he earliest traces of human habitation in Crete go back to the Neolithic age. The first inhabitants of the island lived in caves, which later became places of worship and in houses with stone foundations and brick walls. These people were farmers and shepherds. They used simple tools and utensils made of animal bones and stone, many of which have been turned up during archaeological excavations. We know very little about their religious beliefs. It is hypothesized that they worshipped Goea, the goddess of fertility. Many figurines showing this female form have been found in Crete and throughout the eastern Mediterranean basin. For many centuries afterwards Mother was the most important symbol for the cultures of the Mediterranean lands.

he Bronze Age in Crete, around the year 2,600 B.C., was the beginning of the culture which has come to be called "Minoan civilization". The name, from Minos, the mythical king of Crete, was first used by the archaeologist Arthur Evans. The Minoan epoch is broken down into three periods: Early Minoan period (2,600 B.C.- 2,000 B.C.) Middle Minoan period (2,000 B.C. - 1,580 B.C.) Late Minoan period (1,580 B.C. - 1,100 B.C.)

he first palaces were built in Crete around the start of the Middle Minoan period, that is, around 2,000 B.C. Economic and political power seems to have centered on the palaces of Knossos, Phaistos, Mallia, Archanes, Zakros and Kydonia. An earthquake which shook the whole island and was followed by extensive fires seems to have destroyed the palaces around 1,700 B.C. However, we do not know whether the destruction of the palaces was the work of nature alone, or whether there was also an invasion of the island.

mmediately after, the palaces were rebuilt even larger and more magnificent than before and the period from 1700 B.C. to 1400 B.C. is often called the Final Palace period. Mallia, Zakros, Phaistos and above all Knossos were at the height of their power during this period.
		Excavations have revealed that more than one script was in use in Crete at this time: a hieroglyphic script (of which the Phaistos Disc in Herakleio Archaeological Museum is an example) and a syllabic script, which is known as Linear A, that has not yet been deciphered. Excavations in the island and along the coasts of theAegean show that the Minoans built trading posts in these places.

The economy of the island flourished. Farming and stock- breeding produced large yields and the workshops of the palaces and the villages turned out goods for export to the other islands and to mainland Greece. Works of art made in Crete found buyers in Egypt, Phoenicia and Syria and Minoan pottery has been discovered throughout the eastern Mediterranean.
Around 1400 B.C. there was a tremendous natural disaster which led to the end of the Minoan culture. Earthquakes and fires destroyed Knossos and the other palaces and the towns were deserted. The catastrophe may have been caused by the eruption of the Santorini volcano, although it is possible that this may have coincided with a foreign invasion.
However, the disaster was not the absolute end of Minoan culture.

Photos and text taken from "Crete - today and yesterday" and "Crete - A tour of all the towns and villages" (Toubis Editions)

Next historic period: Ancient times