From the end of the 3rd millennium BC, the site acquired greater importance as kingdoms developed around it, as indicated by the palace complexes that already existed at that time. An earthquake destroyed almost all the palaces of Crete between 1750 and 1700 BC, but later they were rebuilt even more elaborately. The palace of Knossos was used at least until 1370 BC. According to historians, after a Mycenaean invasion in the 14th century BC, the Minoan culture perished, Knossos was destroyed and abandoned. Only around 1000 BC the city was repopulated.
The Greek and Roman Knossos of later centuries, in turn, is located near the palace ruins, but has been excavated to this day only a small part.