For a period of about 600 years, palaces were the centres of the political, economic and religious life of Minoan Crete during the second millenium BC. The most important palaces were built at the same time, about 1900 BC, in already prosperous urban centres such as Knossos, Phaistos and Mallia, which were situated in the middle of fertile valleys, or else in important ports such as Zakros. Apart from the four most significant palatial centres of Knossos, Phaistos, Mallia and Zakros, there were also palaces of minor importance controlling smaller regions such as Archanes and Chania.

For some large architectural complexes such as Agia Triada, Gournia or the Little Palace at Knossos, research has not yet been completed, or has shown up a mixture of architectural features. Therefore it is difficult to classify them with any certainty as palaces or villas (a separate category in Minoan settlement tradition).

In the course of the long Minoan Age the palaces were hit by two great disasters. Each marked new developments in Minoan civilization. The first destruction was brought on by an earthquake at the end of the First Palatial period, about 1700 BC. Relatively soon after this destruction, the palaces were rebuilt by the Minoans marking the second, more glorious period, the Neopalatial period. About 1450 BC, once more earth tremors completely devastated the Minoan palaces. After this, during the Post-palatial period when central power was enfeebled, most of palatial centres were abandoned and only the palace at Knossos remained inhabited until Mycenaean rule. The ruins of the palaces, which can be visited today, belong to the second palatial period.
Palace architecture reflects the needs of a hierarchical and centralized society, where all the procedures were determined in an absolute way. Their planning and functionalism reveal the influence from palaces of the Middle East and Egypt from where the Minoans borrowed certain features which they adapted to the natural environment of Crete and to the needs of Minoan society. Planning and construction of the palaces had certain common elements which were followed closely (with the exception of some details which were developed most likely in accordance with the demands of each settlement or ruler).
The palaces are made up of multi-storey apartments, structured in four wings around an enormous rectangular central court. They had large reception halls and banqueting halls, and shrines with special installations for rituals, workshops, storerooms (which concentrated the surplus of the region) but also luxurious quarters where probably king-priests lived. The external areas comprised paved courts and theatral areas for public ceremonies and assemblies. Despite the fact that the palaces were administrative and economic centres of Minoan Crete where certainly politicians and even religious leaders lived and where treasures were stored, they were not fortified. This indicates the feeling of security of inland palatial society.