Minimal Greek Dark Ages

This has been mentioned before but not for a long time. Here's a brief sketch of ideas.

(Optionally, greater Mycenaean exploration and trading posts.)
Minimal rather than non-existent Greek Dark Ages so that there can be some innovations and development. The Mediterranean becomes a Greek lake. A conflict between Persia and the Greeks occurs (probably greatly different than in OTL). Rome and Carthage are butterflied. Greek trading colonies in northern Europe, northwestern Africa, and the coasts of the Red Sea. Direct Greek-Indian trade is set up. Various Greek-influenced states emerge in Europe, North Africa, and the Near East: (Helleno-Celtic, Helleno-Celtiberian, Helleno-Etruscan, Helleno-Illyrian), Helleno-Italic, Helleno-Egyptian, Helleno-Berber, Helleno-Persian, Helleno-Scythian, etc). Greater and sustained contacts between Hellenic and "Indian" cultures leads to a synthesis of the polytheistic faiths of Europe, the Near East, and North Africa as well as the spread of Buddhism among the educated classes of Greek settlements. There'll likely be "Macedonia"-like states that will emerge and unify their peoples and/or conquer their adjacent Greek settlements.
 
Originally posted by fortyseven
Minimal rather than non-existent Greek Dark Ages so that there can be some innovations and development.
AFAIK Greek Dark Ages are called dark because we do not know much about them. However, there were hardly times without any development. Dark Ages are the times of Homer, times in which Greeks adapted Phoenician alphabet, times of first games and especially times in which institution of polis was born.
 
All right, no Homer, although in Poland we call Dark Ages a period since 1200 BC to ca. 750 BC. We're not sure when exactly Homer lived (if he lived) but let's assume he lived in VIIIth century BC and his life and work are a milestone between Dark Ages and Archaic age. Notice, however, that Homer based his poems on songs of Greek bards (aoidoi) who lived before him. Besides, all my other points still hold.
 
All right, no Homer, although in Poland we call Dark Ages a period since 1200 BC to ca. 750 BC. We're not sure when exactly Homer lived (if he lived) but let's assume he lived in VIIIth century BC and his life and work are a milestone between Dark Ages and Archaic age. Notice, however, that Homer based his poems on songs of Greek bards (aoidoi) who lived before him. Besides, all my other points still hold.

I said minimal because dark ages do have development. To clarify, let's say that 70-90% of the level of civilization of the Mycenaean Era is retained and the OTL developments of the Greek Dark Ages have occurred in the ATL by 1050-950 BCE.
 
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I presume you mean no catastrophic collapse of Mycenean civilization?

This would mean then no Dorian 'invasion' and therefore no Sparta as in OTL. Athens would not be a centre for Mycenean refugees and therefore may not become a jumping off point for further colonization of the Aegean. The Peloponnese would remain the centre of political and economic power.

All the above depends on no climatic changes that forced the end of not only Mycenean society but also Minonan and all the other Late Bronze Age civilizations. How does this happen that is not ASB?
 
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