Mediterranean by Ale Estrada

3500 BC - 2000 BC Minoan Period

alessandra_estr — 2014-11-16 21:39:46 UTC

Evidence that would indicate a rise in social complexity in Crete is very minor, in either “domestic or mortuary contexts” (Scarre). Circular tholo tombs were used to house the dead. Although they usually contained hundreds of corpses, given the time span that these tombs were being used; the amount of corpses the graves contained is relatively small. This suggests that the social groups that used these tombs were actually fairly small.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2013.

Image: http://galleryhip.com/minoan-labrys.html

3000 BC Crete's First Contact with Egypt

alessandra_estr — 2014-11-16 21:39:57 UTC

Dating roughly 3000 BC, items such as “silver cylinder seal[s], hippopotamus ivory, [and] a few fragments of stone bowls of Egyptian type” (Scarre) were found in Crete. Although it is not a lot of evidence, it hints that the Minoans of Crete made contact with Egypt (either directly or indirectly). Later in the century, the evidence becomes clearer. Items such as Egyptian scarabs, ivory, lapis lazuli, faience, and semi-precious stones begin to emerge. It is believed that emerging Cretan elite was using these items to establish their identity.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2013.

Image: http://museum.unl.edu/research/entomology/Egyptian_Sacred_Scarab/egs-text.htm

1630 BC - 1550 BC The Eruption of Thera

alessandra_estr — 2014-11-16 21:40:12 UTC

During the Minoans peak of power, something had happened that caused the culture to suddenly collapse. For many years, experts believed there was a connection between the eruption of Thera and the collapse of Minoan Crete.

The Eruption of Thera is believed to be one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions of all time. The giant eruption was located 70 miles away from Crete. With this eruption came a very large tsunami, which is predicted to have reached eastern Mediterranean at maximum.

This tsunami would have destroyed trading ports on Crete, which in return would have a very devastating effect on the people of Crete. There are possibilities that the Eruption of Thera could have also caused a catastrophic change to the environment, which would further harm the people of Crete.

Broad, William. "In the Mediterranean, Killer Tsunamis From an Ancient Eruption." LexisNexis Academic. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://www.lexisnexis.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/verb=sr&csi=6742&sr=HEADLINE(In+the+Mediterranean%2C+Killer+Tsunamis+From+an+Ancient+Eruption)%2BAND%2BDATE%2BIS%2B2009

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2013.

Image: http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/hazards/primer/

1400 BC - 1100 BC The Late Mycenaean Period

alessandra_estr — 2014-11-16 21:40:22 UTC

The Late Mycenaean Period was extremely prosperous in Peloponnese. After the collapse of Knossos, the Mycenaean society became a huge power in the Aegean. It is predicted that they must have controlled the nearby seas and colonized many of the neighboring areas, such as Cyclades, Cyprus, Sicily, and some sites in Italy. Mycenaean goods could be found in Egyptian, Syrian and Palestinian markets.

It is believed that some Cretan artists must have immigrated to the mainland because a large variety of Minoan styled art had been found at Mycenaean sites. This is important because although the Minoan society had been wiped out physically, culturally it continued to thrive and influence other cultures in means of art.

Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "Mycenae", accessed November 16, 2014, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/400227/Mycenae.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2013.

Image: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/myce/hd_myce.htm

850 BC - 600 BC Greek Colonization

alessandra_estr — 2014-11-16 21:40:49 UTC

In search of land and resources, Greek city-state began founding colonies across the Mediterranean. The first steps were creating trade contacts, and then once the “local population were subdued or included within the colony, cities were established” (Cartwright).

Perhaps one of the most important effects of doing this is the expansion of the Greek way of life. This way of life traveled to Spain, France, Italy, the Adriatic, the Black Sea, and North America. Greek goods, art, and ideas spread. In total, the Greek had created 500 colonies.

