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The Greek Dark Ages. The Greek dark age was a period which dated between 1100-800BC It was was a period of limited cultural advancement in terms of art, architecture, and writing Former Mycenaean fortresses continued to be occupied but in a very limited capacity
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The Greek Dark Ages • The Greek dark age was a period which dated between 1100-800BC • It was was a period of limited cultural advancement in terms of art, architecture, and writing • Former Mycenaean fortresses continued to be occupied but in a very limited capacity • The invasion from the Dorians set off this dark age
Who is to blame? • Greek tradition attributed the invasion to the Dorians who came from the Balkans • The Dorians considered themselves the sons of Heracles • The Dorians easily conquered the Mycenaeans with their “Iron weapons”
Did anything happen? • The Cemetery of Petari tells us that some cultural advancement / contact DID take place • Grave goods included jewelry, clothing accessories, weapons, tools and pottery • Numerous items were found to be from other civilizations such as Egypt, Syria, and Cyprus. • Sadly, the last occupied burial dates to 1075 BC
The Greek Migration • Known settlements in Greece declined from 320 sites to just 40! • The Greeks either joined the “Sea people” or scattering to places of refuge. • The Greeks would settle to the coast of Asia Minor. • Major cities established included Miletus, Ephesus, Myus, Priene, Colophon, Lebedos, Teos, and Samos.
Was the Dark Age that bad? • The loss of imports of tin and copper forced the the remaining Greeks to learn “Ironworking” • Greeks migrated into Asia Minor creating cross cultural contacts • The loss of writing created a strong oral story tradition in Greece (Homer) • The loss of the central palace system would be the beginning for the smaller city state.
The end of the Dark Age • The Dark Age slowly parted when Homer hymned the Trojan War and the first Olympic games were founded in 776BC • Around the same time there was a huge population explosion along with higher quality grave goods.
The Olympic Games! • The games were originally created to celebrate the Olympian gods • Quickly the games became about encouraging good relations between the city states. • The Greeks would stop warring between city states so citizens could travel safely to the games
The Events • The Olympic events were typically preformed in the nude • Athletes in some cases would lather themselves up in olive oil • Events included Stadion race (200M dash), boxing, Pentathlon (Discus, Javelin, Jumping, Wrestling), and Equestrian events
The Victor! • Rewards would be handed out after the competition • Hellanodikis (Greek Judge) would place a palm branch in the victors hands • A herald would announce his name, his father's name, and his homeland. • A more formal victory presentation would take place on the last day of the games at the temple of Zeus. The victor was given a sacred laurel
Greek life and sports • Sports and physical education would play a critical role in Greek life and education. People would pay for an athletes' Gloios • The Gymnasium would become a community training facility, a place for education, and philosophical pursuits • A young persons education primarily took place in the Gymnasium