Crete (island)

Crete is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and a major region of Greece. Since ancient Cretans formed one of the earliest known European civilizations, Crete has undergone many great changes and developments. However, it has remained essentially Greek, and the island permanently united with Greece in 1913. With its capital its largest city, Irákleio (Heraklion), Crete has a population of approximately 625,000 people. Most of these people live in urban areas, which feature modern, largely Westernized facilities. Much of the Cretan interior is dominated by mountains that run the length of the narrow island. Along the coasts are sandy beaches that, along with the island's subtropical climate, attract many visitors to Crete and make tourism the leading industry.

Brief History

Humans settled on Crete at least eight thousand years ago, though archaeological findings suggest that the earliest occupations may have begun long before that. The first major civilization known in Crete was that of the Minoans, which began to flourish around 3000 BCE. The Minoans mastered Bronze Age technology and produced intricate pottery and stone vessels, paintings, metalwork, and jewelry. Minoans also excelled at architecture, and their tombs and palaces dotted the landscape. Some of the more important structures were built in the cities of Knossos, Malia, Phaistos, and Zakros.

The Minoans exploited their island location to become a center of Mediterranean trade by around 1500 BCE. However, a major earthquake struck Crete around that time, badly damaging Minoan population centers. With the decline of the Minoans, other Greek-speaking groups, including the Mycenaeans and Dorians, moved into the region to assert influence and, ultimately, take control. Crete thrived under this mix of cultures, developing linguistically, culturally, and politically, and became one of the more important regions of the Greek world.

Throughout ancient times, Crete figured greatly in the myths and legends of the Greek people. According to these tales, the chief god Zeus grew up on Crete and later sired King Minos, the legendary founder of the Minoan civilization. Minos was said to have engineered the great expansion of that civilization into a major power, despite the dreadful presence of the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull monster that lurked in a maze beneath Minos's palace.

Crete underwent many more shifts during the coming centuries. Around 67 BCE, the Roman Empire incorporated Crete as a province called Cyrenaica. After the decline of Rome, the Byzantine Empire gained control over the region, and held it from approximately 395 to 1204 CE, despite incursions and a brief rule by Arab invaders. In 1204, Venice purchased Crete and revived its ancient roots in trading to benefit Venetian international trade networks. In 1669, Ottoman Turks completed a gradual takeover of Crete and held it by force, violently putting down rebellions until the late nineteenth century.

In 1898, Crete won its freedom from the Turks and entered a brief period of independence. The people of Crete, despite the innumerable changes they had weathered over the centuries, still retained strong ties to Greece. They shared many aspects of culture, including a similar language and the Greek Orthodox faith. They also shared the same ancient mythologies and sense of heritage. In 1913, Crete united with Greece and became one of the country's major administrative regions.

Overview

The island of Crete is located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. At approximately 160 miles (257 kilometers) long, Crete is the largest island in Greece and among the largest in the Mediterranean. Crete remains one of the main regions of Greece and actively participates in the national government and parliament. The island's capital and largest city is Irákleio (Heraklion). Appointed representatives in the capital oversee affairs in four major regions of the island—Irákleio, Chaniá, Lasíthi, and Réthymno—which are run locally by elected mayors and councils.

In 2021, approximately 625,000 people lived on Crete. About half of these people live in cities, including the island's three largest, Irákleio, Réthymno, and Chaniá. Most Cretans follow the Greek Orthodox branch of Christianity and speak the Greek language, though English and other European languages are commonly spoken in cities. Literacy is the norm, with Cretan youths attending mandatory free schooling through high school.

Although they share their ancestral roots with the Greeks, the Cretans' culture has been influenced by the many outsiders who came to the island over the centuries, including the Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, and Turks. Remnants of this diverse ancient history may be seen in the many archaeological sites throughout the island, and this history is reflected in the folk art, music, food, and traditions still found in many small Cretan villages. The people of rural Crete are renowned for their songs, dances, and handiwork in many crafts. In the cities, most people are more cosmopolitan and embrace the modern trends of Europe and the West.

The landscape of Crete varies greatly. Likely the most notable part of Cretan geography is the mountain chain that runs across the width of the island. This chain includes several mountain groups, most notably the Ídi, Díkti, and Lefká Mountains, the highest peaks of which may be covered by snow all year. Around and between the jagged mountains are a variety of gorges and flatlands. Lakes and rivers occur throughout these landforms. The island's long coastlines form sandy beaches, coastal plains, and harbors that have sheltered trading vessels since ancient times. Many varieties of trees, flowers, and animals thrive in these habitats thanks in part to the island's mostly temperate climate.

Despite the often-rocky terrain, agriculture has traditionally been an important industry on Crete. Cretan farmers produce olives, grapes, beans, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Much of the olive and grape crops are used to make olive oil and wine, respectively. Livestock such as goats and sheep provide meat and yogurt, and bees produce honey. Much of this material is exported, while Cretans generally import most of their fuel and other necessities.

Although agriculture remains crucial, tourism has become the top industry in Crete. Every year, thousands of visitors arrive on the island, mostly in search of relaxation and fun along the sandy coasts. Some tourists move inland to explore the mountainous interior. Modern roads and international airports, along with many harbors and ports for boat traffic, have helped locals and visitors to access all parts of the island.

Bibliography

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"Crete." VisitGreece/Greek National Tourism Organisation, 2014, www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek‗islands/crete. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

“Crete Population 2024.” World Population Review, worldpopulationreview.com/regions/crete. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Garvey, Geoff, and John Fisher. The Rough Guide to Crete. Rough Guides, Ltd., 2013.

Hanna, Nick. Crete, 4th Ed. New Holland Publishers, 2008.

"Minoan Palatial Centers." UNESCO/World Heritage Convention, 2017, whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5860/. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Region of Crete Official Website, 2017, www.crete.gov.gr/index.php?lang=en. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Unsworth, Barry. Crete. National Geographic, 2004.

Willetts, R.F. The Civilization of Ancient Crete. University of California Press, 1977.