Mycenaean Greeks. The Linear B script appeared on Crete around 1450 BC. Apparently, the Mycenaean Greeks borrowed the characters of the Minoans’ Linear A writing system and adapted these characters into a new system for writing down their language, which is the earliest known form of the Greek language. This app contains quiz-style drills that allow you to learn the individual Linear B characters and then move on to sounding out and translating Linear B words.