Although the island was shaken from time to time by the
rebellious populace, it continued to develop both economically
and culturally. Painting and literature flourished. Domenicos
Theotocopoulos (El Greco), Damaskinos and other iconographers
painted exquisite portraits of the Virgin and Christ.
Under the
vaulted gates and arched windows troubadours passed singing
ballads by Hortantzis about me suffering of Erotokritos and
Erophili. In 1645 the Muslim conquerors set foot on the island
for the first time. In 1669 the whole of Crete fell to the
Turks. Not until 1913 was the island united with the rest of
Greece.