Home Region:  Southeastern Europe (Europe)

Archaic Crete

710 BCE 500 BCE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  gr_crete_archaic / GrCrArc
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
1000 BCE 710 BCE Geometric Crete (gr_crete_geometric)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
500 BCE 323 BCE Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)    [continuity]


  General Description   Crete is a large island in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Archaic Crete (7th-6th centuries) is divided in the following periods: Orientalizing or Daedalic or Early Archaic (710-600 BCE) and Archaic Archaic (600-500).
There was no capital city as Crete was divided into territorial entities, each one centered upon a city that served as the main political and economic centre of its well-defined region. Political, military and religious control was exercised by the Kosmoi, a board of 3 to 10 annually elected nobles. [1] [1]
No information could be found in the sources consulted regarding the polity’s overall population, however the largest settlement, Knossos, is estimated to have housed about 4,000 people.

[1]: Lembesi, A. 1987. "Η Κρητών Πολιτεία," in Panagiotakis, N. (ed.), Κρήτη: Ιστορία και Πολιτισμός, Heraklion, 166-72.

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic) was in:
 (710 BCE 501 BCE)   Crete
Home NGA: Crete
General Variables
Identity and Location Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 35 S Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Original Name Archaic Crete Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Capital None (Absent Capital) Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Alternative Name Doric Crete Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years 650 BCE Confident
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Duration [710 BCE ➜ 500 BCE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Supracultural Entity Archaic Greece Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Succeeding Entity Classical Crete Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Succeeding Entity
500 BCE 323 BCE
Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)   [continuity]  Confident
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Preceding Entity
1000 BCE 710 BCE
Geometric Crete (gr_crete_geometric)   [continuity]  Confident
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Language Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Language Doric Greek Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Religion Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 4,000 people Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Polity Territory 167 km2 Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Polity Population - Suspected 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [1 to 5] Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Religious Level 5 Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Military Level 5 Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Administrative Level 5 Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Professions Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Professional Priesthood Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Professional Military Officer Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Law Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Judge Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
Court Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Irrigation System Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Food Storage Site Unknown Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Port Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Canal Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Bridge Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Information / Writing System Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Script Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Sacred Text Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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History Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Fiction Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Calendar Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Information / Money Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Precious Metal Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Foreign Coin Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Article Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Information / Postal System Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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General Postal Service Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Courier Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Unknown Suspected 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Moat Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Earth Rampart Unknown Suspected 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Ditch Unknown Suspected 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Complex Fortification Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Long Wall absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Military use of Metals Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Iron Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Copper Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Bronze Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Projectiles Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Sling Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Self Bow Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Javelin Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Composite Bow Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Handheld weapons Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Sword Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Spear Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Polearm Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Dagger Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Battle Axe Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Elephant Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Donkey Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Camel Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Armor Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Shield Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Limb Protection Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Leather Cloth Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Helmet Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Breastplate Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Naval technology Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Unknown Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Present Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Confident 710 BCE  500 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
View all Crisis Cases
Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions