Cretans and Achaeans

One of the earliest European civilizations developed on Crete - an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. When the Cretan culture was declining, its place was taken by Mycenaean civilization, created by the Greek tribe of the Achaeans.

Crete lies at the southern end of the Aegean Sea full of islands spattered between the present day Greece and Turkey. Cretan culture, even if it was the creation of the island's local population, certainly evolved through contacts with Asia Minor (Turkey) and, to a lesser extent, Egypt. As early as around 1950 BC there were magnificent palaces and large, thriving cities. Such development was likely owed to advanced olive and vine cultivation as well as vibrant trade relations with other countries of the eastern Mediterranean.

Centuries later, splendor of the former Cretan civilization was legendary among the ancient Greeks. The most famous legend was about the people of Athens having to send young boys and girls to Crete every year in honor of the Cretan king Minos. The youth were meant to be a sacrifice to Minotaur - a monster with the head of a bull on the body of a man, living in a maze. As the story goes, the bloody ritual ended when Minotaur was killed by Theseus who was the first to manage to escape from the Labyrinth. Successful escape was possible thanks to Ariadne who gave Theseus a ball of thread so that he could follow it on his way back.

Because of the myth the Cretan culture is also referred to as the Minoan civilization, "Minoan" being an adjective derived from the name of King Minos. However, it seems that actually it was bulls and not humans that were offered as sacrifice in Crete, and the only people likely to suffer might have been acrobats specializing in capturing bulls by the horns and jumping over their backs.

Subtle Cretans

The flamboyant murals, decorated in bright colors, indicate that the people of Crete lived cheerful, joyful lives. Perhaps they were also of peaceful disposition - their palaces and the city had no fortifications and for centuries the soldiers carried out their duties without the use of any weapons.

The palaces featured a complex system of multiple chambers. Palace of Knossos was certainly the biggest and it may have been a royal residence, though the palaces of Phaistos, Malia and Agia Triada were almost as impressive. The cities and palaces were fitted with sewage and drainage systems.

Around 1750 BC a catastrophic event, possibly an earthquake, destroyed the palaces. The resilient Cretans quickly replaced them with new ones, making them even more robust. However, around 1650 BC Cretan civilization entered into a gradual decline. It has never recovered from another disaster that hit the island around 1450 BC. It was probably the result of a volcanic eruption on Thira - an island some 110 km (68 miles) away. The eruption created a deadly wave that swept through Crete. The tremors could be felt throughout the eastern Mediterranean, and some believe that the destruction of Thira gave rise to the myth of Atlantis - a continent that was swallowed by the sea overnight. The prominent Greek philosopher Plato was among those who wrote about Atlantis.

After the disaster palaces were not rebuilt and just a few generations later, the Cretan civilization collapsed under the onslaught of foreign invaders. There are written records, somewhat reminiscent of early Greek language, according to which the aggressors were Achaeans - a tribe originating from mainland Greece.

Achaeans came to Greece from the north around the time when the Cretan civilization was emerging. In contrast to the short and clean-shaven Cretans, Achaeans were tall and sported impressive beards. They were very warlike and used chariots in the warfare – a technique completely unknown to Cretans. Around their cities Achaeans built fortifications, and in the middle of the cities themselves they erected fortified strongholds - the Acropolis.

Mycenae

Most of these cities were located in the Peloponnese - a peninsula in southern Greece. The most impressive of them was Mycenae, the seat of Achaean rulers, described in poetry and legends as a city "rich in gold". For this reason, the culture of the Achaeans is often called Mycenaean culture (ca. 1600-1100 BC).

Around 1600 BC the cities and culture of Achaeans were in full bloom. Initially, they were strongly influenced by Cretan culture. Achaeans quickly spread to most of the islands of the Aegean Sea and the fall of Crete allowed them to control trade throughout the eastern Mediterranean, which ensured huge profits. At that time Mycenae were strong enough to negotiate with the Hittites and Egypt as equals.

The first signs of the crisis appeared in the thirteenth century BC. One of the reasons might have been a long and exhausting war with Troy. In the end, the main Achaean cities fell in the 12th century BC.

Yet another reason for the decline could be the arrival of Dorians - a different Greek tribe, slowly infiltrating and replacing the Achaeans. As a result, the Achaeans began mass emigrattions to Ionia (west coast of present day Turkey) or assimilated with Dorians. By the 11th century BC the ability to write disappeared and so did works of art. Disasters destroyed Greece which fell into the period known as the dark ages.

Important dates

• approx. 1950 BC
  Minoan cities and palaces emerge on Crete. Achaean immigation to Greece.
• approx. 1750 BC
  The destruction of cities and palaces on Crete, likely as a result of an earthquake. There are rebuilt soon after the disaster.
• approx. 1600 BC
  The peak period of the Cretan civilization; development of of rich Achaean culture, remaining under Cretan influence.
• approx. 1450-1375 BC
  Another destruction of Crete, probably by a volcanic eruption; decadent period of Cretan culture; Achaean domination.
• approx. 1260-1180 BC
  The period of Trojan War between the Achaean and Trojans.