文明史话，古希腊：源起（04）

说到这里我想插一段关于艺术家的内容。

Here I would like to insert a paragraph about the artist.

事实上在十六世纪之前并没有严格意义上的艺术家，我们今天所说的艺术家在古希腊和古罗马一般是在工坊中工匠；诸如绘画，雕塑等艺术创作被看作是一门手艺，学习方式是师傅带徒弟，从业者大多是平民。

There was no artist in the strict sense before the sixteenth century, and what we call artists today were generally artisans in workshops in ancient Greece and Rome; artistic creations such as painting and sculpture were seen as a craft, and learning was done by masters with apprentices, and most of the practitioners were common people.

希腊神话中有九位缪斯女神，她们掌管人类的创作活动，其内容大多和诗歌，音乐和悲剧有关。音乐“music”和博物馆“museum”这两个词都来自缪斯。而古希腊并没有司长雕塑和绘画的缪斯，雕塑家和画家的工作被视为纯粹的体力劳动，他们的地位很低，其身份介于自由人和奴隶之间。并且在西方的语境下，艺术“art”这个词原本的意思是“技巧，方法，技术”。艺术家“artist”指的是比其他人技巧更熟练的人，这个词的含义接近于工匠“artisan”。

There are nine Muses in Greek mythology who govern human creative activity, mostly related to poetry, music, and tragedy. The words "music" and "museum" are both derived from the Muses. There were no Muses of sculpture and painting in ancient Greece. The work of sculptors and painters was regarded as purely manual labor, and their status was low, somewhere between freemen and slaves. And in the Western context, the word "art" originally meant "skill, method, technique". The word "artist" refers to a person who is more skilled than others, and is closer in meaning to the word "artisan".

艺术家在中世纪的时候通常是属于所处城市的行会的手艺人。只有加入行会才有资格从业，成为行会的成员才可以收徒弟或向公众出售画作。

Artists in the Middle Ages were usually craftsmen who belonged to the guilds of the city in which they lived. Only by joining a guild were they eligible to practice, and only by becoming a member of a guild could they take on apprentices or sell paintings to the public.

在文艺复兴时期的弗洛伦斯，由于画家的地位太低，他们连自己的行会都没有。画家属于医生与药剂师行会，因为他们需要从药剂师那里购买颜料；而雕塑家是石匠与木匠行会的成员。后来艺术家的地位得到了提升他们才终于有了自己的行会，圣路加行会。这个名字来自于艺术家的守护神路加，据说他画了圣母的肖像。

In Florence during the Renaissance, the status of painters was so low that they did not even have a guild. Painters belonged to the Guild of Doctors and Apothecaries ("Arte dei Medici e Speziali") as they bought their pigments from apothecaries, while sculptors were members of the Masters of Stone and Wood ("Arte dei Maestri di Pietra e Legname"). Later the status of the artists was elevated and they finally had their guild, the Guild of Saint Luke. The name comes from Luke, the patron saint of artists, who is said to have painted the portrait of the Virgin Mary.

1563年，乔尔乔·瓦萨里和科西莫·德·美第奇创立了世界上第一所美术学院，弗洛伦萨美术学院。从此有了美术教育，美术从手工艺当中独立了出来，画家从工匠当中独立了出来，真正意义上的艺术家才得以出现。

In 1563, Giorgio Vasari and Cosimo I de' Medici founded the world's first Academy of Fine Arts, the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze. Since then there has been art education, art has become independent from crafts, painters have become independent from artisans, and artists in the true sense of the word have emerged.

在弗洛伦萨美术学院成立的十几年后，圣路加学院于1577成立于罗马；1582年卡拉齐兄弟在博洛尼亚成立了进步派美术学院（或“卡拉齐美术学院”）。

A dozen years after the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, the Accademia di San Luca was founded in Rome in 1577; in 1582 the Carracci brothers founded the Accademia degli Incamminati (or "Accademia dei Carracci") in Bologna.

这里大家注意，虽然十六世纪的时候出现了美术学院，而“学院派”（学院艺术）还要等到十七世纪法兰西皇家绘画与雕塑学院的成立（1648）和太阳王路易十四执政时期。它们之间的区别在于前者主要是由平民和贵族主导的民办院校，而后者是由政府主导的官办院校，学院派有很强的政治背景。法兰西皇家绘画与雕塑学院就是以圣路加学院为范本的。

Note that while the Academy of Fine Arts emerged in the sixteenth century, the "Academic Art" had to wait until the establishment of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture (1648) and the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King （le Roi Soleil）, in the seventeenth century. The difference between them is that the former are mainly private institutions dominated by civilians and nobles, while the latter are government-run institutions dominated by the government, and Academic Art has a strong political background. The Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture was founded on the model of the Accademia di San Luca.

瓦萨里这个人是个神人，我再说两句。瓦萨里是米开朗琪罗的朋友并且他深受米开朗琪罗绘画风格的影响。虽然瓦萨里也流传下来不少作品，但他最主要的成就却是在建筑和艺术史学领域。

Vasari is important, and I'll say a few more words. Vasari was a friend of Michelangelo's and he was deeply influenced by his painting style. Although Vasari has also handed down several works, his most significant achievements are in the fields of architecture and art historiography.

瓦萨里除了参与建设了弗洛伦萨美术学院，他还为美第奇家族建造了一座办公室。意大利语“办公室”的发音类似于“乌菲兹”（或“乌菲齐”）。美第奇家族在这里存放了很多他们收集或者委托的绘画和雕塑作品，后来它变成了著名的乌菲兹美术馆。但这还不是瓦萨里最大的成就。

In addition to his involvement in the construction of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, Vasari also built an office (uffizi) for the Medici family. The Italian word for "office" is similar to "uffizi". The Medici family stored many of the paintings and sculptures they collected or commissioned, and it later became the famous Uffizi Gallery （Galleria degli Uffizi）. But this is not Vasari's greatest achievement.

他写了一本书，内容包括了达·芬奇和米开朗琪罗在内的很多艺术家传记，叫做《艺苑名人传》。这本书是意大利早期文艺复兴时期艺术家的生活和作品信息的主要来源，它被认为是所有艺术史写作的开山之作，瓦萨里也被认为是第一位艺术史学家。他在这本书中第一次使用“Rinascita”（意大利语“重生”）一词，后来这个词变成了一个我们所熟悉的名称，“文艺复兴”（Renaissance，法语“重生”）。可能瓦萨里最大的成就是创造了文艺复兴这个术语。这个术语在史学中被广泛采用，直至今天。

He wrote a book that includes biographies of many artists, including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, called Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects. This book is the major source of information on the lives and works of early Italian Renaissance artists, and it is considered the founding work of all art historical writing, and Vasari is considered the first art historian. In this book, he first used the word "Rinascita" (Italian for rebirth), which later became a familiar word, "Renaissance" (rebirth, in French). Perhaps Vasari's greatest achievement was the coining of the term Renaissance. This term has been widely adopted in historiography until today.

