<P> Hoeck, with no idea that the archaeological Crete had existed, had in mind the Crete of mythology . Although Evans' 1931 claim that the term was "unminted" before he used it was called a "brazen suggestion" by Karadimas and Momigliano, he coined its archaeological meaning . </P> <Table> Minoan chronology <Tr> <Td> 2500--2400 BC </Td> <Td> EMI </Td> <Td> Prepalatial </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2300--2100 BC </Td> <Td> EMII </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2100--2000 BC </Td> <Td> EMIII </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2000--1900 BC </Td> <Td> MMIA </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1900--1850 BC </Td> <Td> MMIB </Td> <Td> Protopalatial (Old Palace Period) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1850--? BC </Td> <Td> MMIIA </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td>?--1750 BC </Td> <Td> MMIIB </Td> <Td> Neopalatial (New Palace Period) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1700 / 1750--1600 BC </Td> <Td> MMIIIA </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1600--1550 BC </Td> <Td> MMIIIB </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1550--1500 BC </Td> <Td> LMIA </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1500--1450 BC </Td> <Td> LMIB </Td> <Td> Postpalatial (at Knossos; Final Palace Period) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1450--1400 BC </Td> <Td> LMII </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1400--1300 BC </Td> <Td> LMIIIA </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1300--1200 BC </Td> <Td> LMIIIB </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> 2500--2400 BC </Td> <Td> EMI </Td> <Td> Prepalatial </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2300--2100 BC </Td> <Td> EMII </Td> </Tr>

Why are the minoans considered the first european civilization