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What are the key cultural features of the Mycenaean civilization?
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Fortified citadels, royal palaces, shaft graves, beehive tombs, a trade-based economy, and the use of Linear B script.
Who identified and named the Minoan civilization and where was it located?
Sir Arthur Evans identified and named the Minoan civilization, which was located on the island of Crete.
How does the Minoan language differ from the Mycenaean in terms of our understanding?
The Minoan language, represented by Linear A, remains undeciphered, while Mycenaean Greek, written in Linear B, has been deciphered.
How did the memory of Mycenaean civilization survive after its collapse?
Through legends and epic traditions that informed later Greek culture.
What makes the Mycenaean script, Linear B, significant in Greek history?
Linear B is an early form of Greek, providing insight into Mycenaean administration and culture.
Describe the Dark Ages that followed the collapse of Mycenaean civilization.
A period characterized by poverty, isolation, population decline, and the loss of writing and centralized power.
What challenges do historians face when studying early Greek history?
The lack of written evidence and the reliance on archaeological evidence.
What are some proposed causes for the fall of the Mycenaean civilization?
Internal uprisings, climatic shifts, invasions, displacements, 'Sea Peoples', and natural disasters like the explosion of Thera.
What are some characteristics of early civilizations that the Minoan civilization shared with Mesopotamia and Egypt?
Emergence of cities, non-food-producing activities like governance, religion, bureaucracy, and cultural similarities.
Describe the significance of the site of Knossos in Minoan civilization.
Knossos was a primary site of the Minoan civilization on Crete, indicating a central area of power and culture.
What archaeological evidence points to the wealth and power of Mycenaean societies?
Complex architectural structures like citadels, palaces, and elaborate tombs such as shaft graves and beehive tombs.
What role did Homeric poetry play in the post-Mycenaean Greek revival?
Homer's epic poetry was part of the oral traditions that influenced the emergence of a new society in post-Mycenaean Greece.
Discuss one theory regarding the invaders that might have contributed to the Mycenaean downfall.
Theory includes invasions by 'Sea Peoples' or movement of Dorian tribes from the north.
What was the impact of the Mycenaean collapse on Greek society?
Loss of writing until 750 B.C., isolation and localism, population decline, and loss of central control.
What is the defining criterion for Greek identity according to the lecture?
Greek identity is defined by native Greek speakers and cultural traits rather than race.
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