一个人，一本书，一个词语定义了一个时代，这是我觉得他最“神”的地方。

One man, one book, one word defines an era, and this is what I find most remarkable about him.

好了，我们说回古希腊。

Well, let's go back to ancient Greece.

接下来我们来聊一聊古希腊文明的前身，米诺斯文明，迈锡尼文明和黑暗时代。有了前面内容的铺垫，这部分内容会很轻松。

Let's talk about the predecessors of ancient Greek civilization, Minoan civilization, Mycenaean civilization, and the Dark Ages. This part will be easy with the previous content to set the stage.

米诺斯文明

Minoan civilization

米诺斯文明是爱琴海地区的青铜时代文明，它最早可以追溯到公元前3500年左右。其城市文明开始于公元前2000年左右，然后从公元前1450年左右衰落并在公元前1100年左右结束。如果从其城市文明出现的时间开始计算的话，它大概对应古埃及的第十一王朝到第二十王朝这段时期，或者美索不达米亚地区的乌尔第三王朝到中亚述帝国末期的这段时间。它在20世纪初由英国考古学家亚瑟·埃文斯发现。埃文斯用希腊神话当中克里特岛克诺索斯国王米诺斯的名字命名了这一古老文明。根据荷马的记载，克里特岛有90个城市。

The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization in the Aegean region, which dates back to around 3500 BC. Its urban civilization began around 2000 BC, then declined from around 1450 BC, and ended around 1100 BC. If we calculate the emergence of urban civilization, it corresponds to the period from the Eleventh Dynasty to the Twentieth Dynasty in ancient Egypt, or from the Third Dynasty of Ur to the end of the Middle Assyrian Empire in Mesopotamia. It was discovered in the early 20th century by the British archaeologist Arthur Evans. Evans named this ancient civilization after Minos, King of Knossos in Crete in Greek mythology. According to Homer, Crete had 90 cities.

首先的问题是，为什么是米诺斯文明，为什么爱琴文明的中心会在克里特岛。

The first question is why the Minoan civilization and why the center of the Aegean civilization was in Crete.

克里特岛的环境和希腊本土差不多，可耕种的土地非常有限。如果没有贸易这里很难依靠有限的土地产出养活足够多的人口，也就谈不上诞生文明。而克里特岛的地理位置非常好，它位于东地中海的海上交通要道，通过贸易它可以和美索不达米亚和埃及这两个文明地区发生接触。美索不达米亚和埃及地区的文明要比爱琴文明早很多，也发达得多。如果你玩过《文明6》的话就会知道一件事，商路除了会带来粮食，财富等物质资源，它还会附带科技和文化加成。

The environment of Crete is similar to that of mainland Greece, and the land available for cultivation is very limited. Without trade, it would have been difficult to support a large population and give birth to a civilization based on the limited land output. And Crete is very well located, it is on the main sea traffic route of the Eastern Mediterranean, and through trade it can come into contact with Mesopotamia and Egypt, two civilized regions. The civilizations of the Mesopotamia and Egypt regions were much older and more developed than the Aegean civilization. If you have played Civilization 6, you will know one thing, in addition to food, wealth, and other material resources, trade routes will also come with technology and cultural bonuses.

说到这里，米诺斯文明诞生在克里特岛也就不足为奇了。而事实上米诺斯文明就是靠地中海地区的贸易网络而存在的。

Having said that, it is not surprising that the Minoan civilization was born in Crete. The Minoan civilization existed through the trade network of the Mediterranean.

克里特岛当地的农业和手工业非常发达。公元前1700年以后，他们的文化也已繁荣起来。米诺斯的文化影响了基克拉泽斯群岛，古埃及，塞浦路斯，黎凡特以及安纳托利亚等地区。

Local agriculture and handicrafts were very well developed in Crete. Their culture was also very well developed after 1700 BC. Minoan culture influenced the Cyclades, ancient Egypt, Cyprus, the Levant, and Anatolia.

米诺斯文明的文明成果主要有三部分，宫殿，艺术以及书写系统。

The main achievements of the Minoan civilization were palaces, art, and a writing system.

宫殿在米诺斯文明当中具有核心地位，它是一个拥有诸多功能的综合体。这一点我们之前也已经看到过，比如埃及和美索不达米亚文明的神庙并不只是进行宗教活动的场所，它实际上承担了很多今天政府的职能。神庙或者宫殿是古代城市的中心，它们就相当于当时的政府，商业中心，公共活动场所甚至是银行，粮仓和避难所。因此神庙和宫殿也成为了很多文明的象征，比如苏美尔文明的季古拉特，米诺斯文明的克诺索斯宫殿，雅典的帕特农神庙等。

The palace had a central place in the Minoan civilization, a complex with many functions. As we have seen before, the temples of the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations, for example, were not just places for religious activities but performed many of the functions of today's governments. The temple or palace was the center of the ancient city, it was the equivalent of a government, a commercial center, a place of public activity, and even a bank, a granary, and a refuge. Therefore temples and palaces have also become symbols of many civilizations, such as the ziggurats of Sumerian civilization, the Palace of Knossos of Minoan civilization, the Parthenon of Athens, etc.

米诺斯人建造了很多宏伟的宫殿，有的高达四层，宫殿房间众多，可以容纳很多人员，房间装饰有壁画，比如克里特岛上最大的克诺索斯宫殿，以及第二大的斐斯托斯宫殿。这些宫殿承担了行政和宗教职能并且将手工作坊和粮食储藏室整合其中。米诺斯的大部分经济活动都围绕着宫殿运行，埃文斯将这种经济形态称为“宫殿经济”。

The Minoans built many magnificent palaces, some as high as four stories, with numerous rooms to accommodate many people and rooms decorated with frescoes, such as the largest palace of Knossos on Crete, and the second largest palace of Phaistos. These palaces assumed administrative and religious functions and integrated workshops and food storage. Much of Minoan economic activity revolved around the palaces, and Evans refers to this economic pattern as the "palace economy".

希腊人对于米诺斯宫殿复杂的结构以及当地人的公牛崇拜的记忆可能在后来就成为了希腊神话当中关于“迷宫”和“牛头怪”等故事的灵感。

Greek memories of the complex structure of the Minoan palaces and the local cult of the bull may have inspired the Greek mythology of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur.

