Final answer:
Mycenaean art and architecture developed distinctively due to their militaristic and fortification-focused society. Cyclopean masonry and central megaron structures are hallmarks of their citadels. The culture's decline is attributed to multiple factors, although no definitive explanation emerges from the archaeological evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mycenaean architecture and art developed along different lines due to the war-like culture and the necessity for fortification. The Mycenaeans populated Greece and built impressive citadels on high, rocky outcroppings, using cyclopean masonry to create robust defenses such as the famous Lion Gate and the Treasury of Atreus. These citadels, varying from city to city, shared common attributes in their building techniques and architectural features, reflecting the need for protection against enemies. The citadel sites revolved around the megaron, the king’s reception hall, which later influenced the basic architectural plan of Greek temples during the cultural shifts of ancient Greece. Each Mycenaean citadel demonstrated the power and authority of a single ruler and their capacity to organize and dominate the surrounding agricultural plains. The eventual fall of the Mycenaean civilization and disappearance of its culture has been attributed to various factors, including environmental catastrophes, invasions, and the advent of iron weaponry, with no single theory completely explaining the archaeological record.