A History of Crete
The Cradle of Europe
"Nowhere in Greece can boast such a long and rich historical and
cultural tradition as Crete, stamped as it is by such a distinct
character." (Theocharis E. Detorakis: preface to 'History of Crete', 1994)
The geographical position of Crete at the intersection between Asia,
Africa and Europe, has attracted the interest of
many of the neighbouring peoples. Through trade and shipping, conquest and
immigration over thousands of years they all left their traces on the
island and even today the influence of many cultures can be felt. Crete is
Greek with a little touch of the Middle East and a reminiscence of Italy.
We have divided our history of Crete into 15 periods of time. Each period marking a significant shift in the historical
and cultural events on Crete. There are, however, no universally agreed upon dates for the various periods in the earliest Cretan
and Greek history and the periods must be seen as indicative only.
Famous Cretans
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