Commerce

Definition

Commerce refers to the activity of buying and selling goods and services, particularly on a large scale. In the context of Mycenaean civilization, commerce was vital for trade, cultural exchange, and the economic foundation of their society, influencing art and architecture as they interacted with other cultures across the Mediterranean.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Mycenaean commerce was primarily maritime, with extensive trade routes established across the Aegean Sea and into the Eastern Mediterranean.
2. The Mycenaeans traded valuable goods like pottery, textiles, metalwork, and agricultural products, which helped them build wealth and influence.
3. Their trade interactions led to cultural exchanges that influenced Mycenaean art and architecture, including the adoption of styles from neighboring cultures.
4. Large storage facilities found in Mycenaean palaces indicate a sophisticated system for managing surplus goods and facilitating trade.
5. Mycenaean commerce played a key role in establishing their power and influence in the region, leading to their dominance before the eventual decline of their civilization.

Review Questions

• How did commerce influence the cultural exchanges between the Mycenaeans and neighboring civilizations?
  • Commerce was a driving force behind cultural exchanges in the Mycenaean era. As Mycenaeans engaged in trade with other civilizations, they not only exchanged goods but also ideas, artistic styles, and technologies. This interaction enriched Mycenaean culture, leading to the adoption of new artistic techniques in pottery and architecture that were influenced by cultures such as the Minoans and Egyptians.
• Discuss the role of palatial economies in supporting Mycenaean commerce and how this structure affected their society.
  • Palatial economies were crucial in supporting Mycenaean commerce as they centralized trade activities within large palace complexes. These palaces acted as hubs for collecting taxes, redistributing resources, and managing trade relations. This structure allowed for greater control over economic activities and contributed to social stratification as those associated with the palatial centers gained wealth and power through commerce.
• Evaluate how Mycenaean commerce contributed to their eventual decline as a civilization.
  • While commerce initially strengthened the Mycenaean civilization by fostering wealth and connections with other cultures, it also contributed to its decline. Overreliance on trade made them vulnerable to disruptions such as invasions or shifts in trade routes. Additionally, internal conflicts over wealth generated through commerce may have weakened their political structure. The decline of trade networks after their fall led to economic instability that further eroded their society.

Related terms

Trade Networks: Systems of commercial relationships that connect different regions through the exchange of goods, facilitating economic interaction and cultural exchange.

Palatial Economy: An economic system centered around palaces that acted as administrative and redistributive centers, managing resources and trade activities in Mycenaean society.

Artifacts: Objects made or used by humans, which provide insight into the culture, economy, and daily life of a civilization, often revealing the impact of commerce on art and architecture.