European Kingdoms

Minoans

Excavations showed that Crete was inhabited from the Neolithic period (by 6000 BC and perhaps even earlier).

The Neolithic levels at Knossos (the Minoan capital) are amongst the deepest in Europe. An important construction already existed on this Neolithic site as early as 3000 BC. But, during this long era, the island seems to have been completely isolated from its neighbours, and, as can be seen from the pottery of the period, its culture was stagnant and monotonous.

Early Minoan Period
c.2600 - 2000 BC

This period was characterised by a cultural change, due, it seems, to the arrival on the island of new settlers who brought with them a knowledge of bronze-working. A true society emerged in around 2200 BC, and with it a monarchy. What is not clear is whether 'Minos' was a name or the Minoan word for king. Scholars have noted the interesting similarity between Minos and the names of other ancient founder-kings, such as Menes of Egypt.

However, the Minoan king was more a sort of administrator in charge of the trading activities of the state, while the real power in Minoan society lay in the hands of the priests. Thanks to this unique power structure, The Minoans did not display the same militaristic or political ambitions as their mainland Mediterranean neighbours, such as the Egypt of the New Kingdom. Cities had no defensive walls and although trade served as the chief economic engine, wealth tended to be evenly distributed.

Europa

First queen of Crete in Greek mythology.

Asterion / Asterius

Son of Neleus & Chloris in Greek mythology.

c.2600 BC

Minos

Stepson. Good king Minos of Greek mythology.

Asterion is the consort of Europa and stepfather of her sons by Zeus according to Greek mythology. Upon his death the kingdom of Crete goes to Minos, who quarrels with his brothers, Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon, and promptly banishes them. Sarpedon seeks refuge with his uncle, King Cilix, in Cilicia.

c.2100 BC

A pictographic script appears in Crete on seal stones. Most of the signs appear to be of local invention, although the significance of similarities between this script and those of Anatolia (including the Hatti) or even Sumer remains to be determined. By now the transition from Early Minoan, essentially a culture of subsistence village communities, to the beginning of the temple-palace tradition of the Middle Minoan period is almost complete.

Middle Minoan Period
c.2000 - 1700 BC

The Minoans were at their height in the seventeenth century BC. The first true palace was built some time around 1930 BC and was destroyed 300 years later, at the end of the Middle Period. Several other urban centres also had palaces of their own by about 1700 BC

c.1900s BC

The Old Temple at Knossos is built around 1930 BC, while the first temple at Mallia is raised by about 1900 BC. The rural landscape is apparently run by rich landowners, evidenced by some buildings which are apparently houses also having their own storage facilities and tablet archives (at Mallia).

c.1700 BC

A massive earthquake hits Crete, destroying much of the civilisation's infrastructure, including the royal palace.

Late Minoan Period
c.1700 - 1400 BC

A new palace was built on the same site, a more elaborate version than the previous one, only to be severely damaged by an earthquake a hundred years later. This period also saw the development of a series of satellite buildings such as the 'Little Palace', the 'Royal Villa', and the 'South House'. Knossos had developed into a large city whose population - judging by the adjacent cemeteries - must have been not less than 100,000 inhabitants. Minoan colonies were still in evidence, such as the one at Amyclae, a few miles south of the later Sparta. The disaster of circa 1470 BC again wiped out much of that good work.

c.1470 BC

Minos

c.1470 BC

Thera (modern Santorini) is destroyed by intense volcanic activity and Crete is devastated by the resulting tidal wave and atmospheric fallout, ending Minoan dominance of Mycenae and reducing the Minoans to Mycenaean vassals.

Achaean (Mycenaean) Crete
c.1400 - 1100 BC

The Mycenaeans, who had formerly been vassals of the Minoans, at least in Athens and possibly the Peloponesse, were now able to turn the tables and take control in Crete. Civilisation there had been almost destroyed by the aftermath of the Thera eruption, and there probably wasn't much to take control of, but the Mycenaeans restored the royal palace once more and it was used by the Achaean sovereign until at least 1380 BC, although other city states in Crete had already been destroyed.

fl c.1193 - 1183 BC

Idomeneus

'Grandson of Minos'. Possibly a half-Mycenaean descendant.

c.1193 BC

As an ally of Mycenae, Crete supplies a contingent for the war against Troy. Ideomenus is one of the first rank of Greek generals and is among those to enter the Trojan horse.