Culture: Life in the Mycenaean Age
Culture: Life in the Mycenaean Age
The Mycenaean Age (1600 - 1100 BC)
- Mycenaean civilisation reached its height in the 14th and 13th centuries BC, dominating most of mainland Greece and major islands
- Dominant political feature: the Mycenaean Palace, which functioned as a bureaucratic, political and cultural centre
- The palace was surrounded by smaller buildings and most of them were dedicated to craft production such as pottery, metals and textiles
Society and Class
- Society consisted of three main classes: royals, free people, and slaves
- At the top of the hierarchy were the kings (wanax)
- The military also played an important role in society, including officers known as lawagetai
- Most people worked in agriculture, although there were also artisans and slaves
Economy
- Mycenaean economy was based on agriculture, notably grains, olives, and grapes
- Trade played a significant role in the Mycenaean economy, as they exported pottery and oils and imported luxury goods such as ivory and gold
- Linear B tablets provide evidence of a highly organised system of record-keeping, with transactions meticulously noted
Religion
- Evidence suggests a complex belief system with a number of deities - Poseidon was a key deity
- Religious practices included animal sacrifices, libations, and offerings
- Major part of religious life: the Mycenaean megaron, a great hall used for ceremonies
Warfare
- Mycenaean society is often associated with war - hence the famous tales surrounding the Trojan War
- Armor and weapons discovered in grave circles - like at Grave Circle A in Mycenae - give insight into martial culture
- Chariot combat as well as hand-to-hand combat were common
Burial Customs
- Diverse burial practices: inhumation inside chamber tombs, burial in pits, burial inside jars
- Grave offerings included pottery, weapons, and jewelry - indicating a belief in an afterlife
- Death was both a personal and communal event, with elaborate funerary rituals taking place
Concluding, the Mycenaean Age was a key period in the development of Classical Greece. Remember to consider aspects such as society, economy, religion, warfare, and burial practices when revising this period.