Home Region:  Southeastern Europe (Europe)

Classical Crete

500 BCE 323 BCE
D G SC WF RG CC EQ 2020  gr_crete_classical / GrCrCls
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
710 BCE 500 BCE Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.


  General Description   Population and political organization
In terms of the island’s population at this time, estimates vary for a minimum of 200,000 to a maximum of 1,000,000 people; however, the most likely estimate is of 450,000-500,000 people. [1] Political, military and religious control in Cretan city-states was exercised by the Kosmoi (Κόσμοι), a board of 3 to 10 nobles, annually elected by the Ecclesia, the body of free male citizens. One of the Kosmoi, known as protokosmos or stratagetas, was the president of the board. The council of elders, the Gerousia, whose members were chosen among the best Kosmoi, had legislative and juridical authority. [2] [3]

[1]: (Chaniotis 1987, 194-195) Angelos Chaniotis. 1897. ’Κλασική και Ελληνιστική Κρήτη’, in Panagiotakis, N. (ed.), Κρήτη: Ιστορία και Πολιτισμός, edited by N. Panagiotakis. Heraklion: ΣΥΝΔΕΣΜΟΣ ΔΗΜΩΝ & ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΩΝ ΚΡΗΤΗΣ.

[2]: (Willetts 1965, 56-75) Ronald F. Willetts. 1965. Ancient Crete. A Social History. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

[3]: (Chaniotis 1987, 196-199) Angelos Chaniotis. 1897. ’Κλασική και Ελληνιστική Κρήτη’, in Panagiotakis, N. (ed.), Κρήτη: Ιστορία και Πολιτισμός, edited by N. Panagiotakis. Heraklion: ΣΥΝΔΕΣΜΟΣ ΔΗΜΩΝ & ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΩΝ ΚΡΗΤΗΣ.

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 Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical) was in:
 (500 BCE 322 BCE)   Crete
Home NGA: Crete
General Variables
Identity and Location Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 35 S Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Original Name Classical Crete Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Capital absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years 350 BCE Confident
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Duration [500 BCE ➜ 323 BCE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Supracultural Entity Classical Greece Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Succeeding Entity Hellenistic Crete Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Preceding Entity
710 BCE 500 BCE
Archaic Crete (gr_crete_archaic)   [continuity]  Confident
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Language Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Language Doric Greek Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Religion Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 4,000 people Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Polity Territory [210 to 240] km2 Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Polity Population [5,000 to 30,000] people Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [1 to 5] Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Religious Level 5 Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Military Level 5 Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Administrative Level 5 Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Professions Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Professional Priesthood Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Professional Military Officer Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Law Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Judge Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
Court Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Irrigation System Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Port Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Canal Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Bridge Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Information / Writing System Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Script Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Sacred Text Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Religious Literature Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Practical Literature Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Philosophy Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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History Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Fiction Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Calendar Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Information / Money Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Precious Metal Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Indigenous Coin Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Foreign Coin Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Article Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Information / Postal System Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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General Postal Service Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Courier Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Unknown Suspected 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Moat Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Earth Rampart Unknown Suspected 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Ditch Unknown Suspected 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Complex Fortification Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Long Wall absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Military use of Metals Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Iron Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Copper Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Bronze Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Projectiles Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Sling Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Self Bow Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Javelin Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Composite Bow Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Handheld weapons Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Sword Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Spear Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Polearm Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Dagger Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Battle Axe Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Elephant Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Donkey Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Camel Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Armor Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Shield Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Limb Protection Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Leather Cloth Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Helmet Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Breastplate Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Naval technology Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Present Confident 500 BCE  323 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Classical Crete (gr_crete_classical)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
View all Crisis Cases
Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions