Scott Hansen, age 14, of Rock Island, Ill., for his question:
WHERE IS CRETE?
Crete is a Greek island that is located in the Mediterranean Sea. Europe's first important civilization, the Minoan culture, started on Crete in about 3000 B.C.
Crete's first settlers arrived from Asia Minor, which is now Turkey, about 6000 B.C. The people advanced over the next 3,000 years. Their Minoan culture was named after the great King Minos.
This first important civilization saw advances in art, architecture and engineering. Striking palaces were constructed. The people made beautiful jewelry and also came up with a system of writing.
Many of the palaces were destroyed and the cities with them when a series of earthquakes and fires hit Crete about 1400 B.C. The wonderful civilization slowly declined.
The Romans invaded Crete in 68 B.C. and the island was part of the Roman Empire until 395 A.D. when Crete came under the Greek rule as part of the Byzantine Empire.
Venice ruled the island from 1204 until 1669 and then the Ottoman Turks took over from 1669 until 1898.
During the 1800s there was a strong movement in Crete for the union of the island with Greece. The union finally came in 1913.
Then came World War II. Germany conquered Crete in 1941 and controlled the island until the war ended in 1945. Crete is now back as part of Greece.
Crete is the largest island of Greece and it is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is oblong. It is about 160 miles long from east to west. It varies from six to 35 miles in width.
Crete's capital city is Khania. The island's largest city, chief commercial center and most important port is Iraklion.
Most of the 'people speak Greek and they are members of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Cretans are strongly family oriented.
Mild and dry climate is usually on tap for Crete. Summer temperatures average about 75 degrees Fahrenheit and winter's average is about 53 degrees Fahrenheit. The rainy season extends from October to March with more falling at higher elevations in the mountains than falls on the plains and valleys.
Windmills are found across the landscape. They are necessary as part of the irrigation needed in the farming regions. There isn't enough rain to do the whole job.
Main crops include fruits, among them grapes, olives and oranges. Vegetables and nuts are also grown by the farmers.
Tourism is an important factor in Crete's economy.
Crete is governed out of Athens.