ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some of the important information presented by the literary evidence, the sources quoted by Guarducci in the historical prefaces to individual cities so far as it chiefly concerns the constitutional history of Crete. The evidence of mythology, literature and history, relating to earlier times, seems sufficient to refute the hypothesis of a sudden discovery from the mainland, in the fourth century, of a backward and semi-barbarous community; presents us with evidence of the early sentiment of Cretan unity, manifested for example in the refusal to participate in the struggle against Xerxes; and may well be inadequate to support the view that Crete was torn by civil conflicts from as early as the sixth century. Ephoros objects to the opinion of some writers that most Cretan institutions are Spartan, declaring the truth to be that they were invented by the Cretans and perfected by the Spartans.
