The History Book

IN CONTEXT

Focus

Minoan Crete

Before

c.7000 bce Initial colonization of Crete.

c.3500 bce Beginning of the Bronze Age in Crete.

After

c.1640 bce Massive eruption of volcano Thera devastates Minoan colonies and coastline.

c.1500 bce Deeper stratification of Minoan culture; local administration is devolved to large villas.

c.1450 bce The Mycenaean invasion of Crete.

c.1100 bce The Sea Peoples terrorize the Mediterranean world, leading to the final decline of Minoan civilization.

1900 ce Arthur Evans begins the excavation of Knossos.

1908 Italian archaeologist Luigi Pernier discovers the Phaistos disc.

In the 1890s, British historian Arthur Evans came across some ...