Helladic period

As Frühhelladikum refers to the earliest phase of the Bronze Age on the Greek mainland. As with her accompanied the introduction of the knowledge about the metal processing, it marks the transition from the Neolithic to the Metal Ages. In terms of geography, the term " hella disch " the region of Central Greece ( Phocis, Boeotia, Attica ), the northern Peloponnese ( Corinth, Argolis ) and Thessaly. The period corresponds in time to the Old Kingdom in about Egypt. Traditionally, the beginning of the Bronze Age is scheduled to begin at 2600 BC, according to recent results is the beginning but already dated to about 3000 BC. The Frühhelladikum ends around 2000 BC

Chronology

After the 1918 chronology developed by Alan Wace and Carl Blegen three main phases can be distinguished:

• Frühelladikum I ( FH I) about 3000/2600-2500/2400 BC
• Frühelladikum II ( FH II ) ca 2500/2400-2200 BC
• Frühhelladikum III (FH III ) ca 2200-2000 BC

Until the British excavations under the direction of John L. Caskeys 1952-1958 Lerna in the precise temporal definition of FH II and the subsequent phase III FH was not known. Likewise, it was impossible to Caskeys excavations in Eutresis 1958, the period attributable to FH I absolute data. As a result of further archaeological work in mid -1960s in Lefkandi on the island of Evia, a settlement in which one first it went out, it was parallel to the FH III period on the Greek mainland classify, Colin Renfrew has developed a new chronological system. He classified the early Helladic period then - instead of the previous Wace and Blegen after temporal sections - according to the name of each cultural communities that existed in FH I, II or II. FH I corresponded with him the Eutresis culture, FH II he called Korakou culture and FH III Tyrins - culture. According to this scheme corresponded to " Lefkanti I" at the same time the " Tyrins - Culture ", a view that was disproved in 1979 by Jeremy Rutter. He found that the Lefkanti culture in truth rather FH II period, ie Renfrews Korakou culture correspond. Since the mid - 1970s, the resistance grew against Renfrews model. Nevertheless, both locally and temporally related chronologies are quite common.

History

The knowledge about the metal processing has come to the prevailing opinion of (Western) Anatolia to Greece. Although the innovation arose in the Aegean already in the late 4th millennium, so in the pouring Neolithic period, is given to the real beginning of the Bronze Age until around the turn of the millennium on. In FH I copper and various copper alloys has been processed, including so-called arsenic bronze, a naturally occurring alloy of copper and arsenic, which occurs in some regions. In addition, further found stones and bones as material use. At least for the beginning of FH II is detected (tin) - Bronze. The advent of metalworking made ​​in Greece for an upturn. In agriculture created new devices, including as the most important of the plow. By thus achieved greater income is quickly improved the living conditions and the population grew.

From FM II created settlements with an urban character. This development was - at least partly - a social differentiation associated. In places, the settlements were attached, such as in Lerna or Aegina. Significant sites is, among other things Lerna, the Early Bronze Age layers of Tiryns, Eutresis and Zygouries. Round and Ovalbauten were found as original building and also models in the form of Schieferpyxiden. An original building of monumental size stood at Tiryns, whose Bau burnt bricks were used. The use of this material is also found in megaronartigen house of bricks in Lerna, or the White House in Aegina.

Towards the end of FH II, there are many places destruction and fractures. This has been always associated with the advance of the Indo-Europeans in Greece. However, a relationship is now questioned since not all of Greece was devastated by the destruction.

Ceramics

The prevailing style of the Early Bronze Age pottery of Greece was the so-called Urfirniskeramik. There was also a red, polished goods. The potter's wheel was not used, it was not developed until the Mittelhelladikum.