evidence of trade; and external contact.

evidence of insecurity

Group : Aaron Heinrich, Tim Nidever, Christina Sturgill

Abundant physical evidence is absent before Minoan culture beginning ca. 2000 B.C. Lack of fortifications at the Palace of Minos at Knossos indicates a relatively secure population ruled by a "king" (literary evidence suggests such a figure) residing in the palace structure itself at the center of the administration and trade indicated by the extensive storehalls in the lower floors. The Minoan "palace" culture must be distinguished from a "city", the former being merely a small group (i.e. no more than several hundred

The destruction ca. 1500 B.C. throughout the eastern mediterranean, visible in burnt layers, ends this Minoan form of palace culture and ushers in a modified form visible in the ruins of Mycenean culture at Mycenae, Pylos, Tiryns and also in Crete. These "cyclopean" (built with large stones) structures are distinguished from the earlier Minoan buildings mainly by their heavy fortifications. The paucity of land within these fortifications, however, suggests a similar small size of settlement, in contrast, still, with later cities. The prevalence of fortification and the placement of the cities away from the coast to discourage attacks from sea indicates a general lack of security. The technological sophistication of the construction indicates a high level of political organization in the form of command of workforce. These two factors are highly consistent with a small community centered around a warrior class, in turn ruled by a kinglet. These archeological findings are corroborated by the literary evidence, for example, of the Iliad.

well done; good on interpreting the archaological evidence.

Group : Ben Finch, Jordan Massinger, Doug McEwing, Anna Smith

The physical appearance of the bronze age community in the Aegean region is easily summarized as a culture based on a palace culture. The palace culture was the center of a small region and provided administration and/ or defense to the people in the smaller areas. Many of these palace cultures used their buildings for stockpiling of surplus resources or for defense in the time of attack. This is able to be seen in the layout of the ruins of the Bronze age palaces. The fortified palaces were spread throughout the region with evidenc eof many fo them all over mainland Greece and the surrounding islands and they all shared similar characteristics such as a central palace area, storage, grave sites, often large stone walled fortifications. Many of the palaces such as the palace in Lerna, on the island of Crete, had a central area or atrium for space and many small storage rooms for large, ceramic urns filled with excess grains, wine, and olive oil. Many of the palaces also included walled fortifications for defense. The walls at Lerna were very thick and had two layers of walls. The walls included hollow areas for troop movements during sieges or times of need. The coastal palace cultures contained ports for sea trade and were often inland off the coast to prevent from seaborne raids. More might have been done with the significance of the walls as a sign of insecurity.

Group : Brian Stamme, Madeline McKee, Steve Lorenzen, Hattie Everroad, Nick Williams

Around 2700 BCE metal working began in ancient Greece. However, this metal was largely bronze, which is based on an alloy of copper and tin. Because copper in not naturally occurring in these areas of Mycenaean or Minoan culture, all examples of bronze found must be the result of trade with other cultures. One example of trade is the shipwrecks found with large numbers of copper ingots, indicating that there was large market for copper (probably used to make bronze tools). It is probable, based on the discovery of Greek ceramics in various locations around the Mediterranean, that the Greeks were exporting elaborate ceramics (possibly filled with olive oil or other goods that have not survived) in exchange for the metals they imported.

We saw several pieces of evidence that indicate the production in this time was so efficient that it was possible to produce large amounts of surplus. One was discussed above, that production of both metals and ceramics were so efficient that large amounts were available for trade. The other evidence is the large storage complexes and large storage containers found at the palace Knossos and the other palaces, as well as the art depicting storage of goods. Furthermore, fine artisan crafts such the fine metal working of the knife and gold cup indicate that these were cultures who could afford to devote time to creating fine and elaborate crafts, which further suggests that they had enough economic stability and production to create specialization. The artistic influences on these pieces seem to come from trading itself (depictions of trade) of from the countries with which the cultures were trading (the Egyptian influence on the metal knife blade).

Very good on trade and material culture.

