The eruption of Thera, which according to archaeological data occurred in c. 1500 BC, resulted in the decline of the Minoan civilization of Crete. This turn of events gave the opportunity to the Mycenaeans to spread their influence throughout the Aegean. Around c. 1450 BC, they were in control of Crete itself, including Knossos, and colonized several other Aegean islands, reaching as far as Rhodes. Thus the Mycenaeans became the dominant power of the region, marking the beginning of the Mycenaean ' Koine ' era (from Greek: Κοινή, common), a highly uniform culture that spread in mainland Greece and the Aegean.
it is thought that the mycenaeans came into power by taking over the
Crete itself, including Knossos, and colonized several other Aegean islands, reaching as far as Rhodes