Mycenaen Culture c. 1450 B.C. - 1200 B.C.
The end of the Minoan civilization came about when Knossos was invaded by the Mycenaens. The Mycenaens admired the Minoans and took many of their ideas to the European mainland.
Mycenae, the chief city, was city situated on the southern peninsula of Greece. The people of this culture were warlike and very militaristic. The Mycenaen Greeks established themselves from Thessaly to the southern Peloponnesus by 1450 B.C. Citadels, which were heavily fortified strongholds on the tops of hills, occupied by the ruling families, were found in the Peloponessus and in Central Greece. Royal tombs were also found at Athens and Thebes.
The Mycenaens originally came from the Balkans around 2000 B.C. They spoke a form of ancient Greek. They were also skilled artisans who manufactured pottery and bronze weapons which they exported. They built bee-hive like tombs throughout the area of Mycenae. They actually supported themselves for the most part, by raids.
They conquered Crete around 1450 B.C. and established colonies around the Aegean Sea and on some nearby islands. The Mycenaens were eventually conquered by invading raiders called, the "Sea Peoples" around 1200 B.C.
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