THE EARLY GREEK WORLD

The period from 1150 to 750 B.C. is known as the "Dark Ages" of Greek history. During this period there were new intruders in the land. They neglected the great palace fortresses, once the centers of culture in the Aegean world. Instead they adopted a simpler life in local villages and encouraged little contact with areas outside the Aegean €region. Despite the decline of the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, this period did witness the blending of the distinctive elements in the Aegean world into a common Greek culture. Our knowledge of the Greek Dark Ages rests largely upon the epic poems, the lliad utd the Odysiey, attributed to the Greek poet Homer. Because Homer's poems provide nearly the only glimpse of the early Greek way of life, historians also called this period the "Homeric Age." With stories of heroic figures, brutal warfare, and adventurous exploits, Homer describes the shaping of Greek culture. Values such as dignity, strength' valor, bravery, generosity, and wisdom as expressed in lhe lives of Homer's characters are the qualities the Greeks honored most.

Sparta
Sparta was located in the southern part of Greece on the peninsula called the Peloponnesus. Conquered by the Dorians,her inhabitants were made slaves, or Helots. The new rulers of Sparta conquered surrounding areas, reducing many of the inhabitants to slave status. Soon the Helots outnumbered the Spartans. In constant fear of an uprising, the Spartans created a thoroughly militaristic state. The way of life at Sparta centered on the faining of wariors. The highest goal of any Spartan