Ancient Greek Writing and Its Impact on Greece

Ancient Greek Writing and Its Impact on Greece

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• Introduction

 

 

The ancient Greeks did not always speak the Modern Greek language. In fact, Greek was not always Greek actually. Linear A was the dominant language inside of the Greek area for a very long time in Greek history. Linear A was the language written and spoken by the Minoan people that lived in the ancient civilization of Knossos. Minoan people lived and thrived for a very long time. They used their language to write down everything from foods they liked to the amount of items they had in a jar. However, Linear B was not the language that became Modern Greek. [1]The Mycenaeans conquered the Minoans. Mycenaeans did not completely change the written language of the Minoans after they were conquered; they combined it with their own language. This language became known, as Linear B. Linear B became the written and spoken language that would soon develop into the Greek language. Linear B’s creation led to the Greek written and spoken language, thus, forwarding to create one of the most influential civilizations in the entire history of humankind.

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The Minoans Linear A is still somewhat of a mystery to man because it is very hard to translate. But with the tablets that archaeologists and excavators have discovered, it is very easy to recognize that the Minoan people used the language as a means to log information and keep track of materials. Linear A was found on walls, pots, tablets, and paintings in the ancient city of Knossos, the largest city in the Minoan area. Knossos was on an island so it was very hard for this language to spread. If Knossos did not participate in a lot of maritime trade the language would have never spread. Linear A, however, did not spread a large amount because of the trade of Knossos.[2]

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Linear A was transformed into Linear B when the Mycenaeans, a pirate like people, invaded the Minoan city of Knossos and leveled it. The Mycenaeans did not see a problem with the language.[3] They combined many terms from their language to create Linear B. Linear B was much easier to translate than the previous Linear A because it was much more directly related to Greek. Mansy of the Greek characters and symbols were very similar to Linear B.[4]

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Linear B spread all throughout the Greek cities because the Mycenaean people continually raided and pillaged other villages and cities. The Mycenaean people’s Linear B spread quickly throughout Greece and began to become the area’s main language. Over time many of the different city-states began to develop their own dialects of the language. But, all in all, the language started to become the Greek language that people still use and see today.

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The Greek people used their language for many different things. They received papyrus from Egypt in trade and they also wrote on stone when they engraved writing into their sculptures. Greece wrote letters, wrote down plays, they used writing to send orders in battle, they even used writing to record their own history, and to write down theories of philosophy. All of this was possible because the people of Mycenae conquered the Minoans and created a sea empire all throughout Greece and the Aegean Sea. Greece’s new language became prominent in aiding the advancement of the Greek culture.[5] Information was saved and passed along much easier than it could ever be done before in Greece because they all had one universal language now, rather than a bunch of tribes using completely different dialects and languages.

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Linear B heavily affected Greece. Greece was known for its many uses for writing and language. Philosophers, poets, playwrights, generals, soldiers and rhetoricians all used Linear B. Linear B became the common Greek language. So nearly, everyone who could read or write was originally using Linear B to communicate in Greece. Linear B expanded the intelligence and intellects of the Greeks. Greek writing and knowledge skyrocketed with the advent of Linear B. A common Language for the Greek people changed everything. It was not just the wealthy that succeeded in gaining wealth because of the increase in literacy and a common language; the common people thrived because of Linear B[6]. Their city-states advanced in many different ways because of it.

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Athens grew large and became extremely powerful throughout Greek history. This was because their government and administration thrived because of the government and the overall intelligence of their leaders. Athens maintains a healthy and large army and navy. They managed money from the Delian League as well. None of this could have been done without language, and a common language like Linear B, at that. Linear B was the common written and spoken language all over Greece. So it was not difficult for the Greeks to communicate with each other, this is one of the reasons Athens thrived. Athens could communicate easily, effectively, and efficiently with all other Greeks because the language was so similar. They could express demands in war, make treaties, trades, and manage their own lands all because the written and spoken languages.

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Philosophy flourished in Greece especially Athens. The new Greek language that evolved from Linear A and Linear B gave way to philosophers like Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates. These philosophers spread their ideas through text and speech. Plato wrote down all his theories and philosophies and had his conversations written down. This is known as Plato’s Republic. Philosophers used language almost as much as the government. The stood at the top of the Athenian acropolis and spoke on everything from the afterlife to the way governments should be ran. It was easy for them to speak inside of their own city-state. But for their teachings to spread these philosophers and sophists needed to have a language that could pass their messages on. That was the Linear B.

• Conclusion

 

Linear B influenced Greece in many different ways. The Greeks would have had many different languages without Linear B. Greece flourished because of its use of language to further its civilization and that language started as Linear A and become Linear B with the invasion of the Mycenaeans. Greece’s influence on the entire world would not even exist without its use of language and the fact that there was a common language. The Greek impact on the rest of the world is so colossal. Without the creation of the Greek language who knows, what Greece would have become?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Kelder, Jorrit M., and Marco Poelwijk. 2016. “The Wanassa and the Damokoro: A New Interpretation of a Linear B Text from Pylos.” Greek, Roman & Byzantine Studies 56, no. 4: 572-584. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed February 14, 2017).

“Linear B.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Feb. 2017. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.

[1] “Linear B.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Feb. 2017. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.

[2] “Linear B.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Feb. 2017. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.

[3] Kelder, Jorrit M., and Marco Poelwijk. 2016. “The Wanassa and the Damokoro: A New Interpretation of a Linear B Text from Pylos.” Greek, Roman & Byzantine Studies 56, no. 4: 572-584. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed February 14, 2017).

[4] Kelder, Jorrit M., and Marco Poelwijk. 2016. “The Wanassa and the Damokoro: A New Interpretation of a Linear B Text from Pylos.” Greek, Roman & Byzantine Studies 56, no. 4: 572-584. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed February 14, 2017).

[5] “Linear B.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Feb. 2017. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.

[6]Kelder, Jorrit M., and Marco Poelwijk. 2016. “The Wanassa and the Damokoro: A New Interpretation of a Linear B Text from Pylos.” Greek, Roman & Byzantine Studies 56, no. 4: 572-584. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed February 14, 2017).