Willetts R.F. The Civilization of Ancient Crete

New York - Phoenix Press, 2004. — 273 p.From the arrival of the Neolithic farmers through the spectacular Minoan civilization of the Bronze Age to the Roman conquest of the first century B.C., this is the story of ancient Crete, as told by an esteemed professor, packaged with an attractive new cover. This fascinating history offers analyses and interpretations of Crete’s social and political structures, as well as its art and religion, and discusses both the invention of writing and the establishment of legal codes there. The author emphasizes throughout what persists in Cretan civilization: the importance of community, the stability of institutions, and the island’s genius for absorbing and transforming outside influences.text illustrations
the platesThe Environment
Geography
neighbours
early settlers and early achievementsThe Bronze Age
Palaces and palace economy
technology and the arts
cretan writing in the bronze age
myths and legends
cults
climax and transitionDorian Aristocracy
Prelude to the iron age
language and the alphabet
law and custom
society and government
artistic renaissance
religion
conflict and subjectionappendix: translation of thf law code of Gortyn