Protopalatial minoan period

The first palaces of protopalatial minoan period  are Knossos, Phaistos and Malia are situated in the most fertile plains of the island, allowing their owners the accumulation of wealth, in particular agricultural, as prove the department stores for agricultural products found in these palaces. Palaces become radiating center for 6-700 years, and the civilization is considered from now on as palatiale. The location of these palaces corresponds to the big urban areas which existed during the third prepalatial phase.

Knossos controlled the rich region of the center-North of Crete, Phaistos dominated the zone of plain of Messara, and Malia the east central region until current Ierapetra. Since a few years the archaeologists speak about territories or well bounded States in protopalatial, new phenomenon in the Greek space. The civilization of period protopalatiale extends in all Crete. The relations between the local leaders seem peaceful and based on collaboration.

But luxury palaces testify of the existence of a central political power and of a hierarchy dominated by king during protopalatial period. The execution of major works as the leveling of Knossos hill or Phaistos, are indications that Minoens had already made a success of a division of labor, and had a big quantity of workers. The slavery and duty, already in place in the East, existed doubtless also in Crete

In protopalatial period, the presence of a hierarchy in palaces is attested by the quantity of seals discovered at Phaistos. Finally, the development of the hieroglyphic writing and the appearance of the first linear writing dealed with the bureaucratic system and the necessity of a better control of good receipt and good issue. The radiance of the minoan culture now is smelt outside Crete. It seems that Knossos already put the foundations of its minoan thalassocracy. Some ceramic of Kamarès was found to Milos, Lerne, Egine and Kouphonissi.

Imports of ceramic in Egypt, Syria, Byblos, Ugarit prove the links between Crete and these countries. Pax Minoica seems to reign over the island which is from now under the authority of Knossos. A theory wants that the Cretan palaces all belonged to same master who visited them alternately. Towards 1700, a big disaster struck three big palaces. Apparently, the destruction of palaces was caused by an earthquake, which affected several countries of minor Asia in the same period. Another theory wants that there was a conflict between the palaces of which Knossos went out victorious.