Population & Settlement
The earliest of settlements of Greece was between 10,000 and 3000 B.C. There were two major settlements in Greece. One was established in the island of Crete called The Minoans. The Minoans were majorly from Anatolia (Asia, mainly Turkey). They inhabited the land around 6300 B.C. The Minoans settled at Knossos on Crete and it remained as the only settlement on the island for centuries.
The other major settlement in Greece was The Mycenaeans. They were an Indo-European group, who were the first speakers of the Greek language. The Mycenaeans may have entered Greece at the end of the early Bronze Age (ca. 1600 B.C.) or in the Neolithic period. They were the dominant civilization in their time. The Mycenaeans were influenced by the earlier settlement the Minoans.
The Minoans had flourishing economic, political, and social organization and active trade in the eastern Mediterranean. Also they had the first appearance of writing in the Greek world. Their trade had ventured out to Spain. By the postpalatial period, earth quakes have destroyed most of the palaces and the Mycenaeans took control and the Minoan culture had ceased.
The Mycenaeans were more militaristic than the Minoans. In 2100 B.C, there was the first evidence of building structures in the Mycenaean area. They were trading with a lot of countries such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Levant, Anatolia, Sicily and Cyprus. Around 1200 B.C, the Mycenaeans mysteriously ended possibly from earthquakes, invasion, or in fighting during the Bronze Age Collapse.
The civilizations settled in Greece because they had a large numbers of inlets for harbors. The islands were really close so they could sail to them easily. Greece also had mountain ranges that essentially set up independent kingdoms. There was a lot of timber available, so they could use the wood to build boats. When the civilizations settled, they were mostly in the valleys for agriculture.
The other major settlement in Greece was The Mycenaeans. They were an Indo-European group, who were the first speakers of the Greek language. The Mycenaeans may have entered Greece at the end of the early Bronze Age (ca. 1600 B.C.) or in the Neolithic period. They were the dominant civilization in their time. The Mycenaeans were influenced by the earlier settlement the Minoans.
The Minoans had flourishing economic, political, and social organization and active trade in the eastern Mediterranean. Also they had the first appearance of writing in the Greek world. Their trade had ventured out to Spain. By the postpalatial period, earth quakes have destroyed most of the palaces and the Mycenaeans took control and the Minoan culture had ceased.
The Mycenaeans were more militaristic than the Minoans. In 2100 B.C, there was the first evidence of building structures in the Mycenaean area. They were trading with a lot of countries such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Levant, Anatolia, Sicily and Cyprus. Around 1200 B.C, the Mycenaeans mysteriously ended possibly from earthquakes, invasion, or in fighting during the Bronze Age Collapse.
The civilizations settled in Greece because they had a large numbers of inlets for harbors. The islands were really close so they could sail to them easily. Greece also had mountain ranges that essentially set up independent kingdoms. There was a lot of timber available, so they could use the wood to build boats. When the civilizations settled, they were mostly in the valleys for agriculture.
Figure 1, http://www.maps.com/ref_map.aspx?pid=11421
This map shows where the two civilizations were located. Pink for the Mycenaean and green for the Minoans |
Figure 2, http://www.explorethemed.com/Minoan.asp
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Additional Information:
http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/Greece.html : more information about the two civilizations and their influence
http://www.ancient.eu/Mycenaean_Civilization/ : information on how Mycenaean influence on art, architecture, and religion
Citations:
Cartwright, M. (2013, May 24). Mycenaean Civilization. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
Gallant., T. (n.d.). Ancient Greece. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
Maps:
Anonymous. Early Ancient Greece Map. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2014.
Anonymous. The Minoan World (1900-1425 BC). (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2014.
http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/Greece.html : more information about the two civilizations and their influence
http://www.ancient.eu/Mycenaean_Civilization/ : information on how Mycenaean influence on art, architecture, and religion
Citations:
Cartwright, M. (2013, May 24). Mycenaean Civilization. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
Gallant., T. (n.d.). Ancient Greece. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
Maps:
Anonymous. Early Ancient Greece Map. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2014.
Anonymous. The Minoan World (1900-1425 BC). (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2014.
In this graph from 1950 Greece, it shows that the life expectancy was low and there were more young people then old people. The difference between the genders is low.
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In this graph of the population of Greece in 2010, it shows that people lived longer. The age groups are around equal to each other and so is the genders.
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