米诺斯文明还留下了非常丰富的艺术作品。保存下来的艺术遗存有陶器，印章，宫殿壁画，小型雕塑以及珠宝和金属制品等工艺品。其艺术和陶器装饰风格对地中海周边的文明产生了一定的影响。

The Minoan civilization also left behind a very rich artwork. The preserved art remains include pottery, seals, palace frescoes, small sculptures, and artifacts such as jewelry and metalwork. Its art and pottery decoration style influenced the civilizations around the Mediterranean.

在东地中海沿岸的大部分地区都发现了米诺斯文明的陶器遗存，在这些陶器上面布满了充满生活气息和海洋风格的图案。

The remains of Minoan pottery have been found in most areas of the eastern Mediterranean coast, and they are covered with living and marine-style motifs.

米诺斯文明的壁画大多遵循一套程式，这一点和古埃及艺术很像，大多数人物都是以正面和侧面相结合的方式呈现出来。但其风格非常生动，充满生活气息。有一点很特别，相比于其他古代文化的壁画作品，米诺斯的壁画与战争和王宫贵族相关的内容并不多见，并且女性形象的比例是很高的。常见的壁画题材包括了他们的生活场景，比如采集，跳牛，出海等活动以及各种动物和海洋生物，无论是人物还是动物都表现出了很强的生命力和运动感。总的来说米诺斯艺术所表现出的是一种宁静美好的气质。

Most of the frescoes of the Minoan civilization follow a set of conventions, much like ancient Egyptian art, where most figures are presented in a combination of frontal and profile views. However, the style is very vivid and full of life. One thing is very special, compared with the fresco works of other ancient cultures, Minoan frescoes have very little content related to war and royal nobility, and the proportion of female figures is very high. Common fresco subjects include scenes from their lives, such as gathering, bull-leaping, sea-going, and other activities, as well as various animals and sea creatures, both figures and animals showing a strong sense of life and movement. In general, Minoan art expresses an aura of tranquility and beauty.

关于米诺斯文明的艺术大家可以参考我之前的一期视频，《爱琴美术》。

For more information about the art of Minoan civilization, you can refer to my previous video, "Art of the Ancient Aegean".

米诺斯人的书写系统被称为“线性文字A”，它被记录在了斐斯托斯圆盘上面。

The Minoan writing system is called "Linear A" and is recorded on the Phaistos Disc.

米诺斯文明从公元前1450年左右开始衰落，其原因尚不明确。主要的猜测包括来自希腊大陆的迈锡尼入侵和圣托里尼岛的火山喷发。

The Minoan civilization began to decline around 1450 B.C. The reasons for this are unclear. Major speculations include the Mycenaean invasion from mainland Greece and the volcanic eruption on Santorini.

总结一下。关于米诺斯文明我们需要记住这样几点，爱琴海地区的青铜时代文明，希腊文明的前身，宏伟的宫殿，线形文字A，精美的艺术品以及它的发现者阿瑟·埃文斯。

To summarize. We need to remember such points about Minoan civilization, the Bronze Age civilization of the Aegean region, the predecessor of Greek civilization, the magnificent palaces, Linear A, the fine artwork, and its discoverer Arthur Evans.

接着我们来聊一聊迈锡尼文明。

Then let's talk about the Mycenaean civilization.

迈锡尼文明

Mycenaean civilization

迈锡尼文明是希腊大陆的第一个文明，它也是爱琴海地区青铜时代文明的最后阶段，它的存在同样依赖地中海地区的贸易网络。其最著名的遗址是迈锡尼，这个文明便是以它命名的。

The Mycenaean civilization, the first on the Greek mainland, was also the last phase of the Bronze Age civilization in the Aegean region, and its existence was also dependent on the trade network of the Mediterranean. Its most famous site is Mycenae, after which the civilization is named.

一般认为迈锡尼文明是在米诺斯文明和其他地中海文化的影响之下发展出来的。迈锡尼人是希腊大陆的民族。在文化上迈锡尼文明和米诺斯文明有联系，尤其是在艺术和书写系统方面，但两者的文化气质有所不同。米诺斯的文化气质是宁静美好的，充满生活气息和活力，而迈锡尼的文化气质是富丽堂皇的，充满军事气质。通过对比两者的文化气质我们可以更好地理解他们的文化。

It is generally believed that the Mycenaean civilization developed under the influence of the Minoan civilization and other Mediterranean cultures. The Mycenaeans were a mainland Greek people. The Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations were culturally related, especially in terms of art and writing systems, but the two had different cultural temperaments. The cultural temperament of Minos is peace and beauty, full of life and vitality, while the cultural temperament of Mycenae is splendid and full of military qualities. By comparing the two temperaments we can better understand their cultures.

迈锡尼文明的存在时间约从公元前十八世纪到公元前十一世纪（大约公元前1750年至公元前1050年）。大概对应古埃及的第十三王朝中期到第二十王朝拉美西斯十一世时期，或者古巴比伦帝国汉谟拉比国王执政末期到中亚述帝国末期的这段时间。

The Mycenaean civilization existed from about the eighteenth to the eleventh centuries B.C. (approximately 1750 to 1050 B.C.). This roughly corresponds to the period from the middle of the Thirteenth Dynasty to the Twentieth Dynasty of Ramses XI in ancient Egypt, or from the end of the reign of King Hammurabi in the Old Babylonian Empire to the end of the Middle Assyrian Empire.

这一时期重要的城市包括了迈锡尼，皮洛斯，梯林斯，忒拜和雅典等。忒拜也称“底比斯”，这里我为了在名称上和古埃及的底比斯区分将希腊地区的这一地点称为“忒拜”。迈锡尼的定居点包括了希腊北部的伊庇鲁斯和马其顿，爱琴海诸岛，小亚南海岸以及塞浦路斯等地。迈锡尼文明已经具备了后来希腊世界的雏形。

Important cities of this period include Mycenae, Pylos, Tiryns, Thebes, and Athens. Thebes is also known as “Dibis”, and I will refer to this site in the Greek region as “Tebai” to distinguish it from Thebes in ancient Egypt. The Mycenaean settlements included Epirus and Macedonia in northern Greece, the Aegean islands, the southern coast of Asia Minor, and Cyprus. The Mycenaean civilization had already taken the shape of the later Greek world.

迈锡尼的文明成果主要包括了三个方面，建筑，书写系统和艺术遗存。

The achievements of Mycenaean civilization include three main areas, architecture, writing systems, and artistic remains.

迈锡尼文明是一个以“王”为中心的社会，各个城市都发展出了严格的等级、政治、社会和经济制度。他们修建了大量的建筑和墓葬。和米诺斯文明类似，宫殿在迈锡尼社会中发挥了重要的作用，它承担了行政和经济等重要功能。迈锡尼的宫殿被记录在了很多的古希腊文学作品和神话故事当中。

The Mycenaean civilization was a society centered on the "king" (anax, wanax), and each city developed a rigidly hierarchical, political, social, and economic system. They built a large number of buildings and tombs. Similar to the Minoan civilization, palaces played an important role in Mycenaean society, assuming important functions such as administration and economy. The Mycenaean palaces are recorded in many ancient Greek literary works and mythological stories.

