Crete Timeline (2024)

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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

Crete Timeline (2024)

FAQs

What is the timeline of the Cretan civilization? ›

The Minoan Civilization, which thrived from c. 2100 B.C.E. to c. 1100 B.C.E. during the Bronze Age, was an urban sea-trading society that was based on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea.

Is Crete the oldest city in Europe? ›

Knossos or Cnossos, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and is considered Europe's oldest city. The name Knossos survives from ancient Greek references to the major city of Crete.

What happened in Crete in the Bible? ›

Jews from Crete were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost ( Acts 2:11 ). The island was visited by Paul on his voyage to Rome ( Acts 27 ). Here Paul subsequently left ( Titus 1:5 ) "to ordain elders." Some have supposed that it was the original home of the Caphtorim (q.v.) or Philistines.

How long has Crete been part of Greece? ›

In 1898 Crete, whose people had for some time wanted to join the Greek state, achieved independence from the Ottomans, formally becoming the Cretan State. Crete became part of Greece in December 1913. The island is mostly mountainous, and its character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to east.

Is Crete Greek or Turkish? ›

Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean and the largest of the islands forming part of modern Greece.

What destroyed the Cretan civilization? ›

Minoan civilization declined by the late 15th century B.C., but the exact cause is unknown. One theory is that the volcanic eruption on Thera damaged other cities along Minoan trade routes, which hurt Crete economically.

Who were the first people on Crete? ›

Crete was the centre of Europe's most ancient civilization, the Minoans. Tablets inscribed in Linear A have been found in numerous sites in Crete, and a few in the Aegean islands.

What happened to Crete during WWII? ›

Crete was a humiliating defeat for the British. Almost 4,000 men were killed and over 11,000 more captured. Enemy air power had been decisive. But the Germans had been badly mauled too, with over 3,000 dead.

What is the oldest city on Earth? ›

Jericho, Palestine

A small city with a population of 20,000 people, Jericho, which is located in Palestine, is believed to be the oldest city in the world. Indeed, some of the earliest archeological evidence from the area dates back 11,000 years.

What God was born on Crete? ›

The mightiest of all the twelve Olympian gods of Greece, Zeus, calls Crete his birthplace. The twin gods, Apollo and Artemis, came to be on the small Paximadia islets on the southern coast of Crete according to local mythology, albeit Hesiod puts them on Delos.

Did Apostle Paul go to Crete? ›

Finally, Paul and his companions sailed for Rome where Paul was to stand trial for his alleged crimes. On the way they encountered a hurricane and unexpectedly had to land at the Greek island of Crete (or Kriti). Crete is the largest of the Greek islands in the eastern Mediterranean Sea southeast of mainland Greece.

What was Greece called in the Bible? ›

While Javan is generally associated with the ancient Greeks and Greece (cf. Gen. 10:2, Dan. 8:21, Zech.

Why is Crete famous for? ›

The largest island in Greece, Crete is a diverse and vibrant land packed with ancient ruins, buzzing cities and breathtaking beaches. Many people come here for the sun, sea and sand yet the best things to do in Crete include much more than the standard package vacation.

What are people from Crete called? ›

[ kreet-n ] Phonetic (Standard) IPA.

What does Crete mean in English? ›

noun. a mountainous island in the E Mediterranean, the largest island of Greece: of archaeological importance for the ruins of Minoan civilization.

What is the timeline of the Greek civilization? ›

When did ancient Greece start and end? Ancient Greek civilization flourished from the period following Mycenaean civilization, which ended about 1200 BCE, to the death of Alexander the Great, in 323 BCE.

How old is Crete civilization? ›

The history of Crete goes back to the 7th millennium BC, preceding the ancient Minoan civilization by more than four millennia. The Minoan civilization was the first civilization in Europe.

Which is the oldest civilization in the world timeline? ›

1. Mesopotamia, 4000-3500 B.C. Meaning “between two rivers” in Greek, Mesopotamia (located in modern-day Iraq, Kuwait and Syria) is considered the birthplace of civilization.

What is the timeline of the Minoans and Mycenaeans? ›

The Minoan civilization developed from the local Neolithic culture around 3100 BC, with complex urban settlements beginning around 2000 BC. After c. 1450 BC, they came under the cultural and perhaps political domination of the mainland Mycenaean Greeks, forming a hybrid culture which lasted until around 1100 BC.

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