Chapter 9
Beginnings of Greek
Culture
2800 B.C.-750 B.C.
Why it’s important

Greek Civilization grew
out of the Minoan
and Mycenaean
civilizations
 Both became
great sea powers
 Both left a legacy, a
gift from the past,
to the Greeks
Section 1
The Minoans
B.C. – 1400 B.C.
 From island of
Crete in the
Mediterranean Sea
 2800
 Grew
wheat, barley, grapes, and olives
 Surplus they would trade for other goods
 Became carpenters and metalworkers
 Used these skills to become traders
instead of farmers
The Minoans
 Built
ships to go faster to escape pirates
 Ships had two or three masts
 Deck over rowers to protect them
 Prow, front of the boat, had a wooden
beam to smash a hole in enemies boat
Minoan People
 Men-
farmed and fished and served in the
navy and royal guard
 Women- did household chores, attended
sporting events, and hunted in chariots
 People loved sports, built first sports arena
 Boxing matches and bull leaping, form of
bullfighting, were held here
Cities on Crete
 At
the center of the city was a palace
 City had no wall- depended on navy and
sea for protection
Knossos, Crete
5
story palace that housed government, temple,
factory, and warehouse
 Inside

was decorated with frescoes
watercolor paintings made on damp plaster
 Bathrooms
had bathtubs, flush toilets, hot and
cold water, and portable fireboxes for heat
 Contained paintings and carvings of double ax
Fresco at palace in Knossos

Passageways and
rooms formed a
labyrinth

is a network of paths
through which it is
difficult to find one’s way.
Remains of Palace at Knossos
Minoan City Setup

Sea captains,
merchants, and
shipbuilders lived
around the palace
 Each house had own
well and drains
 Had to enter from roof
using ladder
 Later used doors made
of wood and covered
with parchment- thin
animal skin
Polytheistic Minoans
 Priest-kings
would climb up Mount Juktas
to find the will of the gods for the people
 Great Goddess- Mother Earth made plants
grow and bore children

Minoans built shrines to honor her
• Shrines are sacred places to worship her
 Hilltops
led to heaven
 Caves led to underworld
Sacred Minoan Objects
 Dove-
flew to the heavens
 Double Ax-
power of Mother Earth and
authority of the king
 Lily-
flower
The Fall of the Minoans
 Not
much is known about the fall
 1400 B.C.- control of the sea is passed to
the Mycenaeans
 Minoans
The Fall of the Minoans Legend
 Theseus
was to be sacrificed to the Minotaur
 Defeated the Minotaur with a magical sword
 Helped by the kings daughter and he took her
to marry but deserted her on an island
 When the Minotaur died so did the power of the
Minoans