他们还建造了很多的防御工事，如要塞和高大的城墙。这些由巨石构成的城墙据说是由独眼巨人所修建的。迈锡尼卫城的主要入口就是著名的狮子门。

They also built many fortifications, such as fortresses and tall walls. These walls, made of huge stones, are said to have been built by the Cyclops. The main entrance to the Mycenaean Acropolis is the famous Lion Gate.

另外值得一提的是迈锡尼的墓葬。竖井墓和拱顶墓是迈锡尼最常见的贵族埋葬形式。竖井墓的代表是“墓圈A”和“墓圈B”，拱顶墓的代表是阿特柔斯宝库。墓葬里面埋藏了各种各样豪华的陪葬品，死去的男性通常戴着黄金的面具和盔甲，而女人则戴着黄金饰品，这其中就包括阿伽门农面具以及黄金酒杯等。这一文明时期可能成为了许多古希腊文学和神话的故事背景。学者们推测，包括特洛伊战争在内的很多神话与传说可能就发生在这个时代。关于迈锡尼文明的艺术也请大家参考我之前的一期视频，《爱琴美术》。

Also worth mentioning are the Mycenaean tombs. Shaft tombs and beehive tombs (tholos tombs) were the most common forms of noble burial in Mycenae. The shaft tomb is represented by Grave Circle A and Grave Circle B, while the beehive tomb is represented by the Treasury of Atreus. A variety of luxurious burial objects were buried inside the tombs. The dead men usually wore gold masks and armor, while the women wore gold jewelry, which included the Mask of Agamemnon as well as gold cups. This period of civilization may have served as the setting for many stories in ancient Greek literature and mythology. Scholars speculate that many of the myths and legends, including the Trojan War, may have taken place during this era. For the art of the Mycenaean civilization please also refer to my previous video, Art of the Ancient Aegean.

在书写系统方面，迈锡尼人借用米诺斯文明的线性文字A开发了自己的文字，线性文字B。

In terms of writing systems, the Mycenaeans borrowed Linear A from the Minoan civilization to develop their script, Linear B.

约公元前十一世纪，迈锡尼文明在东地中海地区青铜时代的末期灭亡，希腊地区随后进入了黑暗时代。这是一个没有文字记录时期。

Around the eleventh century B.C., the Mycenaean civilization perished at the end of the Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Greek region then entered the Dark Ages. This was a period without written records.

关于这个文明的终结，已经提出了各种假说，其中包括了多利安人的入侵，“海洋民族”的活动，内部动乱，自然灾害以及气候变化等。

Various hypotheses have been put forward about the end of this civilization, including the invasion of the Dorians, the activities of the "Sea Peoples", internal disturbances, natural disasters, and climate change.

关于迈锡尼文明我们主要需要了解的有这样几点，宏伟的宫殿，高大的城墙，竖井墓，拱顶墓，奢华的陪葬品，线形文字B以及它的发现者海因里希·施里曼。

The main things we need to know about the Mycenaean civilization are these, the magnificent palaces, the tall walls, the shaft tombs, the beehive tombs, the lavish burial goods, the Linear B and its discoverer Heinrich Schliemann.

青铜时代的终结与黑暗时代

The End of the Bronze Age and the Dark Ages

迈锡尼文明的毁灭并不是一个单一的现象。约公元前十二世纪至公元前十一世纪这一时期几乎所有东地中海地区的文明，包括巴尔干半岛，爱琴海，埃及和安纳托利亚地区的文明都在这一时期遭受到了严重的破坏，这一系列事件被称为青铜时代晚期崩溃。青铜时代晚期，迈锡尼文明和爱琴海地区的宫殿经济崩溃，宫殿和城市被摧毁或遗弃，人们退回到村庄中生活。大约在同一时间，赫梯文明也遭受了严重的破坏。在埃及，新王国陷入混乱，进入了第三中间期。

The destruction of the Mycenaean civilization was not a single phenomenon. Almost all the civilizations of the Eastern Mediterranean region, including those of the Balkans, the Aegean, Egypt, and Anatolia, suffered severe damage during this period from about the twelfth century B.C. to the eleventh century B.C. This series of events is known as the Late Bronze Age Collapse. During the Late Bronze Age, the palace economy of the Mycenaean civilization and the Aegean region collapsed, palaces and cities were destroyed or abandoned, and people retreated to live in villages. At about the same time, the Hittite civilization also suffered severe damage. In Egypt, the New Kingdom fell into chaos and entered the Third Intermediate Period.

现今的理论认为这一系列事件可能和多利安人入侵，海上民族的活动，铁质工具的出现以及气候变化和自然灾害等因素有关。

Present-day theories suggest that this series of events may be related to factors such as the Dorian invasion, the activities of Sea Peoples, the advent of iron tools, climate change, and natural disasters.

其中关于海上民族的记录主要来自埃及新王国时期的资料，学者们根据这些记载提出了海上民族的概念。和多利安人入侵一样，“海上民族”同样是一个出现于十九世纪的历史概念。这是一个假想的族群，学者们将它作为东地中海地区青铜时代末期文明崩溃的一种解释。这种假说认为有一个从海上忽然崛起的族群切断了这一地区大部分的贸易路线并入侵了这里的大多数文明。

Scholars have developed the concept of Sea Peoples based on the records of these peoples, which are mainly from the New Kingdom period of Egypt. Like the Dorian invasion, the "Sea Peoples" is also a historical concept that emerged in the nineteenth century. It is a hypothetical group that scholars have used as an explanation for the collapse of civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean at the end of the Bronze Age. The hypothesis is that a group that suddenly rose from the sea cut off most of the trade routes in the area and invaded most of the civilizations here.

*海上民族这一概念首次出现于1855年，提出者伊曼纽尔·德·鲁热（Emmanuel de Rougé），在他的《格林先生最近出版的一些象形文字文本的说明》（Note on Some Hieroglyphic Texts Recently Published by Mr. Greene）。关于海上民族的记载主要来自于埃及拉美西斯二世（Ramesses II），麦伦普塔（Merneptah）和拉美西斯三世（Ramesses III）时期的七份资料，共提到九个民族，Denyen，Ekwesh，Lukka，Peleset，Shekelesh，Sherden，Teresh，Tjeker，Weshesh。活动范围包括了整个东地中海地区。

但关于海上民族是否真的存在过以及他们的身份一直众说纷纭，他们为何忽然出现又为何忽然消失一直是一个迷。如同多利安人一样，有说法认为海上民族的形成可能是人口迁徙所致。他们可能是爱琴海地区的忽然崛起的部落或者是从欧洲向南迁徙的人口或者是希腊人。

However, there are different opinions about the existence and identity of the Sea Peoples, and it is a mystery why they suddenly appeared and why they suddenly disappeared. As with the Dorians, it is thought that the formation of the Sea Peoples may have been the result of migration. They could have been tribes that suddenly emerged from the Aegean region or populations that migrated southward from Europe or the Greeks.