Cartwright, Mark. "Greek Colonization." Accessed November 16, 2014. http://www.ancient.eu/Greek_Colonization/

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2013.

1000 BC - 1 BC The Phoenician Expanision

alessandra_estr — 2014-11-16 21:41:11 UTC

The Phoenician people “were noted as centers of admired craft production, especially in ivory and glass” (Scarre). They were well-known for their long-distance trading interests. In many ways, the Phoenician people influenced much of the world surrounding them. For instance, the Greek alphabet was actually created based on a model of the Phoenician alphabet in the 8^th Century BC.

In addition to this, the Phoenician had established “colonial foundations in Spain, North Africa, and Sicily” (Scarre). With their expansion, and choosing only select locations, the Phoenician were able to expand their power and helped create stronger trading ports. This created conflict with the Greek colonies, specifically in Sicily. Given that the Phoenician influence was already strong before the expansion, the Phoenician lifestyle had been carried throughout the Mediterranean and changed the culture of the locations they colonized.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2013.

750 - 480 BC The Archaic Period

alessandra_estr — 2014-11-16 21:41:21 UTC

Following the Dark Age, which there is very little knowledge about, the Archaic Period is filled with a wide variety of changes in Greek language, society, art, architecture, and politics. “These changes occurred due to the increasing population of Greece and its increasing amount trade, which in tur led to colonization and a new age of intellectual ideas” (Lloyd).

In addition to this, from grave observations, the increase in graves suggests “the formal burial of a complete population, not just an elite component of it” (Scarre). This suggests further that the culture of during the Archaic Period was experiencing a change in social complexity. Rather than primarily focusing on the elite, formal burials were being performed for commoners as well.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2013.

700 BC Mining in the Etuscan World

alessandra_estr — 2014-11-16 21:41:36 UTC

The region of Etruria possessed an abundance of metal ores. Although smelting began during the 7^th Century BC, around the 4^th Century there was a huge boom in the iron industry as the city of Populonia discovered new ways of smelting iron. Populonia also became a huge iron exporter and one of the biggest smelting centers. It has been suggested that this region has been used for mining by many different groups and that it is controlled by aristocratic groups. It continued to be in use for many centuries to come, providing a great source for iron export and trade for the surrounding communities.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2013.

323 BC The Death of Alexander the Great

alessandra_estr — 2014-11-16 21:41:49 UTC

Following the death of Alexander the Great arose three successors. Each of these rulers unequivocally, like many others in Greece at the time, worshipped Alexander the Great as a god. In many of their portraits they represented Alexander the Great in many ways. Their hairstyle, dress, and expressions were all recognizable as those of Alexander the Great.

Alexander the Great was worshipped as a military genius, and because of these abilities the power of Greece was undefeatable.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2013.

Image: http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/AncientMacedonia/AlexandertheGreat.html

753 BC The Rise of Rome

alessandra_estr — 2014-11-16 21:41:57 UTC

Very similar to the beginning of any society, Rome was ruled by the Kings and Etruscan influence essentially controlled the civilization. It was this way until the son of the Etruscan king Tarquinius Superbus raped a Roman maiden, Lucretia. With this, Tarquinius Superbus was expelled and the Roman Empire was ruled by the republic.

Over the years of republican rule, Rome acquired many new features that are what is expected of Rome today. “Temples and shrines dotted the city: one of the most important, to the Capitoline Triad of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Juno, and Minerva from c. 500 BC stood atop the Capitoline hill” (Scarre).

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2013.

Image: http://www.crystalinks.com/rometemples.html

Fair Use Statement

alessandra_estr — 2014-11-16 22:00:01 UTC

This timeline was created for a Cascadia Community College Assignement.

The following statement applies to all entries within this timeline:

"…the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.

“Copyright Fair Use and How It Works for Online Images.” Social Media Examiner. http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/copyright-fair-use-and-how-it-works-for-online-images/ (Links to an external site.) (accessed Nov. 16, 2014).