 The
island of Crete is the cradle of European civilization,
a geographical location where climatic and morphologic
features maintain a delicate balance and the birthplace
of different yet harmonious civilizations. Between 2800BC
and 1400BC, the Minoan civilization (the first European)
built magnificent palaces at Knossos, Phaistos, Zakros,
Malia, and Archanes. After a natural disaster that destroyed
the Minoans, the Achaeans and Dorians dominated the island.
Classical Greek civilization flourished in the years that
followed. In 67BC Crete was conquered by Rome. Gortyn was
the town that became the capital of the Roman province
of Crete and it was one of the first towns to welcome the
Christian religion.
During the Byzantine period Crete became an important center
for Christianity. From 824AD to 961AD, Saracens seized the
island and from 1204 Crete was taken over by the Venetians
until 1669 when it fell to the Ottoman Turks after a 22-year
siege. Crete regained its autonomy in 1897 and was united
with Greece in 1913. Its troubles were not over as it suffered
under Nazi seizure in World War II.
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