希腊黑暗时代一般是指从公元前十一世纪迈锡尼文明结束到公元前八世纪这约三百年的时间（约公元前1050年到公元前776年）。这一历史时期对应希腊艺术的几何艺术时期（也有说法将其称为“荷马时期”）。这里所谓的“黑暗”在很大程度上是指在这一时期没有留下文字记录，而非社会停止了发展。

The Greek Dark Ages generally refers to the period of approximately three hundred years from the end of the Mycenaean civilization in the eleventh century B.C. to the eighth century B.C. (approximately 1050 B.C. to 776 B.C.). This historical period corresponds to the Geometric art period of Greek art. The term "dark" here refers largely to the absence of written records during this period, rather than to the cessation of social development.

关于古希腊黑暗时代的结束和古风时期的开始通常有两种划分方式。一种是以公元前776年第一届古代奥林匹克运动会开始为标志，这一年通常被认为是古希腊确切纪年的开始。还有一种是以约公元前800年古希腊城邦的崛起为标志。这两种划分方式都差不多，我选了公元前776年。但是通过前面的讲述我认为还有第三种划分方式，就是以公元前九世纪末或八世纪初希腊字母的出现为标志。我认为希腊字母的影响可能比前两件事还要深远。

There are usually two ways of dividing the end of the Dark Ages and the beginning of the Archaic period in ancient Greece. One is marked by the beginning of the first Ancient Olympic Games in 776 B.C. This year is usually considered to be the beginning of the exact chronology of ancient Greece. The other is marked by the rise of the ancient Greek city-states in about 800 BCE. Both divisions are similar, and I have chosen 776 BC. But through the previous narrative, I think there is a third division, which is marked by the appearance of the Greek alphabet in the late ninth or early eighth century BCE. I think the influence of the Greek alphabet may have been more profound than the first two events.

那这个黑暗时代是一副什么图景呢。约公元前八世纪的古希腊诗人赫西俄德在他的作品《工作与时日》当中将人类文明划分为了五个时代，黄金时代，白银时代，青铜时代，英雄时代和黑铁时代。这是人类逐渐堕落的五个时代。英雄时代是特洛伊战争和阿喀琉斯，赫克托耳等英雄所生活的时代，而赫西俄德所生活的时代为最糟糕的黑铁时代。这是他笔下英雄逐渐退场，诸神将人类抛弃的时代，也是历史中黑暗时代和古风时代交替的时期。这个时代用孔子所说的一句话说就是“礼崩乐坏”。但这是赫西俄德的一家之言。

So what is the picture of the Dark Ages? Hesiod, an ancient Greek poet of the eighth century B.C., in his work "Works and Days", divided human civilization into five ages: the Golden Age, the Silver Age, the Bronze Age, the Heroic Age, and the Iron Age. These are the five eras of human degradation. The Heroic Age is the age in which the Trojan War and heroes such as Achilles and Hector lived, while Hesiod lived in the worst of the Iron Age. In his works, this is the era when the heroes have disappeared and the gods have abandoned mankind, and it is also the period of history when the Dark Ages and the Archaic Ages alternated. In the words of Confucius, this era was a time of the "decline of classical music and the rites". But these are Hesiod's own words.

赫西俄德写作的这本书有很强的说教意味。赫西俄德的弟弟珀耳塞斯通过贿赂法官让其做出有利于自己的判决从而分得了更多的家族财产。赫西俄德认为自己遭受了不公，于是写了这本书来对自己的弟弟进行规劝。赫西俄德在书中借用希腊神话来告诉珀耳塞斯要通过努力劳动来创造财富，要追求智慧，正义与美德。而当时的背景是希腊社会正处于转型期，城邦逐渐崛起，社会处于失范的状态。

The book written by Hesiod is very didactic. Hesiod's brother, Perses, bribed the judge to rule in his favor so that he would receive a larger share of the family fortune. Believing that he had suffered an injustice, Hesiod wrote this book to advise his brother. In his book, Hesiod uses Greek mythology to tell Perses to create wealth through hard work and to pursue wisdom, justice, and virtue. And the context was a time when Greek society was in transition when city-states were gradually rising and society was in a state of anomie.

这里我想说的是文学固然可以帮助我们更好地理解一个时代，但我个人对于文学的态度是，它可以用来做参考，但不能用来做判断。因为古往今来很多著名的作家对于他们所处时代的评价都不高，就如狄更斯所说，“那是最好的时代，也是最坏的时代”。

What I want to say here is that literature can certainly help us understand an era better, but my attitude toward literature is that it can be used for reference, but not for judgment. Because many famous writers throughout the ages have had a low opinion of their time, as Charles Dickens said, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times".

另外，关于希腊黑暗时代在这里我想提醒大家一点，人类历史上有很多个所谓的“黑暗时代”，当看到一个历史时期被打上了“黑暗”这个标签的时候我们最好留个心眼，因为“黑暗”在大多数的时候只是一种修辞，而真实的历史时期是无所谓光明还是黑暗的。因为历史是连续的。如果一个时代真的是“黑暗”的话就相当于火熄灭了，故事结束了，然后就没有然后了，我们根本不会知道它存在过。同样的例子还有中世纪。

In addition, regarding the Greek Dark Ages, I would like to remind you that there are many so-called "dark ages" in human history, and we need to be careful when we see a historical period labeled as "dark", because "dark" is just a rhetorical term most of the time, and the real historical period is indifferent to light or dark. Because history is continuous. If an era is really "dark" it's like the fire goes out, the story ends, and then there's no more, we won't even know it existed. Similarly, the Middle Ages.

中世纪同样也被长期冠以“黑暗”一词，但其实这是文艺复兴时期的人们对于前一个历史时期的普遍印象，这种印象从长期来看是一种偏见。实际上中世纪的文化成果是很丰富的，近现代的欧洲就是脱胎于中世纪的。同样的，古希腊文化的高峰，古典希腊也正是脱胎于黑暗时代的。很多时候“黑暗”之后就是“光明”，光明正是脱胎于黑暗之中。因此所谓的“黑暗时代”在我看来是一个“承上启下”的时代。我们可以使用黑暗时代这个通行的名称，但如果我们将一个时代简单地加上“黑暗”的滤镜的话就会丢失很多细节。这是我想提醒大家的地方。

The Middle Ages have also long been labeled as "dark", but this was the common impression of the Renaissance people of the previous historical period, and this impression was a prejudice in the long run. The Middle Ages were so rich in cultural achievements that modern Europe was born from the Middle Ages. Likewise, the peak of ancient Greek culture, Classical Greece, was born from the Dark Ages. Very often "dark" is followed by "light", the light is born from the dark. So the so-called "Dark Ages" seems to me to be an "intermediate" era. We can use the common name of the Dark Ages, but if we simply add the filter of "dark" to an era, a lot of details will be lost. That's what I want to remind you of.

