Ancient grece

1. Mycenean - People from Eurasia who settled on the ancient Greek mainland
    trojan war - a 10-year war between the Mycenaeans and troy, an independent city in Anatolia, the story of which is told in homers Iliad
    Dorians - a group of sea fearing raiders that moved into and attacked and burned and attacked many Mycenean cities.  the spoke a Greek dialect
    Homer - A blind man, known as the best storyteller in ancient Greece, though little was know about his personal life
epic - a long poem, typically from the oral tradition
myth - a portion of the greek religion revolving around the stories of the greek gods

What impact did the nearness to the sea have on the development of Greece?
     The nearness to the sea allowed the greeks to have many different trade routes opened to them, allowing them to collect and trade for the necessary natural resources that they needed.  It also helped to make them experienced seamen and sailors which could help them in battle if they faced a naval force. 
What aspects of culture did the Myceneans adopt from the Minoans?
The Myceneans adopted shipbuilding, trade, metalwork, art, and many other aspects of life from the Minoans.
Why were the epics of importance to the greeks of the Dorian period?
  The epics were important for the greeks of this period because they did not have written language yet, and because of this, they had to spread the stories orally.