What period is referred to as the Bronze Age of the first Greeks, known for its beehive-shaped royal tombs?

The Bronze Age of the first Greeks, known specifically as the Mycenaean Bronze Age, is distinguished for its sophisticated culture and advancements in various areas, including architecture, trade, and warfare. This period, which lasted roughly from 1600 to 1100 BCE, saw the construction of impressive structures, including the beehive-shaped royal tombs known as tholoi. These tombs exemplified the wealth and power of the Mycenaean elite and are associated with practices related to burial and the afterlife in Mycenaean society.

The Mycenaean civilization was heavily influenced by earlier Minoan culture, and it played a vital role in the development of later Greek civilization. The significant achievements in trade, art, and governance during this time laid the groundwork for the subsequent historical periods in Greek history. Understanding this era helps to appreciate the evolution of Greek culture and the eventual rise of the city-states in the later periods.

Contrastingly, the Old Stone Age refers to a time before the development of metals and complex societies, while the Dark Age followed the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization and was characterized by a decline in trade and literacy. The Classical Age emerged much later and is recognized for the