Migrations and changes during the Dark Age
The time between the fall of the
Mycenaean world and the beginning of the 8th century BC is named the
Dark Age, since very little is known from these years because not many findings
or cultures have been discovered. What it is known for sure, it is that art and
handcraft were forgotten, any writing or scientific systems were lost,
and people concentrated just in the essential things. Migrations and
changes are the main characters of these centuries.
The term Big or Aegean Migrations
is used to designated the population movements that
started in the 13th century BC and lasted around 300 years finally
finding their definitive settlement in the north west of Greece and Dorian
areas. Because the Dorian were greater in number, these migrations are
known also as Dorian Migrations. The Dorian settled in the
Peloponissus, Crete, and the southern islands of the Aegean, and founded
four Dorian villages that would be known later as Sparta.
In the 11th century BC arouse the
first settlements in the western coast of Minor Asia. In the north were
the Aeoler, in the center the Ionian, and in the south the Dorian. This
time, because the Ionian were the biggest group, this second series
migrations are known as the Ionian Migrations.
In general, establishing a
settlement was possible there were there was no excessive power from
somebody else. This allowed the groups to concentrate in the construction
of the community and not in the defense. Cyprus played then there an
important role as a trans-shipment center for trading.
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