroyed Crete.
Mycenaean:
As I said, when the Minoan civilization disappeared, the Mycenaean civilization came to power on the Greek land. The Mycenaeans believed themselves to be great warriors. This is why most myths about heroes and famous battles come from Mycenaeans. They fought with whoever came in contact with them. This is why people think that they destroyed the Minoan civilization and their island. However, this is not the only reason they destroyed these the island of these peaceful neighbors... The first reason why they destroyed it is because they needed more supplies of copper and other ores found in Crete for weaponery, and could no longer defend against other cultures/groups of people on mainland Greece!
The Mycenaeans spoke an early form of Greek back then. They also developed an agricultural economy based on grapes, grains, and olives, and traded with Egypt, and Asia Minor (Turkey).
We know that they fought with stone weapons. The Mycenaean age is sometimes called the Heroic age or the Age of Heroes because their art includes warriors performing heroic feats, sometimes with other people in war and sometimes killing animals. Here are some facts about the Mycenaeans:
- They worshipped many gods
- They prayed to their gods when they needed help
- They expected their gods to take care of them
- They say the right words in a right way
The Mycenaeans built their palaces on hill tops. The reason why they decided to build their palaces on hilltops because there is a bigger chance of getting fresh rainwater up there. The Mycenaeans learned from experience that if you drank dirty water, you can get sick and even die. Clean water was very important to them, and it's important to people today too, right!? However, when they couldn't find a clean source of water to drink, they prayed to their gods to make any water safe.
WHAT ASPECTS OF BOTH CIVILIZATIONS WOULD YOU EXPECT TO SURVIVE IN LATER PERIODS OF GREEK HISTORY?
I believe that art and pottery would survive in later periods of Greek History because art never goes away, people admire it. It would be a pitty if other civilizations wouldn't copy their art, especially the Mycenaeans' because they had art which showed heroes fighting in battles and wars, and winning. I also think that small figurenes will survive in later periods of Greek History because they are also admiring.
Minoan:
Looking back at the Neolithic times (in 3000 B.C.E), some people began settling in Crete. We don't know which people and how they came. Since the Mycenaeans were the most civilized at that time, they wanted to conquere Crete, but they couldn't because they didn't know how to sail boats, and so they never conquered Crete. As time passed, Cretans (Minoans) were building palace murals, they painted pottery, and they depicted boats to fish so they could live. They were master seafarers and they set up long distance Trade Routes (in Spain, Egypt and Asia Minor- which is in Turkey today).
In 1700 BC, a terrible earthquake shook the island of Crete, and all of their palaces were destroyed. But the Cretans rebuilt even bigger and better palaces. Their biggest palace was called 'Knossos' which had hundres of rooms. Think of a shopping mall these days! They had even painted pictures showing plants and animals and people in fancy clothes. There were also bathtubs and running water (But this was only for the king and queen). By 1450 BC, Crete has been destroyed by fire. But luckily Knossos was still safe. However, it was destroyed too later. This time, Palaces were'nt rebuilt, and Crete became a much poorer place. Finally, the Mycenaeans were the most powerful, and it seemed that they destroyed Crete.
Mycenaean:
As I said, when the Minoan civilization disappeared, the Mycenaean civilization came to power on the Greek land. The Mycenaeans believed themselves to be great warriors. This is why most myths about heroes and famous battles come from Mycenaeans. They fought with whoever came in contact with them. This is why people think that they destroyed the Minoan civilization and their island. However, this is not the only reason they destroyed these the island of these peaceful neighbors... The first reason why they destroyed it is because they needed more supplies of copper and other ores found in Crete for weaponery, and could no longer defend against other cultures/groups of people on mainland Greece!
The Mycenaeans spoke an early form of Greek back then. They also developed an agricultural economy based on grapes, grains, and olives, and traded with Egypt, and Asia Minor (Turkey).
We know that they fought with stone weapons. The Mycenaean age is sometimes called the Heroic age or the Age of Heroes because their art includes warriors performing heroic feats, sometimes with other people in war and sometimes killing animals. Here are some facts about the Mycenaeans:
- They worshipped many gods
- They prayed to their gods when they needed help
- They expected their gods to take care of them
- They say the right words in a right way
The Mycenaeans built their palaces on hill tops. The reason why they decided to build their palaces on hilltops because there is a bigger chance of getting fresh rainwater up there. The Mycenaeans learned from experience that if you drank dirty water, you can get sick and even die. Clean water was very important to them, and it's important to people today too, right!? However, when they couldn't find a clean source of water to drink, they prayed to their gods to make any water safe.
WHAT ASPECTS OF BOTH CIVILIZATIONS WOULD YOU EXPECT TO SURVIVE IN LATER PERIODS OF GREEK HISTORY?
I believe that art and pottery would survive in later periods of Greek History because art never goes away, people admire it. It would be a pitty if other civilizations wouldn't copy their art, especially the Mycenaeans' because they had art which showed heroes fighting in battles and wars, and winning. I also think that small figurenes will survive in later periods of Greek History because they are also admiring.
