CLAS 1000H Lecture 1: Greek Culture Lecture Notes 8-15
Document Summary
Emergence: sir william jones, february 2, 1786. Gave a speech comparing sanskrit, greek, latin, gothic, celtic and persian. Lots of similarities between the languages, most likely from common lost language. Regular patterns of sound differences: indo-european (language and people) No direct physical evidence of original people. Calvert watkins, how to kill a dragon (2001: reconstructed phrase for killing a serpent from comparing language and similar phrases. Language derivatives found in specific contexts: greeks: Wandered inland to greece from the north (by 2300 bce) Assimilation: zeus marrying local earth-goddesses: eventually became zeus sleeping around with women. Merging of cultures- through war and peace. Bronze age: minoan culture (2000-1600 bce, sir arthur evans (1899 ce) excavating knossos (crete, crete- center of trade with east, and home of immigrants. Not greek, culture and power spread to mainland thera (santorini) Centralized society- palace with craftsmen and traders, not protected. Central authority plans production and takes all produced materials.