 Around 1450 BC , Greece was divided into a series of warrior kingdoms , the most important being centered in Mycenae , Tiryns , Pylos and Thebes . Before the end of the same century , this militaristic civilization replaced the former priestess @-@ dominated civilization of Minoan Cretans in the Aegean . Thus , the Mycenaeans began to build up their maritime power in the Aegean Sea , expanding towards the Aegean Islands and Anatolian coast . The warlike nature of the Mycenaeans was probably a decisive factor in their diplomatic relations towards the other Late Bronze Age powers . Mycenaean warriors were also hired as mercenaries in foreign armies , such as in Egypt . 
