67 BC. -330 AC. Chr.
Roman Occupation
Conquest of Crete by the Emperor Augustus. Gortys became the capital of Crete.

330-824
First Byzantine Era
Crete led a peaceful an prosperous life, having nevertheless lost the leading role ofe the past.

828-961
Arab Rule
Crete was captured by the Saracens. They were a large group of pirates desperatly searching for a place to settle in the Eastern Mediterranean.

961-1204
Second Byzantine Period
Conquest of Crete by the Byzantine General Nicephorus Phocas.

1204-1645
Venetian rule
The crusaders of the 4th crusade caused a crack to the Byzantine Empire. Agreements drawn between the crusaders and the Byzantine Empire, assigned Crete to Boniface the Momferat.

1645-1913
Turkish occupation
Captured by the Turks, Crete became possession of the Ottoman Turks with Chania as its capital.

1913 until today
Crete / Part of Greece
In 1913, Crete was united with Greece. (Contract of London)

"The fact that the inhabitants of Crete developed a pure martial spirit was of unique importance, because they knew that only with strong fights could they gain the freedom. The revolts against the Venetians first and against the Turks later were frequent and tense. Some of them have been recorded in World History as examples of self-sacrifice and dignity."

(Byzantine Churches and Monasteries of Crete, Nikos Psilakis, KARMANOR)