Complex Society and Cultural Exchange

*Mycenae, ca. 1600-1150 BCE

Homeric age (Iliad and Odyssey)

Greek "Dark Age," 1150-750 BCE

Cities abandoned
Writing (Linear B) lost

Influences in reviving Greek culture

*Phoenicians (Lebanon), 1000-300 BCE

Alphabet
Nautical technology
Trade networks

Egypt

*polis, originated: 750-650 BCE

Elevated citadel or fort

Ex: *Acropolis in Athens

“Political community” or city-state

Greek migration, High point: 750-550 BC

1) Lack of arable land

2) The attraction of trade

Imports: grain, metals

Exports: crafts, olives, olive oil, wine

Lecture Study Questions

Reading Study Questions

Bentley 48-51, 231-49

1. Why were the Phoenician and Greek alphabets improvements over the writing systems of Mesopotamia and Egypt?

2. What was the Greek polis?

3. Why did Greeks colonize the Mediterranean?

Electronic Reserves #8 “The Cradle of Cash”

1.  What are the origins of money? Why did people begin trading in silver and barley in ancient Mesopotamia?

2. Why did coins ultimately prove to be more useful than silver for commerce?

Electronic Reserves #9: “In Classical Athens, A Market Trading in the Currency of Ideas”

1. What was the function of the agora in ancient Athens?

2. How did archaeologists carry out the work to uncover the agora?