Prehistoric & Cycladic Greece: The First Farmers and Seafarers
From the first Aegean seafarers and Neolithic farmers to the marble figurines of the Cyclades, discover how the story of Greece began thousands of years before its first cities and kings.
Key Events of Prehistoric & Cycladic Greece
The Story of Prehistoric & Cycladic Greece
Long before cities, kings or written history, the story of Greece began with hunters, sailors and farmers. As early as 11,000 BC, people were crossing the Aegean by boat to collect obsidian on the island of Milos, among the earliest known sea voyages in Europe. Around 7000 BC, farming arrived in Thessaly and Macedonia, making Greece the gateway through which agriculture spread into the rest of Europe. Villages such as Sesklo and Dimini grew up on the fertile plains, with stone houses, pottery and domesticated animals. In the Early Bronze Age, from around 3200 BC, the islands of the Cyclades developed a seafaring culture famous for its elegant marble figurines, which still inspire modern artists. On the mainland, thriving settlements such as Lerna grew larger and more complex. Around 2200 BC, many of these communities were destroyed or abandoned, a crisis whose causes are still debated. These first chapters laid the foundations for the great Bronze Age civilizations of Crete and Mycenae that followed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did people first live in Greece?
Humans lived in Greece for hundreds of thousands of years as hunters and gatherers. The first farming villages appeared around 7000 BC, in Thessaly and Macedonia.
What defined Cycladic culture in the Bronze Age?
The Cycladic civilization was an Early Bronze Age culture of the Cyclades islands, from around 3200 to 2000 BC, known for seafaring, trade and marble figurines.
What art did the Cycladic islanders leave behind?
They are small, simple marble figures, mostly of women with folded arms, made in the Cyclades around 3000 to 2000 BC. Their minimalist style later inspired modern artists.
Why was Milos important in prehistory?
Milos was a source of obsidian, a volcanic glass used for sharp tools. Finds of Milos obsidian show that people were sailing the Aegean as early as 11,000 BC.
What happened to Early Bronze Age Greece around 2200 BC?
Many mainland settlements, such as Lerna, were destroyed or abandoned around 2200 BC. The causes are still debated and may include climate change, conflict and migration.
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