- Literacy: The Mycenaeans used a syllabary script called Linear B, but this was lost during the Dark Ages. Writing was not reintroduced to Greece until the 8th century BC, when the Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet.
- Centralized government: The Mycenaean civilization was a centralized state, with a king or ruler who controlled a large territory. However, during the Dark Ages, Greece was divided into many small, independent city-states.
- Trade: Trade between Greece and other parts of the Mediterranean was disrupted during the Dark Ages. This led to a decline in the economy and the loss of many technological and cultural advances that had been made during the Mycenaean period.
- Art and architecture: The Mycenaeans were skilled in art and architecture, but much of their work was destroyed during the Dark Ages. The few surviving examples show that Mycenaean art was heavily influenced by Minoan art, but it was also more stylized and less naturalistic. The architecture of the Mycenaean period was also impressive, with large, well-built palaces and tombs. However, many of these structures were also destroyed during the Dark Ages.