Group : Brie Bridegum, Desiree Brown, Desiree Gerner, Larissa Carlson

Question A: political arrangments based on the evidence

• - palace culture: Based on archaeological evidence, the fundamental orginaztion of Bronze Age Greek and Minoan poltical culture was the "palace", centralized citadels primarily used for storage. We know these buildings were used for storage, like the House of the Tiles in Lerna and especially Knossos on Crete because they contained numerous store rooms filled with storage vessels. The Knossos palace likely inspired the Theseus and Minotaur story because of its labyrinthine storage rooms identified as such due to the prevelance of amphora and pithoi uncovered there. Evidence such as the Linear B tablets found on Crete suggest that the Minoan people fell under the influence of Mycenean rulers in the Late Bronze Age. Mainland palaces, such as Mycenae and the palace of Nestor were typically fortified, standing on hills and placed somewhat inland, presumably for defense from both land and sea attacks. The complex construction of these sites suggests some mutual cooperation and intestest among the people who built them.
• -process of becoming a ruler : Greek myths such as the stories of Pelops and Oedipus suggest that rulership was attained by force. Pelops contrived against his father-in-law to marry Hippodaemia and come into power; similarly, Oedipus murdered his father, the erstwhile King of Thebes, and married his mother when he ascended to political power. This form of ascension suggests that there was no established (or at least regularly practiced) form of peaceful election or succession. Confirmed by archaeology, as mentioned for Crete; but also the violent changes at Mycenae.

Group : Chris, Megan, Ryan, Alex

• The physical appearance of the bronze age community: In the bronze age, there was no evidence of living cities, rather small groups of communities residing around a megaron which enclosed a central palace structure. The central palace was surrounded by a double-wall, on higher ground, suggesting insecurity and places of defense. Beneath the palaces lay huge storage structures, were urns stored various products in case of seige or threat of war. This also shows the people were "settled" and not looking to relocate. The palaces were not meant for lots of people to live in due to the lack of adequate housing. The megaron was surrounded double-walls, the central palace was fortified, yet communal houses were built out of wood and mud suggesting a small communal "faceless" clan lead by a warrior king. Evidence for the warrior king is also highly profound in literary pieces such as Homer's Illiad and Odessey.
• The "underground tombing" system is found throughout Greece, examining the possibility of traditional burial ceremonies. Excavations of burial sites in palace structures suggest a culture with a high standard of living with gold decor. But perhaps only at the highest level.
• Art found on pottery and wall frescos display similiar characteristics of Egyptian art, suggesting close contact with the Egyptians and neighboring cultures. also artistic designs...e.g., the swords with lotus and papyrus plants
• Many harbors were established throughout Greece, displaying the necessity for trade and seafaring.
• Evidence of cloth and loins worn by the people suggests a shared-labor system, in which community members would share duties producing clothing, pottery and other materials for trade. These two are a bit of a stretch. the fact that ships carried extensive products suggests that trade was active, but we don't have much evidence of harbors, rather they probably pulled up on sandy beaches.
• Since metal blocks (ingots) were found in many shipwrecks, consequently showing the high demand of metal imports to produce varies weapons of warfare and utensils (cups, etc).

Group : Cleo Johnson, lindsey bull, Shelley Adams, Jen Eisenhauer

Group C:What kinds of things are involved with production, trade, and commerce? Well done.

• Based on the evidence that we've covered in class the prevelence of production, trade, and commerce reflects an active economic community of export and import goods. Despite the hinderances of geographical constraints of the valleys, sea trade provided for the trasporation of goods. The linear B tablet described what was held in the storage facilities of the palaces, and shows how the Greeks were influenced by contact with the Mesopotamians through the cuniform clay tablets that were emulated by Linear B.
• Also, based on evidence of large quanitities of salvaged shipwreaked ingots, these trade routes reflect a high demand for non-indegenous metals. In order to maintain the lively trade, an export market had to be created, which presumabley were ceramics as evidence of photographs shown in class, and maps showing where these ceramics were shown. Mycenian pots, arts, and ceramics were found on the mainland of Greece as well as the Ancient near East, evidence of a prevelent trading community and fusion of cultures as certain ceramics reflected foreign art and customs. An example of this is the fowl and lotus metal of Greek art that was influenced by Egyptian culture. Another piece of evidence that highlights the prevelence of trade was the Minoan Crete and Aegean Maps that showed the extent of trade.

