Chapter 31: The Mycenaean of Greece

In this lesson, students are introduced to the early Greeks—the Mycenaeans—and their complex relationship with the Minoans. Through a “Mystery Box” of artifacts, a three-part mini-lecture, and a set of hands-on stations, students explore how geography shaped independent Greek city-states, how myths like Theseus and the Minotaur preserve real historical events, and how writing systems such as Linear A and Linear B reveal cultural exchange. Students analyze maps, decode myth as evidence, compare ancient scripts, and evaluate the fall of Knossos using excerpts from The History of the Ancient World. The class concludes with a quick team competition, a Socratic discussion, and an exit ticket connecting myth and history.