It was thanks to the curiosity of British archaeologist Arthur Evans who unraveled the myths related to the legend of the Minotaur and the Labyrinth that the ruins of the Palace of Knossos were found at the beginning of the 20th Century in Crete, which provided the proof of a highly developed civilisation.
The island was settled during the Neolithic Period (some 8000 years B.C.), probably by people of Asian origin. Its location, set amongst Asia, Africa and Europe, fostered its fast cultural development, as thus facilitated contact with the great civilizations of the era: Mesopotamia and Egypt. Protected by the sea and a rugged coastline, Cretans excelled in trade by creating an substantial fleet that sailed the Mediterranean and transformed the island into a great sea power or Thalassochracy. It reached the Greek Peninsula, the Aegean Sea, the coasts of Asia Minor, and neighbouring areas, such as Sicily.
After much discussion among experts, the most acceptable theory to ordering Minoan history chronologically (so called due to the legendary king of the Island of Crete, Minos), divides it into three great periods: Early Minoan (2700 – 2000 B.C.), Middle Minoan (2000 – 1750 B.C.) and Late Minoan (1700 – 1400 B.C.).
Minoan Periods
Copper and Bronze first came into use in the Early Minoan period. The first known form of writing in the island, hieroglyphs similar to Egyptian ones, also appeared during this period. The need for raw materials for metallurgy caused a sharp increase in trade. Urbanism began setting the foundations for Cretan architecture and the political organization began taking shape, seemingly through a system of small monarchies.
The main human settlements were concentrated along the western side of the island: Paliokastron, Vasiliki and Mochlos.
During the Middle Minoan the thalassocracy was consolidated and activity moved to the central part of Crete, where the land was more fertile. It was during this period that the palaces of the cities of Knossos, Phaistos and Malia were constructed. These cities oversaw trade with Egypt, Syria and other Mediterranean Islands who in turn imported copper and bronze objects, the ceramics and the weaving products manufactured by Cretan Artisans.
The first palaces were destroyed around 1700 B.C. The causes remain unknown. It is thought that earthquakes, invasions or some type of internal revolution could have been the cause. In spite of this the Minoans overcame these disasters and attained their golden age between 1600 and 1400 B.C.
Their ships reached Sicily, and it seems several Aegean Islands came under the direct regency of the Minoan princes. Knossos became the predominant city on the Island and the architecture reached the height of its complexity.
The period of decline of Cretan civilization started with the destruction of the palace of Knossos among others. Some researchers believe that it was due to the invasion of Indo-European peoples, such as the Acheans, who founded Mycenae in the Peloponnesus around 1500 B.C. and developed the Mycenaean civilization, influenced by the Minoans. Others believe that it was the eruption of the Santorini Volcano, on the island of Thera.
However, the mortal blow for the Minoans came with the Dorian invasion during the 9th century B.C., which brought them under the cultural hegemony of Hellenic Culture.
From One Hand to Another
Crete was conquered by the Romans in the first century B.C. Then, during the Byzantine Wars, the Arabs invaded the island first in 673 A.D. and then in 825 A.D. It was later taken again by the Emperor of Byzantium, Nicephorus (II) Phocas, starting a period of peace which allowed for the island’s economic prosperity. However, when Byzantium fell to the crusaders in 1204 A.D., Crete was given to Boniface of Montferrat, who, in turn, sold it to Venice. The city thus became a strategic enclave for the Italian city and its commercial interests in the East Mediterranean until the mid 17th century, when the Ottomans took over the island.
After numerous and bloody revolts and a brief Egyptian rule, the Turks left in 1897 and the island came under the High Commission of Prince George of Greece, although European powers did not allow Greece to incorporate the island as one of its territories.
After other rebellions, Crete’s aspiration to be incorporated to Greece was finally acknowledged and formalized in 1913.
