The Mycenaeans and agriculture

The Mycenaeans and agriculture

The Mycenaeans were a civilization of Indo-European origin, which arose and flourished in mainland Greece during the Late Bronze Age (1600-1100 BC).

History –
The Mycenaeans spoke the Mycenaean language, the oldest attested variety of Greek. The civilization takes its name from the city of Mycenae and was coined by Heinrich Schliemann in his 1878 book Mycenae. The term was subsequently adopted by leading scholars of the Bronze Age Aegean.
A hallmark of the Mycenaean civilization was the Linear B script, although the tablets provide no indication of what these peoples called themselves; however, some Hittite tablets appear to refer to them as Ahhiyawa.
For a long time, Mycenae was considered a sort of capital of Greece at the time, while today it tends to be considered on a par with the other mainland Greek and Cretan kingdoms, often at war with each other but essentially autonomous. Pylos, for example, appears to have been the only city that had to prepare for an invasion, and this defense was organized autonomously and independently of the other centers, as evidenced by the numerous Linear B tablets found there. That said, Thebes is the only city directly mentioned in all the archives (Knossos, Pylos, Mycenae, and Thebes itself). It therefore appears to have played a very important political role, as is also evident from its being at the center of numerous founding Panhellenic myths (founded by Cadmus, who introduced writing to mankind; birthplace of Hercules, Dionysus, and Demeter; the story of Oedipus and the Theban cycle of the Seven and the Epigoni).
The Mycenaeans inherited much knowledge from the Minoans of Crete and created a hierarchical society, dominated by a king (the wanax) and an aristocratic class. They were skilled warriors, traders, and administrators, and a significant part of their economy was based on agriculture.

Agriculture –
The Mycenaeans practiced agriculture, even though the Peloponnese was mountainous.
They produced wine and oil, which they used for trade. To meet the needs of their population, they grew cereals, legumes, and vegetables.
They also raised sheep and goats, which provided meat, milk, and wool.
The Mycenaeans learned how to work ceramics and metals from the Cretans.
They made jewelry, goblets, and cups from gold and silver. They also made weapons and tools from bronze.
The Mycenaeans also learned how to build ships from the Cretans. They were skilled sailors and developed trade in the Mediterranean.
Agriculture was the basis of the Mycenaean economy. Cultivated land was largely owned by the palace or nobles, but there were also plots of land entrusted to farmers in exchange for tribute or labor. Agricultural activities were systematically organized, as evidenced by the Linear B tablets found in the palaces, which record details on agricultural production, taxes, food reserves, and rations distributed.

Agricultural Tools and Crops –
The Mycenaeans used simple but effective tools, mostly made of wood and bronze. These included the plow, hoe, sickle, and digging sticks. These tools were used to work the land, sow, and harvest agricultural produce.
The main crops were:
– Cereals: barley and wheat, used for making bread and beer.
– Legumes: such as lentils and chickpeas, important for daily nutrition.
– Olives: olive oil was essential for both nutrition and for lighting and hygiene.
– Vines: grapes were used to produce wine, a widespread beverage in the Mycenaean world.
– Figs and pomegranates: common fruits in the Mycenaean diet.
Livestock farming was practiced primarily with sheep and goats, but also pigs, cattle, and horses. Agricultural products were stored in palace warehouses and served both for internal sustenance and for trade with other Mediterranean regions.