Crete (Greek:Kríti [kriti]; Ancient Greek: is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the 13 administrative regions of Greece. The capital and the largest city of Crete is Heraklion. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits (such as its own poetry, and music). Crete was once the center of the Minoan civilization (circa 2700–1420 BC), which is currently regarded as the earliest recorded civilization in Europe