History of Crete

Neolithic

Around 6,000 BC, people arrived here from Africa and Turkey. They practiced agriculture and animal husbandry. They built their homes from chipped stone and dried clay.

pre-palace period

Around 3.000 BCE, bronze and the potter's wheel began to be used. The dead were buried. The first two-story palaces were built of dried clay bricks.

the period of older palaces

Around 2000 BC, multi-story palaces with large courtyards began to be built, at Knossos, Festos, and Malia. Early hieroglyphic writing began to be used, slowly giving way to Linear A. This period ends with a massive earthquake in 1700 BC.

the period of younger palaces - the Minoan era

After the earthquake, the island experienced tremendous development. Multi-story, heavily decorated palaces were built. Trade with Sicily, Egypt, and the Middle East flourished. Gold, silver, tin, and copper were imported in exchange for olive oil, honey, pottery, and weapons. There are no fortified cities from this period, so the people lived in harmony. Linear writing was used. In 1628 BC, a volcanic eruption occurred on the nearby island of Santorini (today's Santorini), partially devastating the island.

mycenaean period

The Mycenaeans took over part of the island. Trade began to give way to defense against attackers. Fortresses began to be built. The Mycenaeans introduced Linear B, which is considered the origin of modern Greek writing. The destruction of the palace at Knossos in 1200 BC marked the end of the Mycenaean period.

geometric period

In 1000 BC, the Dorians arrived on the island, bringing new customs. A military hierarchy was established. Iron began to be used for weapons. Geometric patterns were incorporated into pottery. Burial of the dead ceased. Cremation became widespread. Settlements arose on the mountain slopes, each with its own port. This is how city-states, or polis, were formed.

archaic period

Around 620 BC, Crete was divided into small city-states, or polis.

the period of ancient Greece and Rome

In the 5th century BC Crete did not take part in the events in Athens. It did not oppose Persia, nor did it take part in the Peloponnesian War. Persians and the king of Sparta took refuge here during the wars with Athens.

In Gortyn, twelve laws were written on stone tablets, very progressive for those times. They were called the Legal Code of Gortyna. They said, among other things, that a slave could marry a free woman and their children were free. The position of women was also increased.

The largest rival centers in Knossos and Gortyn tried to divide Crete. However, they encountered resistance from smaller towns.

Around 200 BC Rome began to claim Crete. In 69 BC the island became their province.

In 59 AD The Apostle Paul came here. Rome was against Christianity. Around 250 AD ten bishops were executed for not taking part in the consecration of a pagan temple.

In 311, Rome recognized Christianity.

Byzantium and Arab rule

In 337, Constantine the Great established a new administrative division, making Crete a military base for the Eastern Roman Empire.

From 823 to 961, the island was settled by Arabs, only to yield to the Byzantine emperor. Until the 12th century, the island flourished. The churches were divided into Roman Catholic and Orthodox, and Crete adopted Orthodox Christianity.

the period of Venetian rule

After the Fourth Crusade, Crete was promised to a Venetian count because it was a good base for maritime trade.

the period of Turkish rule

In 1645, the Turkish conquest of the island began. It was only a matter of time how long the province would be able to repel the enemy invasion. Ottoman power was concentrated in the ports. The Turks ruthlessly forced the Greeks to convert to Islam.

The inhabitants fought for freedom for approximately 200 years, with new uprisings breaking out constantly. An example of the occupier's ruthlessness is the year 1866. Turkish troops entered the Monastir Arkadi monastery, where approximately 1,000 women, children, and about 100 men had taken refuge. In an act of desperation, with no chance of rescue, the abbot and the rebels blew themselves up.

Crete openly demanded Greek aid. As a result, in 1896, a fleet from Piraeus, Greece, sailed to the island for support. The Turkish-Greek war broke out. Finally, at the turn of the 19th century, Crete regained its independence.

World War II period

World War II was a period of German and Italian occupation. Occupation, torture, terror, and even famine – that's how one could describe the war years.