Group : Bryan H., Drew T., Carly B.

During the Bronze Age, the ruling class was the warrior class, who overcame the peaceful Neothilic peoples. This transfer was evident in the linguistic deviations from Linear A to Linear B. Also, the gods shifted from feminine fertility gods to masculine war gods, and the cities were increasingly walled off from the outside. The war-like politics of the Bronze Age people are indicated primarily in their literature and their art. Frescoes on palace walls depicted slaughters of unarmed people, and the rich literary tradition reads as a litany of patricide and fratricide. It seems clear from the evidence that the political structure of the Bronze Age was characterized by the threat of, and often the execution, of violence. The literary tradition again suggests that violence inside families was not at all an uncommon method of power transfer (cf. all of Pelops's descendants). The term "political arrangements" is perhaps better replaced by the term "power structure," since the only quasi-political element present in the Bronze Age appears to be conquest by force, either in wars or by murder. The art, the archaelogy, and the literary/mythological tradition all reinforce this conclusion. WELL DONE; I LIKE THE WAY YOU COMBINE THE LITERARY AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE. NOTE THAT THE EVIDENCE FOR A SHIFT TO A WARRIOR CLASS IS THE INCREASED USE OF WEAPONS IN THE GRAVES AND THE MASSIVE DEFENSIVE WALLS.

Group : CandiceH, AlyssaG, MattT Group C: production, trade, and commerce in the Bronze Age

The Neolithic Revolution led to the formation of settlements and considering Greece's lack of desired materials it promoted trade, commerce, and production within the Mediterranean. The rise of agriculture leads to a need to be stationary which then leads to the formation of cities RATHER PALACE CULTURES. Archeology supports this argument with the discovery of stone-structured settlements with palace culture. The establishment of mass groupings of people soon led to the dependence on what the countryside could provide. Since Greece lacks large quantities of fresh water NOT SO MUCH LACK OF WATER BUT RATHER OF FOOD FOR A GROWPOPULATION. FOOD CAN BE IMPORTED. the populace's demands would take a toll. Not only concerning their food supplies, Greece had small reserves of metal resources. Due to this lack of resources they found trade to be a viable option. Expansive trade is a characteristic feature of the Bronze Age as evidenced in the Ulu Burum shipwreck as well as the widespread discoveries of scarabs and the metal ingots throughout the Mediterranean. The harsh competition for goods produced an increasing military culture which then influenced the focus of production, making it much more militaristic. The widespread discovery of swords, the use of bronze, as well as the increasing fortifications of the cities can support the emergence of a military culture. GOOD ON THE ITEMS NEEDED FOR IMPORT, WATCH THE TENDENCY TO READ TOO MUCH INTO THE EVIDENCE, E.G., THE REFERENCE TO LACK OF WATER RATHER THAN FOOD; ROLE OF SHIPS / TRANSPORT?.

Group : Joshua Weinstein, Oliver Gahlsdorf, Joel Chown, Jaclyn Theoharis, Kelli Burris; Group C: production, trade, commerce in the Bronze Age.

Archeologiests have found large amounts of pottery and goods from Africa and other areas along the mediterranean in Greece. From this we can conclude thery had a large area of trade. Further the fact that hundreds of ingots that are similar are found throughout the mediterranean not only suggests the broadness of commerce during the bronze age, but the significance of commerce itself. The ships were depicted in art as well demonstrating the importance of commerce to the Greeks and their well being. Hereby, the sea as a means of communication and trade necessary to the development of the culture. shipwrecks too were are an important indicator of travel. As far as production is concerned, there was a wide variety of bronze artifacts found in Greece, all with carvings in it with a high degree of precision. this demonstrates a high degree of technhical control over their materials. Further, this proves the Greeks enjoyed a high degree of technological achievement as they had the ability to manufacture bronze from tin and coppoer. by showing more than one, it shows they are not unique examples. VERY WELL DONE; EXCELLENT ON THE VALUE OF SHIPPING FOR COMMERCE AND THE REFERENCE TO QUALITY AND STANDARDIZATION.

Group : Kat C., Cassie T., Lindsey B., Jena R., Megan W. Kat Cooke, Cassie Tinsley, Lindsey Bailie, Jena Rizzi, Megan Watson

Political Arrangement/Power Structure: Minoan Civilization functioned as a thalassocracy or rule by the sea. The Minoans were an island people, encompassing the Aegean, that were focused mostly on seafaring throughout the Aegean and the Mediterranean. This is seen in the widespread archaeological findings of shipwrecks such as the Ulu Burun site that included items native to Greece as well as from other areas around the Mediterranean, like Egypt and Anatolia, and the Levant. There was probably a leader under the title minos, similar to pharaoh. Although they had a leader they were a generally peaceful society based on the lack of fortification and lack of violent motifs in art. There was also an emphasis on fertility goddesses instead of more masculine war deities, as can be seen in the archeological findings such as the snake goddess sculpture and the goddess gold seals. GOOD, BUT RECALL THAT SOME OF THE EVIDENCE HERE COMES FROM SANTORINI /THERA OR FROM THE SHIPWRECK OFF THE COAST OF TURKEY; BOTH WERE CERTAINLY WITHIN THE MINOAN CULTURAL AND PERHAPS POLITICAL SPHERE, BUT THE UNCERTAINTIES NEED ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Mycenaean Civiliztion was a much more war-like civilization than the Minoans. This resulted in a more turbulent power structure. There is evidence for this in the frescoes of Pylos as well as Mycenae showing violence as a major motif. The warrior class seems to be more prominent in this culture as seen in the lavish warrior grave goods found in the grave circles at Mycenae. This is still a palace central culture, but now these palaces are heavily fortified, indicating a continual fear of attack from other groups, rather than a peaceful coexistence as seen in Minoan culture. The concept of a warlord rule is supported in the literary tradition of Homer and myth, demonstrated by the stories of Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Nestor. GOOD ON MYCENAE. NIC LINKING OF ARAHAEOLOGICAL AND LEGENDARY.

Group : Kevin Beasley, chris j. Matt D

The early inhabitants of the Minoan civilizations were just beginning to settle into set locations and moving away from a nomadic lifestyle. The catalyst for this shift was a "Neolithic revolution" - a shift from hunting-gathering to an agricultural society. This is where the palace-culture began in Minoan society. From this "palace culture" emerged a centralized system of administration and defense, including the building of walls around these centers of society. Also during this time extensive trade contacts were being made in the surrounding lands.EVIDENCE?? During the late Minoan era, society became increasingly militarized and instable as suggested by the many walls and fortifications found surrounding settlements like Knossos and Troy CAREFUL; KNOSSOS DID NOT HAVE WALLS; WATCH THE TENDENCY TO IMPOSE YOUR IDEAS ON THE EVIDENCE INSTEAD OF READING FROM THE EVIDENCE. The fortifications of various settlements helped display a sense of paranoia that existed in the great "cities" in the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures during the Late Minoan and Late Hellaidc periods. During these periods extensive trade in the Mediterranean area created the possibility for great wealth to be introduced into these societies, creating a need for walls and fortifications to protect against real and supposed enemies interested in invading and controlling the resources of various cities. The instability and pronounced violence of the era can be explained by the rise of warrior-rulers that became the ruling class of these societies. The violence of the era is well known through the art of the period: vases and other items depicting chariot races and the numerous conflicts of the time. TRY TO BE MORE SPECIFIC ON THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE.

Group : Markie M., Ava G., Drue E., Zach B.

Minoan communities were characteristic of Bronze Age Crete. Palaces were the centers of their civilization, which served as military and economic centers. These palaces were unfortified unlike Mycenean communities which were fortified. Reasons for Mycenean fortification lead from fear of raids and outside agression, two examples of fortified palaces can be seen in the plans of the city of Mycenae and the Palace of Nestor. Additionally, palaces were used as storage centers protecting raw materials, manufactured and agricultural goods. Artwork found in Minoan cites were evidence of a society that was more at peace than the Mycenaen culture. Marine life such as the octopus was a common motif of Minoan art. Mycenaen art could be characterized as militaristic images such as wall illustration from the palace of Mycenae. Another piece of art found in Thera were characteristic of the economic progression and expansionism of sea trade of the Minoan people. GOOD, BUT TRY TO BE MORE SPECIFIC IN THE USE OF SUPPORTING EXAMPLES

Group : Rachel Ewing, Cameron Brooks, Gabriel Lee, Andrew Juul, Nat Levyl,

The physical appearance of communities within Minoan culture on the island of Crete changed drastically during the mid-sixteenth century B.C.E.. A lack of fortifications around community centers is evidence to the peaceful nature of their culture. The lack of fortifications within the cities suggests a peaceful culture within society. In contrast, the later Myceneans were warrior-based society evidenced by fortifications surrounding the city itself, implying conflict with neighboring societies, and also by archaeological burial evidence that included swords and armor. Technological innovations suggest a heightened level of skill with the various materials they had access to. The slides provided one clear example of this with the ceramic-inlaid sword. The artistic gold work not only suggests their skill with gold-work, but also a surplus of materials and thus material wealth. The use of bronze in society shows a degree of trade with their neighbors, as the Greeks did not have access to large amounts of copper: bronze consists of both tin and copper. Also, in order to trade for these materials, the Greeks must also have had a substantial surplus of some trade good for which to acquire the copper. As we discussed yesterday in lecture, many fortified power centers were surrounded by unfortified rural areas where various workers may have performed physical labor and resided. The only houses to have survived in the archaelogical evidence are the palaces, suggesting that common people may lived in wooden, less durable housing that could not survive through time. This is also reinforced by the size of the cities themselves, which could not accomodate the entire population: some individuals must have lived in rural areas. We want to emphasize that there is a clear distinction between the Minoan and Mycenean civilizations, especially with regards to their focus on fortifications. Also, while there is a clear division between the two, there are almost assuredly nuances on the timeline and geographical locations that each civilization exists.WELL DONE, GOT USE OF SPECIFIC ITEMS OF EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR CONCLUSION

Group : Rachel R., Natalie S., Amy H., Steve P.

In the Bronze Age period, there was an immense amount of trade This was done not through a system of currency, but with a trade of material goods. Communities were self-sufficient, but needed some support from other groups. These transactions can be seen through records of Linear B tablets, as well as through archaeological evidence proving the interaction of culters over a wide geographical span, such as Egyptian scarabs found in Greece and Mycenaean pots found in egypt. Commerce grew immensely as technology advanced and groups found a need for resources beyond their immediate reach. Helpful resources were found widespread throughout the ancient world, and regions were known for particular products acailable to them, such as copper ingots from the Greek mainland being found as far away as Syria, Egypt and Sicily. Swords and daggers originating from the Cyclades were found as far away as Southwest Britain and Northern Europe. When groups became less nomadic and created more permanent settlements, need for metallurgic materials became greater. Thucydides is quoted as writing in the opening chapters of his History about much earlier nomadic groups, "... the necessities of daily sustenance could be supplied at one place as well as another, they cared little for shifting their habitation, and consequently neither built large cities nor attained to any other form of greatness."A GOOD CITATION, BUT RECALLTHAT THUC IS WRITING CENTURIES LATER. But once these peoples settled and required more than the very basic essentials for daily survival, the palace structure of long-term storage emerged, showing an evolution of a wealthier mercantile culture. Additionally as fortification of the cities grew, there was an increase in weaponry trades. ROLE OF SHIPPING IN TRADE?

Group : Sean-Ryan K, Lindsay S, Brandon M, Armand S.

The physical appearance of the Bronze Age community asserts both physical wealth, the desire for protection, and skilled craftsmanship.GREAT START. The Bronze Age produced goods that required both skilled technical work and impressive materials. An example can be found in the gold cup, which included intricate designs. Another example of the period's material wealth can be found in the image of the bronze sword which also featured ceramic work. This sword, which was likely not used for warfare, demonstrates not only the skilled craftsmanship and wealth of the time, but also demonstrates evidence of the significance of war culture in the Bronze Age. The physical appearance of the Bronze Age community also demonstrates the palace culture. These palaces were typically storehouses, and the most impressive structures of any settlement. These were typically surrounded by walls, which demonstrates the desire for protection and the fear of outsiders. For example, the palace at Tiryns was surrounded by thick walls. Bronze Age artwork also demonstrated the presence of violence in society, including the fresco depicting five Mycenean warriors engaged in battle. Finally, the numerous permanant settlements shows that the Minoan culture was becoming more settled, as they produced urns of significant size that would be hard to carry for a nomadic civilization and created more permanant storage houses. VERY WELL DONE.

Group : Todd S, Travis M, Marco V, Nini V

Group A Nini Marco Travis Todd

The "palace, walled culture" was the center of the Bronze Age Aegean culture MORE TRUE OF THE MAINLAND / MYCENAEAN CULTURE. The political structure of the Bronze Age culture is based around a warrior aristocracy. The walled palace, with its heavy fortification, was not only the political center of the civilization but also the place of storage for the community's food and valuables. This further emphasizes that politics and war in this culture are one and the same. An archaeological example of this is the horses being burried with their owners/masters when the owner died showed this significance of the horse being connected to the war chariot. The later evidence of the warrior burrials with weapons also shows the prevelance of the warriors. The "myths" also show the prevelnace of the warrior. Menalaus and King Prium's son Hector, who was a well known warrior and prince, are both examples of the ruler and warrior being one and the same in this. Pottery and frescos showed the level of violence and war in the stucture of this warrior culture. In Minoan culture, sometimes the title given to the ruler was "minos" meaning king or pharaoh. Pharaoh meaning half god implies some divinity which compares to Achilles in the myths. GOOD USE OF EVIDENCE HERE TO COMBINE THE LITERARY AND ARCHAOLOGICAL