First Greek-speaking civilization (c.1600-1200 BC), named after Mycenae, its most important site. The civilization centred on a number of independent rulers, each with their own stronghold. Mycenaeans traded extensively overseas and conquered Crete in about 1450 BC, where they adapted the Linear A script to write their own language (Linear B). Excavations indicate that the Mycenaean civilization came to a violent end, though its attackers are unknown.