在这一时期宫殿和城市被废弃，王制解体，可能发生过的饥荒和战乱导致人口急剧下降，希腊与外界的文化和贸易联系也几近中断。但通过近年来的考古发现表明这一时期的希腊大陆比此前人们所普遍认为的要繁荣得多，与外界的联系也更广泛。希腊人在黑暗时代进行了广泛的殖民，伊奥利亚人和爱奥尼亚人在这一时期渡过了爱琴海并在小亚西岸建立了殖民地。希腊与黎凡特和塞浦路斯的联系约从公元前900年开始恢复，随后陶轮技术，铁质工具和腓尼基字母也正是在此期间传入希腊的。

During this period palaces and cities were abandoned, the kingship disintegrated, possible famines and wars led to a sharp decline in population, and Greece's cultural and trade ties with the outside world were virtually broken. However, recent archaeological discoveries have shown that mainland Greece was much more prosperous and more widely connected to the outside world during this period than had previously been generally believed. The Greeks colonized extensively during the Dark Ages, and the Aeolians and Ionians crossed the Aegean Sea and established colonies on the west coast of Asia Minor during this period. Greek contacts with the Levant and Cyprus were restored from around 900 B.C., followed by the introduction of potter's wheel technology, iron tools, and the Phoenician alphabet during this period.

在艺术方面相较于米诺斯和迈锡尼时期精美的艺术，黑暗时代的艺术风格要单调不少。壁画和陶器图案没有了此前生动的造型和丰富的颜色，取而代之的是简单的线条。

In terms of art, compared to the exquisite art of the Minoan and Mycenaean periods, the art style of the Dark Ages was much simpler. Frescoes and pottery patterns without the previous vivid shapes and rich colors, were replaced by simple lines.

旧有的社会秩序解体，为接下来的希腊城邦和雅典民主的崛起留出了空间。

The disintegration of the old social order left room for the rise of the Greek city-states and Athenian democracy that followed.

总的来说，古希腊文明的根基在黑暗时代就已经埋下了。

In general, the roots of ancient Greek civilization were planted in the Dark Ages.

接下来我们需要对前面的内容进行一次梳理。

Next, we need to take a look at the previous content.

青铜时代晚期这一时期发生的事非常散乱。但如果我们复盘一下的话就会发现在这些非常零散的线索和事件背后所发生的事其实就是一系列因素让东地中海地区的三股主要势力重新洗了一次牌。这是一个“一破一立”的过程。

The events of the Late Bronze Age are very scattered. But if we review it, we will find that what happened behind these very scattered clues and events was a series of factors that reshuffled the three major powers in the Eastern Mediterranean. This is a process of "breaking and establishing".

首先我们来梳理一下东地中海地区的几股势力以及它们的关系。如果我把美索不达米亚算作“西亚”的话，其他两股就是“埃及”和“希腊”。当然你也可以把迈锡尼文明之前的希腊算作爱琴。

First of all, let's sort out the forces in the Eastern Mediterranean and their relations. If I count Mesopotamia as "Western Asia", the other two groups are "Egypt" and "Greece". You can also count Greece before Mycenaean civilization as Aegean.

这里我想提到一个概念叫中间地带（也可以叫过渡地带，缓冲地带，中间环节，枢纽，桥梁，走廊，通道，纽带），它指的是系统的几个部分之间起到连接作用的部分。各部分之间不是直接发生作用，而是通过中间地带发生作用。

Here I would like to introduce a concept called intermediate zone (also called transition zone, buffer zone, intermediate part, hub, bridge, corridor, passage, or ties), which refers to the portion of the system that acts as a link between several parts. The parts do not interact directly with each other but through an intermediate zone.

拿游戏举例就是MOBA游戏里面双方基地之间的部分就是中间地带，这包括了上、中、下三路和野区。双方的玩家并不直接发生接触，而是有一个发展和互动的过程，这个过程就是在中间地带完成的。一方的力量是通过中间地带间接投送给对方的。足球等运动也有这样一个过程。游戏和历史一样是一个动态变化的过程。随着游戏进程的发展，中间地带会随着双方力量的此消彼长而不断变化。当中间地带不断被压缩，甚至是消失的时候也就意味着一局游戏临近结束。战略存在于中间地带。如果中间地带消失，脸贴脸的情况下就只有战术了。

Take the game, for example, is that in MOBA games, the portion between the bases of both sides is the intermediate zone, which includes the top, middle and bottom lanes, and the jungle. The players on both sides do not directly come into contact, but there is a process of development and interaction, which is done in the intermediate zone. The power of one side is indirectly invested in the other side through the intermediate zone. Sports such as soccer also have such a process. The game, like history, is a dynamic process of change. As the game progresses, the intermediate zone changes as the power of the two sides ebbs and flows. When the intermediate zone is compressed, or even disappears, it means that the game is coming to an end. Strategy exists in the intermediate zone. If the intermediate zone disappears, there are only tactics in a face-to-face situation.

在东地中海地区，小亚和爱琴就是中间地带。小亚是陆上枢纽，爱琴是海上枢纽。西亚，埃及和希腊正是通过小亚和爱琴进行互动，彼此塑造，相互交流，方式包括了贸易，战争和殖民等，并且他们在一段时期之内形成了一种动态平衡。

In the Eastern Mediterranean region, Asia Minor and Aegean are the intermediate zones. Asia Minor was the land hub and the Aegean was the sea hub. It was through Asia Minor and the Aegean that Western Asia, Egypt, and Greece interacted, shaped, and exchanged with each other, through trade, war, and colonization, and they formed a dynamic equilibrium （dynamic balance） over a while.

动态平衡是一个化学术语。它指的是在一个可逆反应当中，当正向反应和逆向反应以相同的速率进行，且反应物和生成物的浓度保持恒定的一种状态。这个状态也叫化学平衡。这个概念很重要，它可以应用在很多领域。

Dynamic equilibrium is a chemical term. It refers to a state in a reversible reaction when the forward and reverse reactions proceed at the same rate and the concentrations of reactants and products do not change. This state is also called chemical equilibrium. This concept is important and it can be applied in many fields.

