Glossary · Term

Protopalatial period

c. 1900–1700 BCE · 20th century BCE · Also known as Old Palace period

The Protopalatial or Old Palace period is the phase of Minoan Crete, roughly 1900 to 1700 BCE, in which the first palaces were built at Knossos, Phaistos and Malia. It saw the rise of writing in Cretan hieroglyphic and Linear A and of fine Kamares ware pottery, and it ended with destructions, probably by earthquakes, after which the palaces were rebuilt.

Mentioned in 1 state history

Palace State of Malia

See also

Cite this entry

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). Protopalatial period. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/protopalatial-period
MLA: “Protopalatial period.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/protopalatial-period. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “Protopalatial period.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/protopalatial-period.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Protopalatial period’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/protopalatial-period (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