The Mycenaean civilization flourished in the Late Bronze Age (c. 1700-1100 BCE), peaking from the 15th to the 13th century BCE. The Mycenaeans extended their influence throughout the Peloponnese in Greece and across the Aegean from Crete to the Cycladic islands. They are named after their chief city of Mycenae in the Argolid of the northeast Peloponnese.
More about: Mycenaean CivilizationDefinition
Timeline
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3000 BCE - 2000 BCEFirst inhabitation of Mycenae area.
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c. 2100 BCEFirst evidence of building structures at Mycenae.
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c. 1900 BCEFirst recorded settlement at Eleusis.
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c. 1700 BCE - c. 1600 BCEFirst shaft graves constructed at Mycenae.
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1700 BCE - 1100 BCEThe Mycenaean civilization dominates Greece.
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c. 1700 BCE - c. 1100 BCEMycenaean Period. Agora established at Athens.
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1600 BCE - 1200 BCEThe Mycenaean settlement of Serayia flourishes on Kos.
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c. 1600 BCEFirst evidence of elite buildings at Mycenae.
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c. 1550 BCEGold death masks (including that of 'Agamemnon') made at Mycenae.
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1500 BCE - 1200 BCESphinxes are represented in Mycenaean art, particularly in pottery and ivory carving.
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c. 1500 BCE - 1200 BCEMycenae at its peak of influence.
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c. 1500 BCE - c. 1400 BCEFirst palace structure and Treasury of Atreus tomb built at Mycenae.
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c. 1500 BCE - c. 1200 BCEThe Linear B script of the Mycenaean civilization is in use.
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c. 1500 BCEFirst tholos tombs built at Mycenae.
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1500 BCE - 1300 BCEMycenaean Thebes at its peak of prosperity and influence.
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c. 1450 BCE - c. 1400 BCEMinoan Palatial period superseded by Mycenaean.
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c. 1450 BCEMycenaean monumental architecture first appears at Epidaurus.
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c. 1450 BCEMycenaen influence extended to Knossos, Crete.
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1400 BCE - 1300 BCEMycenaean palace architecture at Tiryns.
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1400 BCE - 1300 BCEMycenaean fortifications, palaces and tombs constructed at Argos.
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c. 1400 BCERhodes has significant contact with the Mycenaean civilization.
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1400 BCE - 1100 BCECulture in the Cyclades is increasingly influenced by the Mycenaean civilization of mainland Greece.
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c. 1350 BCEFirst evidence of a cult to Dionysos in Mycenaean culture.
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1300 BCE - 1200 BCEMycenaean Tiryns is at the height of its importance.
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c. 1300 BCEFirst palace destroyed at Mycenae and repaired, Lion Gate added and fortifications extended.
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c. 1300 BCE - c. 1250 BCECyclopean stone bridge built near Mycenae.
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1250 BCE - 1200 BCEMycenaean chamber tombs constructed at Thebes.
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c. 1200 BCEEarthquake severely damages Tiryns.
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c. 1200 BCE - c. 1100 BCEMycenaean Epidaurus at its peak of prosperity.
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c. 1200 BCESecond palace destroyed at Mycenae, city begins to decline.
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1200 BCE - 1100 BCEArgos takes over from Mycenae as most important regional power in the Argolid.