Crete is the 5th largest island of Mediterranean sea with a 8.261 km2 area. Governmental centre of the island is Heraklion which is located in northwest shore. Larger towns of the island, Chania, Rethymnon and Iraklion are all located at the north. Its climate changes between moderate to tropical.
First human settlements in Crete dates back around 4000 BC. A Bronze Age civilization known with the name of its legendary king Minos developed in the island in 3000 BC. There are many palaces built in Knossos, Phaistos and Mallia around 2000 BC.
Crete becomes a state subject to North Africa when it was conquest by Romans in 67 BC. It was handed over to Byzantine in 395 AD. After year 824 Arabs claim some parts of the island, and in 1204 Venetians claims all of the island. 5 centuries of Venetian occupation on the island left many marks on the island. In 17th century Ottomans claims a part of the island and in 1699 they conquer all of Crete by vanquishing Venetians. It is recorded that Turk population was mainly settles in Heraklion region during Ottoman period. Even today the warmth and familiarity of an Aegean village still dominates the town centre. After Ottomans leave the island in 1898, island was become subjected to Greek in 1913.
