The island of Crete is known for its very ancient roots, being one of the oldest examples of agricultural-based human settlement in the world. Sitting at a crucial junction in the Eastern Mediterranean, Crete held an important position in ancient trade, politics, and military expeditions. Lycurgus, founder of Sparta, studied law in Crete, Crete was known for its prestigious scholarly tradition. Some of the first laws in human history were penned by the Minoan civilization, stretching as far back as two millennia before the foundation of Sparta. Crete and Sparta carried on peaceful relations until the end of the 4th century B.C.E., when it was conquered by Sparta during Alexander the Great’s campaigns.
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