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The first
traces of mankind appeared on Crete Island at
approximately the Neolithic periode at about 6000
B.C. Their native origin is most likely to be
Asia, without prohibiting a possible origin from
Africa..
The Minoan age started at about 3000 B.C. from
where on Crete developed into a nautical as well
as political power. The Minoan civilization is a
distant ancestor of the european civilization
with its center in Knossos.At approximately 1450
B.C. a big katastrophy sweeped over Crete,
archeologists suggest various reasons, though the
most reasonable sounds either a erruption of
Santorin Islands Volcano or a series of
earthquakes, with result in the total destruction
of the minoan civilization.
Crete Islands great influence on the Hellenic
civilization and its neutrality throughout the
Persian wars helped recovering from the disasters
and forced Crete to integrate into the Myken
Empire.
Admiral Nearxos, a famous Cretan hero, with some
hundred warriors joines Alexander the Great on
his excursions to the Middle East and Africa.
Throughout the Hellenic-Roman periode (67 B.C. -
330 A.C. capital of Crete emerged Gortyna. The
Roman Empire did not interfear enthnologically
nor undertake any effort to "latinice"
the Cretans.
In the year 62-63 A.C. apostle Paul,who tries to
organize the Cretan Church, visits Crete and
appoints his faithful student Titos first Bishop
of Crete with seat in Gortyna (today Messara
Area).
The first Byzantine periode ranged from 330 until
824 A.C..Information belonging this periode are
very few as the island falls into historic
lethargy.
to be continued....
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