First published in 2006. A rapid advance of Cretan studies in recent years is a measure of their importance for our understanding of the early history of European civilization. It is now generally recognized that the island of Crete played a part in this early history which is out of all proportion to its size. This book offers information on the social history: from early times until the Roman Occupation

John Fine offers a major reassessment of the history of Greece from prehistoric times to the rise of Alexander. Throughout he indicates the nature of the evidence on which our present knowledge is based, masterfully explaining the problems and pitfalls in interpreting ancient accounts.