🏺Intro to Greek Archaeology Unit 2 – The Bronze Age

What's the Bronze Age?

• Period in human history characterized by the widespread use of bronze for tools, weapons, and decorative objects
• Bronze is an alloy made by combining copper and tin, typically in a ratio of 90% copper to 10% tin
• Emerged from the earlier Copper Age or Chalcolithic period, during which copper was the primary metal used
• Marked a significant advancement in metallurgy and allowed for the creation of harder, more durable tools and weapons compared to those made from stone or pure copper
• Coincided with the development of more complex societies, urbanization, and the rise of early civilizations in various regions around the world
• Witnessed advancements in agriculture, trade, warfare, and social stratification
• Duration and specific dates of the Bronze Age varied by region (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Aegean, China)

Timeline and Key Periods

• Early Bronze Age (EBA) (c. 3000-2000 BCE)
  • Emergence of bronze metallurgy and early city-states
  • Development of writing systems (cuneiform, hieroglyphs)
• Middle Bronze Age (MBA) (c. 2000-1600 BCE)
  • Expansion of trade networks and rise of powerful kingdoms
  • Construction of monumental architecture (palaces, temples)
• Late Bronze Age (LBA) (c. 1600-1100 BCE)
  • Height of Bronze Age civilizations and international trade
  • Increased use of iron and the beginning of the Iron Age in some regions
• Key periods in Aegean Bronze Age:
  • Early Helladic (EH) (c. 3200-2000 BCE)
  • Middle Helladic (MH) (c. 2000-1550 BCE)
  • Late Helladic (LH) (c. 1550-1100 BCE), includes the Mycenaean period

Major Civilizations and Sites

• Mesopotamia (Sumer, Akkad, Assyria, Babylonia)
  • Urban centers such as Uruk, Ur, and Babylon
  • Ziggurats and palace complexes
• Ancient Egypt (Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms)
  • Pyramids, temples, and tomb complexes (Giza, Karnak, Valley of the Kings)
  • Major cities like Memphis and Thebes
• Minoan Crete
  • Palace complexes at Knossos, Phaistos, and Malia
  • Distinctive Minoan art and architecture
• Mycenaean Greece
  • Fortified citadels (Mycenae, Tiryns, Pylos)
  • Shaft graves and tholos tombs
• Hittite Empire in Anatolia
  • Capital city of Hattusa
  • Monumental stone sculptures and reliefs

Technology and Innovations

• Advancements in bronze metallurgy, allowing for the production of a wide range of tools, weapons, and decorative objects
• Development of the potter's wheel, enabling mass production of ceramic vessels
• Improvements in agriculture, such as the use of the plow, irrigation systems, and crop rotation
• Invention of the wheel and its application in transportation (chariots, wagons) and pottery production
• Advancements in shipbuilding and navigation, facilitating long-distance trade and cultural exchange
• Development of writing systems (cuneiform, hieroglyphs, Linear A, Linear B) for record-keeping, administration, and communication
• Innovations in textile production, including the use of the vertical loom and the introduction of new fibers (wool, linen)

Art and Architecture

• Monumental architecture, such as pyramids, ziggurats, palaces, and fortified citadels
• Distinctive artistic styles and iconography associated with different civilizations (Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Minoan, Mycenaean)
• Sculpture in various materials, including stone, bronze, and terracotta
  • Statues, reliefs, and figurines depicting deities, rulers, and everyday life
• Frescoes and wall paintings adorning palaces, temples, and tombs
  • Minoan frescoes depicting nature, ritual scenes, and marine life
  • Egyptian tomb paintings illustrating the afterlife and daily activities
• Intricate metalwork, jewelry, and decorative objects showcasing advanced craftsmanship
• Development of ceramic styles and techniques, such as polychrome pottery and marine-style decoration in Minoan Crete

Social Structure and Daily Life

• Hierarchical societies with ruling elites, priests, scribes, artisans, farmers, and laborers
• Divine kingship and the role of rulers in religious and political life
• Importance of religion and ritual in daily life and social organization
• Gender roles and the status of women in different Bronze Age societies
  • Women in positions of power (queens, priestesses) in some civilizations
  • Varying degrees of gender equality and segregation across cultures
• Urban life and the organization of cities around palaces, temples, and public spaces
• Rural life and the role of agriculture in sustaining Bronze Age economies
• Warfare and the impact of military campaigns on social and political structures

Trade and Cultural Exchange

• Extensive trade networks connecting various regions and civilizations
  • Land routes (Silk Roads) and maritime routes (Mediterranean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf)
  • Exchange of raw materials (metals, timber, precious stones) and finished goods (textiles, pottery, jewelry)
• Cultural exchange and the spread of ideas, technologies, and artistic styles
  • Adoption and adaptation of foreign deities, myths, and iconography
  • Transfer of writing systems and literary traditions
• Diplomacy and international relations, as evidenced by treaties, royal marriages, and diplomatic correspondence
• Rise of international languages (Akkadian, Mycenaean Greek) as lingua franca for trade and diplomacy

Collapse and Transition

• Gradual decline and eventual collapse of many Bronze Age civilizations (Mycenaean Greece, Hittite Empire, Late Bronze Age Collapse)
  • Factors such as climate change, invasions, and internal strife
  • Disruption of trade networks and political instability
• Emergence of new societies and cultural traditions in the aftermath of the Bronze Age collapses
  • Rise of Iron Age civilizations (Neo-Assyrian Empire, Phoenicians, early Greek city-states)
  • Continuity and change in art, religion, and social structures
• Legacy of Bronze Age achievements and their impact on later civilizations
  • Foundations for the development of classical civilizations (Greece, Rome)
  • Enduring influence on art, architecture, literature, and mythology