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ABOUT CRETE
6000BC : Earliest known villages on Crete.
3000BC : Migrants to Crete bring bronze making
technology and establish the first
Minoan settlements.
2000BC : The first wheel turned pottery and
evidence of trade with Egypt and the
Aegian Islands.
1700BC : Earthquake destroys the old palaces.
New palaces are built on top of the
old.
First fresco paintings.
1500BC : The erupton of the volcano on Theira,
Santorini to which the end of the Minoan civilisation was attributed.
1050BC : Dorian Greeks arrive in Crete and
establish small and independent
states, the origin of most of today's
Cretan towns and states.
640BC : Extensive trade with Egypt is reflected
in the Egyptian influences on Dorian
period art.
450BC : The Law Code of Gortina is carved in
stone.
69BC : The island of Crete is invaded by the
Roman Quintus Metellus and Gortina
became the new capital of Roman
Crete.
50AD : St. Paul visits the island and soon after
the island's inhabitants convert to
Christianity.
395 : With the Roman Empire split into
eastern and western parts; Crete
comes under the eastern Byzantine
control and the island's first churches
are built.
824 : Crete is invaded by the Arabs who use
it as a base for piracy.
961 : Crete is liberated from the Arabs by
the Byzantine General Nikeforas
Fokas.
1204 : Byzantine Crete is conquered by the
Venetians led by Boniface of
Montferat.
1263 : The first of many revolts against Venetian rule ; as a punishment, the
villages of the Lasithou Plateau are
forcibly depopulated and nobody is
allowed to farm the area for
200 years.
1645 : The Turks begin theri long assault on
Crete, taking Hania and Rethymon.
1669 : Crete finally falls to the Turks.
1821 : The Greek War of Independence leads
to the creation of the Greek state, but
Crete is excluded.
1841 : The first of a series of revolts against
the Turks and continues for 50 years.
1898 : Britain, France, Russia and Italy occupy
Crete and force the Ottoman Turks to
recognise Crete's right to autonomy.
1900 : Arthur Evans begins excavations at
Knossos.
1913 : The Turks are forced to surrender
sovereignty of Crete and full union
with Greece is achieved.
1941 : Massive casualties are sustained on
both sides in the Battle of Crete.
1945 : The Liberation of Crete, reconstruction
of the Cretan economy gets underway.
1983 : Mass tourism arrives in Crete, with
visitors exceeding 1 million.
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The two sided Phaistos Disc with
text in a hieroglyhpic script
that has never been deciphered.
( Dated from 1700 - 1600BC. )
Byzantine fresoces on the domed
roof of the Panagia Kera Church
The Venetian Lighthouse at the
entrance to Chania Harbour
The Minoan Palace of Knossos
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