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The palaces of Crete and the palatial periods
The island of Crete is home to several palaces constructed by the Minoan civilization, all of which are archeologically significant. The primary palaces were located at Knossos, Malia, and Phaistos. Each palace was constructed and rebuilt multiple times on the same sites. The palaces' distinct construction phases are used to further divide the relative periods of the Minoan chronology system into five distinct sections: prepalatial, protopalatial, neopalatial, late palatial or the final palace period, and the post-palatial period.

Prepalatial period
The prepalatial period is a broad time period, spanning from approximately 7000 B.C.E. to 1900 B.C.E., and is itself divided into neolithic, early prepalatial, and late prepalatial sections. Characterized by the creation of large settlements at the locations where palaces would later be constructed and usage of early forms of the architecture later found at palatial sites, the prepalatial period contains the relative chronological divisions EM I through at least part of MM IA.

Protopalatial period
The protopalatial period lasted from approximately 1900 B.C.E. until 1750 B.C.E., or in the relative chronology MM IB through MM IIB. The major palaces' completion occurred during this time-frame, distinguished by distinct ashlar masonry with marks created by the responsible masons. The protopalatial phase also saw the emergence of both the Linear A and Cretan hieroglyphic writing systems, although they likely initially saw use as early as the end of the previous period.

Neopalatial period
The neopalatial period occurred during the relative chronological divisions of MM III and LM IB, a roughly 260 year span between 1750 B.C.E. and 1490 B.C.E. The period is represented by the dramatic expansion and reconstruction of the palace at Knossos, associated with Evans' discoveries of paintings featuring bulls, which he interpreted incorrectly as evidence for the existence of the Labyrinth of Greek myth. Additional palaces were built at Galatas and Zakros, while the palaces at Malia and Phaistos underwent periods of destruction, abandonment, and reconstruction.

The Theran eruption occurred during the end of the neopalatial period, during the end of LM IA.

Late Palatial period
Beginning in the LM II period, approximately 1490 B.C.E., and ending with the start of the LM IIIB period 130 years later in 1360 B.C.E, the late palatial period was the final use of intact palace structures on Crete. The palaces at Phaistos, Galatas, Zakros, and Malia were largely destroyed and/or abandoned, while the palace at Knossos received its final additions.

The late palatial period marked the emergence of the Linear B script, an early form of written Greek, used at Knossos to record economic and administrative information.

Post-palatial period
The post-palatial period of Minoan chronology, a roughly 40-year period between 1360 B.C.E and 1200 B.C.E, falls into the last relative period defined by absolute dates, LM IIIB. The period saw Knossos lose prominence as a settlement, with the majority of new construction taking place at the agricultural and trade center of Mesara. The end of the post-palatial period also represented an emphasis of Mycenaean Greek styles of construction and architecture over traditional Minoan methods.