Mycenae
During the second millennium BC, Mycenae was one of the major centers of Greek civilization, and a military stronghold, which dominated much of southern Greece, the Cyclades, and parts of southwest Anatolia.
It is calculated that at its peak in 1250 BC, the citadel and the surrounding town had a population of 30,000 and an area of 32 hectares. Archaeologists mainly base their research on material objects in order to create an agreed historical framework of the civilization.
Mycenae is believed to have become the main center of Aegean civilization in the fifteenth century, effectively ending the period of Minoan hegemony in 1450 BC. A Mycenaean expansion was followed throughout the Aegean, until the 12th century, when the Mycenaean civilization began to decline as well.
The eventual destruction of the city formed part of a wider Bronze Age collapse in the Eastern Mediterranean, since around the 12th century BC all the palace complexes of southern Greece were burned.
The destruction is usually believed to have been caused by natural disasters, but also by sea raiders, known as the mysterious “Sea Peoples’’, who disrupted the trade networks of the periphery, causing chaos in the Aegean. In any case, Mycenae itself was also burned down due to these events in the course of the 12th century.
Archaeology of Mycenae
Based on the numerous material findings excavated in and around Mycenae we can see that the Mycenaean society was a predominantly military one and that the arts were not developed as much.
However, several Mycenaean pots were found in the Mediterranean basin, mainly in southern Italy and Egypt. Apart from these, many other objects of everyday use were discovered on the ancient site, such as ivory carvings, many golden ornaments, bronze weapons, and jewelry.