首先是“动态”和“平衡”。在达成动态平衡的时候并不是反应速率为零或者反应停止了，而是在微观上表现为正负反应速率相等，反应物浓度和生成物浓度不会随时间而进一步变化，因而系统的性质没有可见的变化，在宏观上就表现为一种稳定状态。

The first is "dynamic" and "balanced". When dynamic equilibrium is reached, it is not that the reaction rate is zero or the reaction has stopped, but that the forward and reverse reactions proceed at the same rate on the microscopic scale, and the concentrations of reactants and products do not change further with time, so that there is no observable change in the properties of the system, and it appears as a steady state on the macroscopic scale.

同理，干电池在“没电”的时候并不是其内部的化学反应停止了，而是在微观上其内部的正负反应速率相等，达成了动态平衡，宏观上就表现为没电了。

Similarly, when a dry cell is "dead", it is not that its internal chemical reaction has stopped, but that its internal forward and reverse reactions are proceeding at the same rate at the microscopic scale, reaching a dynamic equilibrium, which is shown as dead at the macroscopic scale.

不论是一个地区还是一个文明都会在一段时期内保持一种稳定的状态。而一个地区的不同文明或者其中的一个文明都可以看作一个系统，这取决于我们以多大的尺度来看待它们。

Both a region and a civilization will remain in a stable state for some time. And the different civilizations in a region or one of them can be seen as a system, depending on how large a scale we look at them.

这里还有两个相关的概念需要我们了解，一个是静态平衡，一个是稳态。

Two other related concepts that we need to understand here are static equilibrium （static balance）and homeostasis.

放在桌子上的书是一种静态平衡（或静力平衡）或者说机械平衡，这也就是通常所说的相对静止（或静止）。这是最常见的一种平衡。

The book placed on the table is a static equilibrium or mechanical equilibrium, which is also commonly referred to as relative stationery （or stationary）. This is the most common type of equilibrium.

而稳态是生物学概念。它指的是生命系统通过稳定机制主动维持其内环境保持相对稳定的一种状态。这也是一种动态平衡，但和化学平衡所不同的是，化学平衡是一种被动的平衡，存在于封闭系统当中，这是没有生命的；而稳态是一种主动的平衡，存在于开放系统当中，是有生命的。举例来说就是环境的温度是在不断变化的，而我们的体温却总是能够维持在一个相对稳定的温度。我们所处的环境总是在变化，但我们的情绪却能在大多数时候保持稳定。维持体温恒定和情绪稳定的过程是需要我们的身体通过一系列稳定机制主动调节的，这是一个主动平衡的过程。稳态在系统论和心理学等领域也是很重要的概念。

And homeostasis is a biological concept. It refers to a state in which a living system actively maintains the relative stability of its internal environment through stabilizing mechanisms. It is also a dynamic equilibrium, but unlike chemical equilibrium, which is a passive equilibrium that exists in a closed system and is lifeless, homeostasis is an active equilibrium that exists in an open system and is alive. For example, the temperature of the environment is constantly changing, while our body temperature always remains relatively constant. The environment is changing, but our emotions stay stable most of the time. The process of maintaining a constant body temperature and emotional stability requires our body to actively regulate it through a series of stabilizing mechanisms, a process of active equilibrium. Homeostasis is also an important concept in fields such as systems theory and psychology.

就文化系统而言，古代文化系统的稳定状态更偏加向于被动平衡。这主要是由于制度和技术等方面的限制，这时的文化系统更多的是去被动地适应环境。而近现代的文化系统由于制度和技术更加先进，尤其是在现代政府出现之后，它们的稳定状态更偏向于主动平衡。就像具有生命一样，现代政府会有一套类似生物体的由感受器-处理器-效应器三部分组成的“稳态控制机制”，它可以很好的感知外部环境的变化并及时调整状态，并且能够对系统内的各种变化做出及时的反应，保持内环境的相对稳定。相比于古代的文化系统，现代的文化系统会显得更加智能。

As far as cultural systems are concerned, the steady state of ancient cultural systems is more oriented toward passive equilibrium. This is mainly due to institutional and technological constraints when the cultural system was more to passively adapt to the environment. Modern cultural systems, on the other hand, are more oriented toward active equilibrium in their steady state due to more advanced institutions and technologies, especially with the advent of modern governments. Just like life, the modern government has a set of "homeostatic control mechanisms" composed of receptor-processor-effector similar to that of living organisms, which can well sense changes in the external environment and adjust the state in time and can respond to various changes in the system in time to maintain the relative stability of the internal environment. Compared to ancient cultural systems, modern cultural systems would appear to be more intelligent.

平衡和静止是暂时的，是有条件的，而变化和运动才是常态。在讲完被动和主动两种动态平衡之后我们还需要知道条件的变化会对平衡有何影响。接下来我们就来了解“变化”和“新的平衡”。

Balances and stasis are temporary, while changes and movements are the norm. After understanding the two types of dynamic equilibrium, passive and active, we need to know how changes in conditions affect the equilibrium. Next, we will learn about "change" and "new equilibrium".

在化学中平衡的移动可以用勒夏特列原理来描述。

The movement of equilibrium in chemistry can be described by Le Chatelier's principle.

这个原理是说当系统处于化学平衡状态的时候，当其中一个因素产生变化的时候，平衡就会向减弱这种变化的方向移动来抗衡（或抵消）这种变化，系统达成新的平衡状态。比如系统中的压力变大了，平衡就向减小压力的方向移动以减小压力带来的变化。我们把这个原理提炼一下，可以说当条件（或因素）发生变化的时候，旧有的平衡状态被打破，平衡移动，然后达成新的平衡。这是被动平衡的移动方式。

This principle means that when a system is in chemical equilibrium when one of the factors changes, the equilibrium moves in the direction of weakening the change to counteract it and the system reaches a new equilibrium. For example, if the pressure in the system becomes greater, the equilibrium moves in the direction of decreasing pressure to reduce the change caused by pressure. Let's summarize this principle by saying that when conditions (or factors) change, the old equilibrium is broken, the balance shifts, and then a new equilibrium is reached. This is the way the balance moves in passive equilibrium.

而在生物学中平衡的移动是通过正反馈和负反馈等机制来实现的。通过这些机制生物在一定程度上能够主动适应环境的变化并进行状态的切换。

And in biology, the movement of equilibrium is achieved through mechanisms such as positive and negative feedback. Through these mechanisms, organisms can actively adapt to changes in the environment and switch states to a certain extent.

反馈是指在一个系统中，输出返回到输入端重新作为输入并以某种方式影响系统功能的过程。输入和输出形成反馈回路。当反馈回路使输出与输入的作用方向相同时为正反馈；当回路使输出与输入的作用方向相反时为负反馈。

Feedback is the process in a system where the output is returned to the input to re-act as input and affect the system function in some way. Inputs and outputs form a feedback loop. When the feedback loop makes the output act in the same direction as the input, it is positive feedback; when the loop makes the output act in the opposite direction of the input, it is negative feedback.

