Greek Dark Ages - Definition and Overview

The Greek Dark Ages (ca. 1200 BC–800 BC) refers to the period of Greek history from the Dorian invasion and the end of the Mycenaean civilization in the 11th century BC to the rise of the first Greek city-states in the 9th century BC, the epics of Homer and the earliest records in alphabetic Greek in the 8th century BC.

Archaeology shows a collapse of civilization in the Greek world in this period. The great palaces and cities of the Myceneans were destroyed or abandoned. The Greek language ceased to be written. Greek dark age pottery has simple geometric designs and lacks the figurative decoration of Mycenean ware. The Greeks of the dark age lived in fewer and smaller settlements, suggesting famine and depopulation, and foreign goods are not found, suggesting little international trade.

Literature

Latacz, J. Between Troy and Homer. The so-called Dark Ages in Greece, in: Storia, Poesia e Pensiero nel Mondo antico. Studi in Onore di M. Gigante, Rome, 1994.