The Aegean civilization carries the historical glory of the entire Aegean region. It has undergone a long process of development and is divided into two successive phases, the former being the Cretan civilization and the latter being the Mycenaean civilization. The alternation of these two phases constitutes the main face of the Aegean civilization.
1. The Rise and Background of Mycenaean Civilization.
The Cretan civilization gradually declined in the 15th century BC for both natural disasters and human factors, namely migrants from the north, the later "Greeks".
These Greeks were originally some barbarians with a low level of culture, settled in the Peloponnese and Attica regions. However, under the influence of Cretan culture, they gradually moved towards the path of civilization. With the decline of the Cretan civilization, these northern migrants grew, and the influx of more northern migrants, formed a wave of violent impact from north to south, which eventually led to the collapse of the Cretan civilization in the second half of the 15th century BC.
The Rise of Ancient Greece.
At the height of the Cretan civilization, its cultural influence spread throughout the Aegean region, overshadowing the new migrants. With the decline of the Cretan civilization, these migrants from the north established a number of settlements in Greece proper, which gradually developed into a civilized state. These states were originally small and oligo-type, similar to the later Greek city-states, and were actually the rudiments of states formed on the basis of clan societies. With the need for foreign wars, these micro-states formed a political alliance of states in a military democracy, and their leader was Mycenae.
2. The geographical location of Mycenae.
Geographically, mainland Greece is made up of the Peloponnese Peninsula and the Attica Peninsula in the south, and is connected by the narrow Isthmus of Corinth. The Peloponnese appeared the countries of Mycenae, Sparta, Tirinth, Pylos, and Corinth, while on the Attica Peninsula there were countries such as Athens, Thebes, etc. Among these countries, Mycenae was the most powerful, so the civilization of this era was called the Mycenaean civilization.
3. The founder of the Mycenaean civilization.
Who was the founder of the Mycenaean civilization?The founders of the Cretan civilization were not the Greeks, but the indigenous people of Crete, who were older than the Greeks, and may have originally crossed the sea from Western Asia or Egypt. In contrast, the Mycenaean civilization was founded by the true Greeks and included many different ethnic groups from the northern Thessaly region all the way to the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea. These Greeks came to mainland Greece in the early 20th century BC and settled in Greece for hundreds of years by the time the Cretan civilization fell. In the process, they unconsciously accepted the influence of Cretan civilization.
Therefore, after the demise of the Cretan civilization, the emerging countries represented by Mycenae not only retained some elements of Cretan culture, but also showed strong northern cultural characteristics. These Greeks were known by many different names such as Pilaski, Caria, etc., among which the Achaians were one of them, who established their dominance in mainland Greece.
4. The Achaians and the Greek Gods.
The Cretans were mostly short in stature and with a thin waist, while the Achaians, on the other hand, were typically northerners, with tall and strong men and beautiful and muscular women. This body trait was reflected in later Greek mythology, such as Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, who were both beautiful and robust.
Aphrodite, in particular, in later sculptures and paintings, embodies a typical northern beauty, a beauty of health and strength. This northern aesthetic style became a model of art in the era of the Greek city-states, passed on to Rome, and eventually influenced later generations of the West, and has continued to this day as an aesthetic classic.
5. Historical Periodization of Mycenaean Civilization.
The beginning of the Mycenaean civilization.
After 1900 BC, northern invaders came to the Peloponnese one after another, initially probably from the Pilaskis from the east, followed by the Achaias from the north.
Shaft tomb dynastic period.
From 1600 BC to 1500 BC, it was divided in the form of tombs, which are archaeologically known as the Shaft Tomb Dynasty period, and the tombs were rectangular "shaft tombs".
Dome of the Rock dynastic period.
After 1500 BC, entering the domed tomb dynasty, the burial chamber was magnificent, often using the entire cave as a burial chamber, with a circular top.
Mycenaeans invade Crete.
From 1425 BC to 1380 BC, the Mycenaeans began to invade Crete and destroy the Cretan civilization.
The Mycenaean civilization prospered.
From 1380 BC to 1300 BC, the Cretan civilization declined, and the Mycenaean civilization entered its heyday, becoming the center of the entire Greek civilization.
The Trojan War, with its foreign plunder, broke out.
In 1200 BC, the invasion of the northern Dorians and Thracians led to the decline of the Mycenaean civilization. Although the Mycenaeans won the Trojan War, they were also demoralized.
The Dorians invaded the Mycenaean civilization.
Around 1100 BC, the Mycenaean civilization was destroyed by invaders from the north.
Epilogue. The rise and fall of the Mycenaean civilization carried an important course of ancient Greek culture. Its impact was not limited to the Peloponnese, but also radiated to the entire Aegean Sea and even the coast of Asia Minor. This ancient and illustrious history has left behind a rich cultural heritage that has laid the foundation for the artistic, philosophical, and political systems of later generations, and has become an important part of Western civilization.
The rise and fall of the Mycenaean civilization is one of the most fascinating chapters in the ancient history of Greece. This history carries a rich and colorful culture, and by delving into it, we can get a glimpse of the wonders and vicissitudes of Greek civilization.
First of all, the article profoundly shows the process of the establishment of the Mycenaean civilization. From the initial barbaric state of the northern migrants to the gradual progress towards civilization under the influence of Cretan civilization, it shows the transformation and inheritance of a culture. In the process, the collapse of the Cretan civilization became an opportunity for the Greeks to establish a new civilization, and at the same time a historical witness to the integration of cultures.
Second, the depiction of the Achaians shows the diversity of different ethnic groups in Greek civilization. The rise of this group not only changed the geographical pattern, but also profoundly affected the course of later history. The article vividly portrays the physical characteristics of the Achaians, which echo the images in later mythology, and provide a cultural foundation for the formation of heroes and gods in Greek culture.
The historical periodization of the Mycenaean civilization is described in detail, so that readers can better understand its evolution. From the period of the Shaft Tomb Dynasty to the Dome Tomb Dynasty, to the Mycenaean invasion of Crete and the outbreak of the Trojan War, the entire historical period presents a magnificent picture. This layer-by-layer revelation of history makes us feel as if we have traveled back in time to experience the rise and fall of this ancient civilization.
It is worth noting that the article's examination of the founders of civilization reveals the multicultural blending of Greek civilization. The Greeks did not build civilization overnight, but over hundreds of years of settlement and evolution. This presentation of the gradual process of the formation of civilization profoundly reflects the complexity and diversity of history.
Finally, the article concludes with the Trojan War and the invasion of the Dorians, revealing the decline of Mycenaean civilization. Despite the Mycenaeans' victory in the Trojan War, the constant invasions of the northern Dorians led to the decline of the Mycenaean civilization. This ending is not only the inevitability of historical development, but also a footnote to the tragic end of an ancient civilization.
Taken together, this article vividly outlines the rise and fall of the Mycenaean civilization, presenting a colorful and magnificent picture of ancient history. Through an in-depth analysis of this history, readers will be able to understand more comprehensively the complexity and profound cultural heritage of ancient Greek civilization.
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