单选题 Mycenae strands on a hill skirted by two deep ravines. The site is a natural strong point, dominating the plain of Argos. It was first occupied about 3000 B. C.. and a new settlement was made about 2000 B. C. , which is generally believed to be the time when Greek speakers arrived in Greece. There is clear evidence for a sudden increase in the importance and prosperity of this settlement about 1600 B. C. , two grave circles have been found, one inside the later walls and containing six shaft graves, excavated by Schliemann in the 1870's, the other rather earlier in date, outside the walls, discovered in 1950. These graves contained a mass of gold and other precious objects of great beauty, including import from Minoan Crete and Egypt.
The power and wealth of Mycenae increased rapidly. There was soon a uniform culture in mainland Greece, stretching from Thessaly in the north to the south of the Peloponnesus, with palaces at Thebes, Athens, Mycenae, Tiryns, and Pylos and probably at other sites not yet discovered. Although the palaces were the administrative centers of separate kingdoms, it seem likely that Mycenae was the leading, if not the dominated, kingdom. From 1500 B. C. , the kings of Mycenae were buried in massive stone tombs outside the walls, of which the largest, the so-called Treasury of Atreus, is a magnificent architectural achievement. About 1450 B. C. the Achaeans, as the Greeks of the Mycenaean period were called, invaded Crete and destroyed all the Minoan palaces except Knossos, which they occupied. Succeeding to and made settlements on the islands and in Asia Minor. The zenith of Mycenaean power and prosperity was in the early thirteenth century; in this period were built the walls, some of which still stand, and the lion gate. By about 1250 B. C. , when the defenses were renewed and improved, there is evidence of destruction outside the walls. Trade declined; a period of upheaval and deterioration had begun. The Trojan War is thought to have occurred about this time. The traditional date for the fall of Troy is 1184 B.C. , but the American archaeologist Blegen, who made the most complete recent excavations and found clear evidence of a prolonged siege, date the destruction of Troy to about 1240 B.C. It looks as though the Trojan expedition was the last united effort of the Achaeans.
Mycenae was subjected to three successive attacks in the following years. In the first, the houses outside the walls were destroyed; in the second, the citadel was sacked; in the third, it was finally destroyed and not reoccupied. The other mainland palaces were all sacked around 1200 B. C. , presumably by bands of invading Dorian.
Comprehension Questions.

单选题 When is it believed that the first Greek speakers first occupied Mycenae, and how long did it take before there was clear evidence of prosperity?
A. 3000 Ｂ.Ｃ. and 500 years. B. 2000 Ｂ.Ｃ. and 400 years.
C. 1184 Ｂ.Ｃ. and 300 years. D. 1240 Ｂ.Ｃ. and 600 years.

单选题 Who made the most complete excavations of the site, and what did he/they find?
A. Schleimann, and he found six grave shafts containing gold.
B. Blegen, and he found evidence of a prolonged siege.
C. American archaeologists, and they found that the height of Mycenaean power and prosperity were in the early thirteenth century Ｂ.Ｃ.
D. A team of German archaeologists, and they found that the kings of Mycenae were buried in massive stone tombs outside the city walls.

单选题 Who were the Achaeans, and what did they do in the last half of the 14th century B.C. ?
A. They were Dorians that invaded Mycenae and sacked most of the mainland palaces but not Knossos.
B. They were the inhabitants of Troy, and they withstood a long siege in their city, according to the work of an American archaeologist.
C. They were settlers in Asia Minor, and they expanded into the sea trade.
D. They were Greeks in the Mycenaean Period, and they invaded Crete, destroying all the palaces there except Knossos, which they inhabited.

单选题 According to the passage, did the Mycenaeans engage in international trade? If yes, with whom?
A. No, the Mycenaeans were mainly engages in the conquest of states within the Peloponnesus and surrounding islands.
B. Yes, they were. There was evidence of international trade since among grave goods there were found imports from both Crete and North Africa.
C. No, although there was a great deal of gold found in the shaft graves at Mycaenae in the 1870's and later in the 1950's, there was no evidence that international trade had occurred.
D. Both A and C

单选题 According to the passage, were the people in mainland Greece united, and if so, where was the seat of power located?
A. No, they weren't. Greece was a collection of kingdom with various administrative centers, but it would appear that Mycenae was a dominate and perhaps a leading kingdom.
B. Yes, they were united under Mycenae.
C. Yes, although there were a number of administrative centers of separate kingdoms, Mycenae was the leader in mainland Greece.
D. Both B and C