Mycenaean Greece and Their Major Development by Kaitlyn Sugihara

Linear B

hlee6093 — 2014-09-05 15:26:27 UTC

Linear B was most popular during the time period 1500 BCE to 1200 BCE.

It was one of the earliest forms of writing in the Mycenaean society and consisted of symbols and hieroglyphics.

Archaeologists have decoded many of these ancient writing symbols and have learned much regarding the political, religious, and social aspects of the Mycenaean society.

Linear B was highly significant because it was one of the first forms of writing and allowed people to record many important historical occurences during ancient times.

http://www.ancientscripts.com/linearb.html

Society

hlee6093 — 2014-09-05 15:39:46 UTC

Society in the Mycenaean Greece was a big part of their cultural. During the 15th century, the Mycenaean leaders adopted models of social organization of Minoan Crete and the Near East and applied them creating "palatial states."

Thanks to the bureaucratic organization and successful economic administration the agricultural settlements of the Middle Bronze Age were transformed into city-states with an efficient administration and international renown.

The social model was preserved for roughly five centuries until the destruction of the Mycenaean palaces around 1200 BC. The collapse of the central power effected all the sectors of civilization, particularly economy and the arts. After the definite destruction of the citadels around 1100 BC the social changes were more obvious. During the 11th century, many settlements were destroyed or abandoned.

Architecture and the Arts

Sugihara — 2014-09-05 15:41:09 UTC

Many aspects of Mycenaean art were adopted from the Crete, including painting, pottery, and architecture styles.

Mycenaean cities were very well fortified, often built on a hill surrounded by large, thick hills. It was built ready to withstand and easily retreat from any attack. A characterizing aspect of their architecture were the large stones they used in constructions. The stones were so large, the Greeks believed that the Mycenaean had used the Cyclopes to lift them.

Higher class peoples built large shaft graves to bury their dead in. They were, at first, singular graves. As time went on, more graves were constructed around the first one. Each grave had with it ornate objects such as gold death masks. Later, large, circular walls were constructed around the graves, and they became a sacred site.

The arts in Mycenaean Greece were mainly limited to the upper class, who ensured that they were served by only the best artisans. The walls of palaces would often be lined with frescoes: brightly colored paintings done on wet plaster. The upper class commissioned art with many precious materials, such as gold, ivory, and copper. They created things such as pottery and metal reliefs.

Agriculture

aperalta7338 — 2014-09-08 15:00:06 UTC

Agricultural production in these kingdoms reflected the traditional "Mediterranean trilogy": grain, olives, and grapes. The grains cultivated were wheat and barley. Olive orchards were planted for the production of olive oil. This was not only a foodstuff, it was much used as a body oil and in perfume. Grapes were also cultivated, and several varieties of wine were produced. Besides these, flax was grown for linen clothing and sesame for its oil, and trees were planted, such as the fig.

Livestock consisted primarily of sheep and goats. Cows and pigs were less common. Horses were kept chiefly for the pulling of chariots in battle.

The palatial centres had a very well organized storage and redistribution system for agricultural products. The surplus was concentrated in the palaces perhaps as a kind of taxes that the communities and citizens offered from their production. That is where the articles, the quantities of the offerings and their origin were very carefully recorded on clay tablets. The palaces, as indicated by the tablets of Pylos, Mycenae and Thebes, traded certain products playing the role of transit trade in the interior and the international trade.