Archaic and Classical Period

Archaic Period: Roughly 800 BCE to 480 BCE. This period saw the rise of Dorian-speaking city-states on Crete, increased contact with the broader Greek world, and significant artistic and cultural development.

Classical Period: Roughly 480 BCE to 323 BCE. This period is marked by a relative decline in Crete’s prominence compared to mainland Greece. Cretan city-states remained largely independent but often engaged in internal conflicts and sometimes allied with larger powers like Athens or Sparta.