Greek Civilization

• The name of the first civilization in Greece was derived from Minos, the mythic king of the Minoan Kingdom.
• The history of Greek civilization began at the island of Crete
• Capital of the Minoan kingdom was the Knossos.
• Arthur Evans was an English archaeologist
• The Mycenaeans belonged to the Indo-European

  race.
• Dorians migrated to Greece.
• The Dark Age ended when the Ionian Greeks reintroduced Greek culture
• The ancient Greeks called themselves “Hellenes” which was derived from the name Helen, who was believed to be the ancestor of the ancient Greeks.
• oligarchy is a government by a small group of people who have power and control over the government
• The phalanx is a rectangular formation wherein hoplites stood together as they held their weapon on one hand and the shield on the other.
• Draco made the first written code of laws in Athens
• Solon cancelled all land debts and freed those who were enslaved for their deaths in order to maintain order in Athens.
• Pisistratus distributed the lands of the aristocrats to the poor and promoted arts and culture
• Cleisthenes created a council that administered foreign relations, treasury, and proposed laws voted by the assembly.