Crete Timeline

Definition

Crete is an island in the eastern Mediterranean which during the Bronze Age produced the influential Minoan civilization with its distinctive architecture and art. An important member of the Greek world in the Archaic period, Crete dipped a little in significance during the Classical period but was again a major cultural centre in Roman times when it was a province within the Roman empire and centre of early Christianity. The island today has many archaeological sites of note which include Knossos, Phaistos, and Gortyn, all with significant architectural remains as compelling evidence of Crete's long and varied history.

More about: Ancient Crete

Timeline

7000 BCE
First habitation on Crete.
6000 BCE
First habitation at Malia.
3600 BCE - 3000 BCE
First inhabitation of Phaistos.
3000 BCE
Stone tombs on Crete.
c. 2700 BCE
Olive trees are grown and harvested in Crete. Olive oil is exported.
2200 BCE
First monumental architecture at Malia.
2200 BCE - 1500 BCE
The Minoan Civilization flourishes on Crete, Greece. King Minos establishes the first navy in the region.
2000 BCE - 1400 BCE
Phaistos' greatest cultural height.
2000 BCE - 1700 BCE
First Minoan palace at Phaistos.
c. 2000 BCE
Pottery wheel introduced to Minoan civilization on Crete.
c. 2000 BCE - c. 1650 BCE
Cretan Hieroglyphic script is in use.
2000 BCE - 1450 BCE
Minoan civilization in Crete and the Aegean.
1900 BCE
First Minoan palace at Knossos.
c. 1850 BCE - c. 1450 BCE
The Linear A script of the Minoan civilization is in use.
1850 BCE - 1550 BCE
Phaistos disk manufactured on Crete.
1700 BCE - 1600 BCE
Second palace at Phaistos.
1700 BCE
Second Palace of Knossos on Crete.
1700 BCE - 1400 BCE
The culture in the Cyclades is increasingly influenced by Minoan Crete.
1675 BCE - 1450 BCE
Second Minoan palace at Malia.
1650 BCE - 1550 BCE
Knossos survives Thera eruption.
c. 1600 BCE
Phaistos disk manufactured.
c. 1600 BCE
Rhodes has significant contact with Minoan Crete.
1500 BCE - 1450 BCE
The 'Harvester Vase' of Minoan origin depicts a sistrum player.
c. 1450 BCE
Earthquake and fire ends the Minoan period at Malia.
c. 1450 BCE
Destruction of Minoan palace at Zakros.
c. 1450 BCE
Mycenaen influence extended to Knossos, Crete.
c. 1330 BCE
Abandonment of Zakros settlement.
c. 750 BCE
The earliest depiction of the tympanon on a bronze disc found in the Idaean Cave in Crete.
700 BCE - 600 BCE
Brief resurgence in Phaistos settlement.
c. 689 BCE
Rhodes and Cretans found Gela in Sicily.
c. 580 BCE
Agrigento in Sicily is founded by colonists from Gela, Crete and Rhodes.
470 BCE
Gortyn on Crete begins to mint its own coinage.
c. 450 BCE
The Law Code of Gortyn is written.
c. 220 BCE
Gortyn allies with Knossos to defeat Lyttos on Crete.
206 BCE - 204 BCE
Crete is at war with Rhodes.
189 BCE
Gortyn gives sanctuary to Hannibal.
c. 180 BCE
Phaistos conquered by Gortyn.
155 BCE - 153 BCE
Crete is at war with Rhodes for a second time.
110 BCE
Rome establishes peace between the warring Cretan cities.
71 BCE
Rome wages war on the Cretan pirates.
69 BCE - 67 BCE
Rome wages a second war against the Cretan pirates.
36 BCE
Mark Antony gives Crete as a gift to Cleopatra.
c. 27 BCE
Augustus makes Gortyn the capital of the Roman province of Crete & Cyrene.
60 CE
An early Christian community is established at Gortyn, Crete.
81 CE
Trajan serves as quaestor at Gortyn, Crete.
365 CE
Gortyn is destroyed by a devastating earthquake.
670 CE
Gortyn is destroyed by earthquake.
c. 827 CE
Crete is conquered by the Arabs.
961 CE
The Byzantine Empire reconquers Crete from the Arabs under Nikephoros Phokas, the future Emperor Nikephoros II.