Group : James M, Stephen S, Nate O, Andrew J

# Group A: political arrangements based on the evidence Very good!

• One can conclude from the development of Bronze Age centers of habitation that central concerns were defensibility and storage of material goods; the presence and gradual adoption of walls and defensibile infrastructure, such as small palaces, concentration of buildings and architecture, and proximity to the sea suggest the anxiety of constant, or at least anticipated, warfare and dynastic violence. The surviving depictions of violence upon excavated ceramics, art, and structural decorations (wall frescoes and mosaics) supplement the conclusion that a large amount of Bronze Age investment went into protection and defense of centers of population.
• The small centers of population, and the geographical isolation of these settlements (in terms of distance, not access to maritime transportation), when taken with the surviving literature which were often occupied with inter- and intra-familial violence suggest that political organization was centered upon the importance of the structure and composition of ruling families and militarily successful individuals.
• The lawlessness and violence within surviving art and legends suggest that there was a significant concern with the retention of authority and power, more than the development of a stable and secure form of government. The dynastic qualities of these familial arrangements were punctuated in surviving stories by regular violence, reflecting the relative instability of political organization and the importance of military success.

Group : Kevin Brown, Matt Kaplan, Gabby Thompson, Ted Swagerty

• There exists significant evidence of prevalent production throughout Greek societies in the Bronze Age. Beginning around 2700 B.C.E. in certain communities and continuing until around 1000 B.C.E., the Bronze Age was characterized by a significant increase in metal working. Much evidence exists of bronze weaponry or tools, the metal for which was imported from foreign lands. To acquire these foreign metals, the Greek peoples of the Bronze Age produced elaborate ceramic works, which could have contained agricultural products such as olive oil or wine. These ceramic pieces appear to have been influenced by Egyptian or Near Eastern artistic traditions.
• Due to the increased demand for metals not native to Greece during the Bronze Age, maritime trade became prevalent. Several shipwrecks containing large quantities of copper or tin ingots--the two metals necessary for bronze production--evidence the large market for these goods. In addition, the significant increase in ceramic production evidences the increased exporting of goods from Greeks. Much of this pottery is covered in maritime motifs, depicting bustling Mediterranean trading ports. The influence of Egyptian and Sumerian art, language, and writing techniques also hints at significant trade between these regions. On the island of Crete, the palace center of Knossos served as a key trade point in the eastern Mediterranean. A large underground “labyrinth” system appears to have been used to store the multitude of trade goods coming and leaving the ports of Knossos. With the increase in trade and production, an increase in commerce naturally accompanies. One of the largest points of evidence is the increase in elaborate decorative works, most notably being the gold masks found at Mycenae.

Group : Nate Benjamin, Michael Dake, Kyle Warren, Stephen Oliver

Bronze age Greece was a largely militaristic maybe violent is a better word here society. Communities were formed around palaces surrounded by large defensive walls (i.e. Mycenae). The palaces communities were arranged around one large stronghold, where we can presume the palace's leader lived. The defensive nature of the palace's architectural layout suggests that the King's primary duty was to protect his palace and its residents and to lead his people in battle. The artwork of the time generally depicts scenes of violence and battles between groups. The warriors in these works usually wear similar equipment and archeological research has uncovered a uniformed style of armor (i.e. the boar-tooth helmets), suggesting that these warriors were organized. Greek literature depicts this period as largely militaristic and violent, as seen in Homer and later writers such as Aeschylus. The Kings and other aristocrats are preoccupied with combat. well done, but the evidence also suggests extensive contacts and mobility.

Group : Ross Anderson, Chris Kelley, Kenny Damon

Political arrangements based on the evidence

• Palace structure
• small strongholds
• thick walls possible result of political insecurity
• (palace of nestor)
• grain storage

The palace structure evideneced in the place of Nestor, and Mycenea illustrated political insecturity. This is seen through thick palace walls. Also, the evidence of the thickness of the palace walls would lead one to conclude that these settlements were under some threat of attack and/or destruction. At many of these sites, archaeologists have found burned remains, arrow heads, and other indications of violent upheaval; all of this leads us to concldue that politcal structures of these settlements could have been set up arounding protection and/or tthe destruction of these settlements.

The literary evidence from the stories that begin with Pelops combined with ancient pottery depicting the great scenes of violence suggest a violent and unstable political situation. Warrior kings were the leaders of the small band of faceless followers who were constantly involved in warfare which was seen in the wall paintings and boar tusk helmets. Here you might have concluded that the archaological and legendary material reinforce one another.