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Crete

Crete’s history combines mythological and historical trauma, glory and mediocrity. Legend has it that this island was the birthplace of Zeus, and home of the Minotaur, the monstrous man - eating creature, who dwelled at Knossos. Archaeologists claim that the island’s golden days began when the Minoans arrived from Asia Minor around 2800 BC, but the island was inhabited as far back as 6000 BC (Neolithic Period). Arriving from Asia Minor, these earliest inhabitants dwelled in caved settlements. Among the artifacts found from this time are stone and bone tools and female figurines signifying a cult of the Mother Goddess.

This period lasted until 3000 BC, when the great Minoan civilization commenced on the island of Crete. The Minoans also known from Asia Minor, established a rich civilization now known for their sophisticated art and embellished architecture. In 1700 BC an earthquake devastated the entire island. The Minoans subsequently began rebuilding vast, elaborate villas and formidable palaces, which exemplify the intricate and expert work of this time.

Following the reconstruction and revival, Crete entered its most glorious days. The ruins that we find standing today, hail from this period. Prosperity, stemming from newly established trade with other countries, lasted until an unknown catastrophe, either invading Mycenaean's or more natural disasters (possibly the eruption of Thira), destroyed the island’s cities once again in 1450 BC.

After this second obliteration, Crete took on a less influential role in world affairs, but remained at the forefront in the world of art and culture. By the 8th century BC Dorians were occupying the island. At this time, arts were flourishing, especially jewellery-making, sculpting and pottery.

The period from the 5th century BC to the Roman conquest in 67 BC found the island in the throes of instability, with aristocratic families dominant and intercity warfare frequent. Crete, in the Medieval and Modern periods, has been ruled in succession by the Byzantine, Arab, Genovese, Venetian, and Turkish empires, and in 1898, Crete became an English protectorate. Finally, after the Balkan War of 1913, Crete joined the Republic of Greece.

In 1204 Venetians became the rulers of the island. It was at this time that Herakleion became the seat of the Archbishop and churches and monasteries sprang up everywhere. In this period, Heraklion was renamed Candia and it remained capital of Crete. The Venetian influence in Crete's architecture remained until our days.

The Turks invaded Crete, and succeeded in becoming the rulers of the island. The Turkish occupation was the darkest period in the island's long history. When the Greek War of Independence broke out in 1821, the Turks in their rage were extremely cruel to the Cretans. The great Cretan rebellion began in 1866 and lasted until 1868. This was the climax of the Cretan desire for freedom and union with the rest of Greece, which materialized after the Balkan War of 1913.
Fresh fighting broke out in 1895 - 1896, after a period since the beginning of the decade when the old wounds had reopened and violence was an everyday occurrence. In 1897, Greek forces gradually began to liberate the island, with the intention of uniting it with Greece.

The fighting stopped in 1898. The great powers recognized the existence of autonomous "Cretan State'. Prince George of Greece was appointed High Commissioner. However, the struggle of the ordinary Cretans continued, culminating in the Theriso rebellion of 1905. That rebellion led to the eventual union of Crete with Greece. The most recent heroic event in Cretan history occurred during the Second World War, when Crete became the theatre of hard fighting, in the world famous "Battle of Crete".

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