1 103 A Minoans and Mycenaeans @ The Minoans of Crete developed a palace-based civilization that grew rich on agriculture and international trade. Their more warlike mainland neighbours, the Mycenaeans, usurped their power after 1450 BC and travelled the sea lanes yet more widely. Their achievements are reflected in legendary tales such as the Siege of Troy.
#Minoans and Mycenaeans, Gold dagger from Mycenae showing hunting / fighting
2 103 C Bronze Age chiefdoms @ Richly furnished burials and growing numbers of bronze weapons show that Bronze Age Europe was both warlike and socially stratified, implying that access to restricted resources was fought over and limited. Yet this was a period of favourable climate when farming and pastoralism spread into areas not exploited before or since.
#Bronze Age chiefdoms, Los Millares
3 102 B Northerners @ We have a particularly rich picture of life in Bronze Age Scandinavia. Waterlogged treetrunk coffins preserve pieces of woollen clothing as well as showing details of wood-working skills. South Swedish and Norwegian rock art shows both everyday activities, such as ploughing and navigation, and features of the rich though intangible religious life of the time.
