Occupancy in Greece can be dated back to appoximately 10,000 years ago. The growth of the population happened between 10000-3000 B.C. This was during the Paleolithic Era. It is said that the early settlers of Crete ventured from Anatolia around 6300 B.C. Crete was an idealistic island to settle on due to its fertile soils. It is said that the early settlers brought with them plants and animals that contributed to the growth of the islands agriculture and through the agriculture came economic growth. Between 3000-2200 B.C. or during the Bronze Age is when the population really began to flourish. Other civilizations all over the Mediterranean started to travel to Crete and the mainland because of the trade connections.