Aegean civilization

Aegean civilization, collective term for the Bronze Age civilizations surrounding the Aegean Sea. These cultures, which flourished from 3000 to 1200 B.C., are the Mycenaean, or Helladic, culture of the Greek mainland; the Cycladic culture of the Cyclades; the Minoan culture of Crete; and the Trojan culture. Archeological work in the area was begun in the 1870s–80s by Heinrich Schliemann, who located Troy.

See also: Crete; Mycenae; Schliemann, Heinrich; Troy.