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.
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Definition
Timeline
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7000 BCEFirst habitation on Crete.
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6000 BCEFirst habitation at Malia.
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3600 BCE - 3000 BCEFirst inhabitation of Phaistos.
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3000 BCEStone tombs on Crete.
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c. 2700 BCEOlive trees are grown and harvested in Crete. Olive oil is exported.
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2200 BCEFirst monumental architecture at Malia.
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2200 BCE - 1500 BCEThe Minoan Civilization flourishes on Crete, Greece. King Minos establishes the first navy in the region.
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c. 2000 BCE - c. 1650 BCECretan Hieroglyphic script is in use.
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2000 BCE - 1450 BCEMinoan civilization in Crete and the Aegean.
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2000 BCE - 1400 BCEPhaistos' greatest cultural height.
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2000 BCE - 1700 BCEFirst Minoan palace at Phaistos.
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c. 2000 BCEPottery wheel introduced to Minoan civilization on Crete.
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1900 BCEFirst Minoan palace at Knossos.
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c. 1850 BCE - c. 1450 BCEThe Linear A script of the Minoan civilization is in use.
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1850 BCE - 1550 BCEPhaistos disk manufactured on Crete.
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1700 BCESecond Palace of Knossos on Crete.
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1700 BCE - 1600 BCESecond palace at Phaistos.
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1700 BCE - 1400 BCEThe culture in the Cyclades is increasingly influenced by Minoan Crete.
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1675 BCE - 1450 BCESecond Minoan palace at Malia.
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1650 BCE - 1550 BCEKnossos survives Thera eruption.
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c. 1600 BCEPhaistos disk manufactured.
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c. 1600 BCERhodes has significant contact with Minoan Crete.
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1500 BCE - 1450 BCEThe 'Harvester Vase' of Minoan origin depicts a sistrum player.
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c. 1450 BCEEarthquake and fire ends the Minoan period at Malia.
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c. 1450 BCEDestruction of Minoan palace at Zakros.
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c. 1450 BCEMycenaen influence extended to Knossos, Crete.
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c. 1330 BCEAbandonment of Zakros settlement.
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c. 750 BCEThe earliest depiction of the tympanon on a bronze disc found in the Idaean Cave in Crete.
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700 BCE - 600 BCEBrief resurgence in Phaistos settlement.
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c. 689 BCERhodes and Cretans found Gela in Sicily.
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c. 580 BCEAgrigento in Sicily is founded by colonists from Gela, Crete and Rhodes.
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470 BCEGortyn on Crete begins to mint its own coinage.
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c. 450 BCEThe Law Code of Gortyn is written.
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c. 220 BCEGortyn allies with Knossos to defeat Lyttos on Crete.
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206 BCE - 204 BCECrete is at war with Rhodes.
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189 BCEGortyn gives sanctuary to Hannibal.
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c. 180 BCEPhaistos conquered by Gortyn.
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155 BCE - 153 BCECrete is at war with Rhodes for a second time.
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110 BCERome establishes peace between the warring Cretan cities.
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71 BCERome wages war on the Cretan pirates.
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69 BCE - 67 BCERome wages a second war against the Cretan pirates.
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36 BCEMark Antony gives Crete as a gift to Cleopatra.
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c. 27 BCEAugustus makes Gortyn the capital of the Roman province of Crete & Cyrene.
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60 CEAn early Christian community is established at Gortyn, Crete.
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81 CETrajan serves as quaestor at Gortyn, Crete.
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365 CEGortyn is destroyed by a devastating earthquake.
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670 CEGortyn is destroyed by earthquake.
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c. 827 CECrete is conquered by the Arabs.
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961 CEThe Byzantine Empire reconquers Crete from the Arabs under Nikephoros Phokas, the future Emperor Nikephoros II.
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12 Oct 1856 CEThe 1856 Heraklion Earthquake strikes the island of Crete with an estimated magnitude of 7.7 to 8.3 near the city of Heraklion, destroying it and damaging others. The earthquake also toppled buildings in Egypt, Cyprus, Rhodes, Turkey, and other regions of the Middle East, killing over 600 people.
