Book 1 paper
The first Greek age was the Heroic Age. This is when the Aegean Sea was divided into different countries by geography so each of the islands was a kingdom to itself. The Minoan culture had a big influence on the islands between them and the mainland until 1400 BC. These islands were called the Cyclades. The Cretan culture ruled until they stopped exporting and then the Mycenaean culture of the mainland took over. All the Greek tribes are descendents of Hellen, son of Ducalion(Noah). Hellen begat Achaeus and Ion who settled the Pelopnnesus and Attica.
Cecrops, a descendant of Ion, founded Athens.
Boeotia, the Thebes capital was founded by Cadmus. He also gave the world Heracles(Hercules) and Oedipus. When Heracles’ descendants were exiled from mycaenae, they promised to return 50 years later. I think this was the Dorian Invasion in 1104. Regardless, this ended the Heroic age.
Cyprus was important during all the Bronze Age(3400-1200 BC) because they had so much copper. They exported it to Egypt, Crete and Greece.
Troy had nine cities, the 2nd and 6th being the largest and greatest. We believe the 2nd to have been under siege of 1194-84 from Mycenaean and Spartan Greece. It was valued for its ability to toll and control all traffic in the Hellespont Strait with inland safety. Troy was a stopping place for merchants who wanted to ship further inland. The revenue from this probably made them rich and made them a target for conquerors. Trojans were part Minoan, Mycenaean, Asiatic, and Danubian. After Troy was taken, Greek culture began.
The Fathers of the Greek founding cities are connected by blood to Gods whom begin the Greek myth and poetry tradition. Since we don’t know how much truth is in it, we have to call it legend. Legend tells us Zeus begat Tantalus, begat Pelops, begat Atreus, begat Agamemnon and Menelaus, the kings of Mycenae and Sparta we read about in Homer.
Mycenaeans, Achaeans and Dorians.
Achaeans were physically beautiful and physically motivated people. The Achaeans didn’t mine for metal. They were content with bronze from Cyprus. They had an agrarian tradition they were proud of. Each did their best to make use of their local resources. Land ownership belonged to a father who couldn’t sell the land. Doing so ended common lands. Pride was taken in making things yourself—or taking them from others. Wealth was based on goods, not money.
The richer you were, the more meat you got to eat.
Morals
The Achaeans were gentle to family and strangers who needed hospitality, but they were vicious to everyone else. At home, they were on guard for raiders. They must have hated being disrespected because away from home, they did all they could to take vengeance in the same way they were hurt.
Sexes
The men grew up as boys preparing for the chase. The girls prepared for housekeeping. Marriage required a bride price and a dowry so both sides were enriched children made a mother and father more honored. Women and men mingled together in everything they did, and beauty of women was an inspiration.
Arts
The arts aren’t very well nurtured in this age, unless they involve practical metals. Everything was built to be functional and there was no time for anything else. Greatness was put into palaces, not temples.
State
Each kingdom began with a clan. All the free men have a voice, but only the most important can propose new ideas. Many of these were important because they were orators. The king’s line was hereditary, but limited by the council. He was king as long as the army and religion support him. Not knowing how to tax, he exacted gifts from his subjects and raided everyone else.
Siege of troy
1196-84 BC Iliad and Odyssey
Dorian conquest
In 1104, hunting northerners came with iron swords to Greece, Peloponneus and Crete. Greeks were able to hide in Attica, but in the other two, Mycenaean culture died. Perhaps it was the promised return of the Heracleidae. The Heroic age was at an end.
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