The Mycenaeans lived on mainland Greece and the Peloponnesia. The Minoans occupied the Greek islands mainly living on Crete. What is the difference between the Minoans and Mycenaeans? Their written language is referred to as Linear B.

The Minoans created a written language named Linear A and the Mycenaeans later adapted the written language into their language.

The Mycenaeans spoke the first Greek language.

They defeated the Minoans at the city of Troy according to Homer’s Iliad.

The Mycenaeans were a war like society.

Other ancient Mycenaean cities included Athens and Thebes.

Their capital city was called Mycenae.

The Mycenaeans occupied the mainland of Greece and the Peloponnesian area.

The Minoans were constantly rebuilding their cities due to natural disasters like earthquakes, tidal waves, and erupting volcanoes.

According to Greek mythology King Minos kept a monster named Minotaur under the palace.

The Minoans capital city was named Knossos and located on the island of Crete.

The Minoans occupied the islands of Greece and mainly lived on the island of Crete.

The Dark Ages of Greek lasted from 1100 B.C.E. The Dark Ages of Greece was a time of famine which led to a reduction in population. Researchers do not know if this decline was due to natural disasters like an earthquake or if they were conquered by other ancient civilizations like the Dorians or Sea Peoples.Īfter the decline of the Mycenaean culture, ancient Greek entered into the Dark Ages.

The Mycenaean culture declined after many of their cities were destroyed. They also used much of the Minoan culture like adapting the Minoan writing into their language. When the Minoan culture declined the Mycenaeans eventually occupied the mainland and islands of ancient Greece. They traded goods as far away as Egypt and within the Mediterranean Sea.Īccording to Homer’s Iliad, the Minoans were defeated by the Mycenaeans at the city of Troy. They grew a strong navy for protection and trading goods like the Minoans. The Mycenaeans developed the first spoken language and are sometimes referred to as the First Greeks. The capital city was named Mycenae but there were other Mycenaean cities too such as Athens and Thebes. Instead the kings would use the money for the military and huge ceremonies celebrating victory or the death of a warrior. The Mycenaean kings were much different than the Minoan kings. The Mycenaeans were a fierce group of people and fought many wars with stone weapons. Mycenaeans culture thrived on the mainland of Greece and the Peloponnesian in Southern Greece. Researchers believe that natural disasters helped with the decline of the Minoan culture. After each natural disaster the Minoans rebuilt homes and palaces. The disasters included erupting volcanoes, tidal waves, and earthquakes. The Minoan civilization was affected may times by natural disasters that occurred. The Minoan kings were also generous to the people and shared the wealth throughout the Minoan region. The Minoans created a large agricultural system based on olives and grapes which they used in trade for bronze and ivory. The ancient homes found on Crete contained beautiful art, statues, and there was running water for drinking and bathing. The Minoans were an advanced culture with a written language named Linear A. Greek mythology claims one king named Minos built a large maze beneath the palace to house a beast called Minotaur. The palace for the Minoan kings in Knossos was huge with 1,500 rooms and each room had its own bathroom.

The capital city of the Minoans was called Knossos and was located on the island of Crete. They were ruled by a king with a central government. The navy was useful for protection and trading goods. The Minoans were an advanced civilization that constructed a large navy.

They occupied the mainland area of Greece. They constructed a large palace on the island of Crete.

Warlike mycenaean art