举例来说，正反馈的回路会使因素A产生更多的因素B，因素B又会产生更多的因素A。一个扰动和变化在系统中所产生的影响会在正反馈回路中被不断地强化，促进，放大，加剧。正反馈非常不稳定，它通常意味着失控和爆炸。比如核链式反应，化学品爆炸，人群踩踏，经济体系中的银行挤兑，繁荣和萧条等现象。正因为它非常不稳定，所以在生物体中正反馈机制大多存在于性命攸关的时候，比如凝血和女性生产的过程。

For example, a positive feedback loop will cause factor A to produce more factor B, which in turn will produce more factor A. The effects of a perturbation and change in a system are continuously reinforced, facilitated, amplified, and exacerbated in a positive feedback loop. Positive feedback is so unstable that it usually means loss of control and explosion. Examples include nuclear chain reactions, chemical explosions, crowd stampedes, bank runs in the economic system, booms and busts, and other phenomena. Because it is so unstable, positive feedback mechanisms in living organisms are mostly present at critical times of life, such as the process of coagulation and female birth.

而负反馈的机制和正反馈相反。在负反馈的回路中，因素A会减少因素B的产生。一个扰动和变化在系统中所产生的影响在负反馈回路中会被减弱，抑制。负反馈会促进系统的稳定性，因而它是稳态机制的重要组成部分。比如人体内的血压，血糖和体温都是通过负反馈机制进行调节的。当感受器感受到上述指标升高（或降低）时，调节中枢会发出指令让效应器使其降低（或升高）并维持在合适的水平。而一旦负反馈回路异常或者失效，就有可能出现高血压，糖尿病和发热。现代国家的各种监管机构就是这个系统的负反馈机制。

The mechanism of negative feedback, on the other hand, is the opposite of positive feedback. In a negative feedback loop, factor A will reduce the production of factor B. The effects of a disturbance and change in the system are diminished and suppressed in a negative feedback loop. Negative feedback promotes the stability of the system and thus it is an important part of the homeostatic mechanism. For example, blood pressure, blood glucose, and body temperature are all regulated by negative feedback mechanisms in the body. When a receptor senses an increase (or decrease) in one of these indicators, the regulatory center sends a command to the effector to lower (or raise) it and maintain it at the appropriate level. If the negative feedback loop is abnormal or fails, hypertension, diabetes and fever may occur. The various regulatory agencies of the modern state are the negative feedback mechanisms of the system.

我们把视线移回东地中海。西亚，埃及和希腊这三方在一段时期里形成了一种动态平衡，而一些因素打破了这种平衡。这些因素可能就包括了海上民族的兴起，希腊北部地区多利安人的入侵以及自然灾害等。这些因素使东地中海地区的文明都遭到了重创。

Let's move our eyes back to the Eastern Mediterranean. The three parties - Western Asia, Egypt, and Greece - formed a dynamic balance over a period, which was upset by some factors. These factors may include the rise of the Sea Peoples, the invasion of the Dorians in northern Greece, and natural disasters. These factors caused all civilizations in the Eastern Mediterranean region to suffer a severe blow.

那这些因素还作用在了哪里呢。或许你已经想到了，这些因素让中间地带消失了。小亚的赫梯毁灭了，陆上枢纽消失了。爱琴地区，包括克里特，塞浦路斯和爱琴海诸岛都遭到入侵和劫掠，海上贸易路线中断了，海上枢纽也消失了。东地中海地区的秩序也就崩溃了。

So where else did these factors work? Perhaps you've thought of them. These factors make the intermediate zone disappear. The Hittites of Asia Minor were destroyed, and the land hub disappeared. The Aegean region, including Crete, Cyprus, and other Aegean islands was invaded and plundered, the sea trade routes were interrupted, and the sea hubs disappeared. The order of the Eastern Mediterranean region collapsed.

从另一个方面来说，这些可能的因素也为后来的文明发展腾出了空间。旧的秩序崩溃了，新的秩序得以建立。古希腊正是在青铜时代晚期的崩溃之后，东地中海地区新的平衡建立的过程中崛起的。随着新秩序的逐步建立，爱琴和小亚这两个地区重新发挥枢纽的作用，商路重建了，文化交流恢复了，希腊字母出现了，随后是第一届古代奥林匹克运动会的举办，荷马史诗的创作和希腊城邦的崛起。

On the other hand, these possible factors also made room for the development of later civilizations. The old order collapsed and a new one was established. It was in the process of establishing a new equilibrium in the Eastern Mediterranean following the collapse of the Late Bronze Age that ancient Greece rose to prominence. With the gradual establishment of the new order, the two regions of the Aegean and Asia Minor reasserted their role as hubs, commercial routes were re-established, cultural exchanges resumed, the Greek alphabet appeared, followed by the first ancient Olympic Games, the composition of Homer's epic poems and the rise of Greek city-states.

总的来说，相比于美索不达米亚文明和埃及文明，古希腊的前身，米诺斯文明和迈锡尼文明是一个“边缘文明”。它们的起步比较晚，地理位置也并不优越，所拥有的资源也不多。相比之下，米诺斯文明和迈锡尼文明没有什么出色的地方，在它们的身上还看不出来后来古希腊文明的成就。那希腊文明究竟是如何发展成为后来的样子的，这是我们之后的视频要关注的问题，也就是我在视频开头提到的，古希腊为什么是古希腊。

In general, compared to Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations, the predecessors of ancient Greece, Minoan, and Mycenaean civilizations were "fringe civilizations". They started late, their geographical location was not superior, and the resources they possessed were not much. In comparison, the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations had nothing outstanding, and the achievements of the later ancient Greek civilization could not be seen in their bodies. So how exactly did Greek civilization develop into what it became, that's what we're going to focus on in the video afterward, which is what I mentioned at the beginning of the video, why ancient Greece is ancient Greece.

本期视频我们从地区，希腊人，米诺斯文明，迈锡尼文明和黑暗时代这几个方面对古希腊的源起有了一个大概的了解。对于这部分内容我个人认为比较难的是线索的梳理以及如何认识这段历史，不过好歹我把它啃下来了。有了这期视频做铺垫，接下来内容的展开就会顺利很多。

This video gives an overview of the origins of ancient Greece in terms of the region, the Greeks, the Minoan civilization, the Mycenaean civilization, and the Dark Ages. The hard part for me was sorting out the clues and how to understand the history of the period, but at least I got it done. With this video setting the stage, the following content will unfold much more smoothly.

我们下期视频再见。

See you in the next video.