HIS 220 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Michael Ventris, Shaft Tomb, Knossos
Document Summary
Greece and the aegean in the late bronze age (1600-1200 bc) Cretan influences also extended into southern and central greece by way of trading contacts, which began as early as 2000 bc. Played a major role in the development of the mycenaean greek civilization. In the middle bronze age, greece gradually transformed. Further strengthening of the economic and political power of the leaders: warrior chiefs were now evolving into monarchs. What we know about mycenaean civilization was discovered through graves. Shaft graves: mass burial sites with many bodies. Graves that contained less people and are dated much later . Hundreds of other expensive items including gold jewelry and luxury imports. These graves indicate the growth of mycenaean trade and greater control by the ruling class over the economy and society. Even later (1500 bc), nobles began to appear in impressive tholos tombs. Conspicuous signs of the ever-increasing power and resources of the leaders.
