Greek World - The Bronze Age 1400 B.C. How the Mycenaeans Rose To Power The Mycenaeans, flourishing from around 1600 to 1100 BCE, were an ancient civilization that played a crucial role in the development of Classical Greek culture. Their civilization, named after Mycenae, one of their most important cities, was part of the late Bronze Age in Ancient Greece. They were situated primarily in the Peloponnese region, though their influence and control extended across the Aegean Sea and beyond, encompassing parts of mainland Greece, the Cyclades islands, and Crete. The Mycenaean society was hierarchical and palace-centered. Kings or “wanax” ruled from fortified palace complexes, which were administrative and economic hubs. These palaces housed records, workshops, and storerooms filled with goods indicating a complex economy based on agriculture, trade, and craft specialization. The Mycenaean religion was polytheistic, with a pantheon that included gods who would later be central to Cla...