History of the Cyclades Islands
The Cyclades are made up of 220 islands and have played an important role in Greece’s remarkable past since well before antiquity. Richly inhabited since the Neolithic period by the booming Cycladic civilisation, the islands have experienced continuous inhabitation since the 3rd millennium BC. In ancient times, their religious significance was roused by the island of Delos (made sacred as the Greek god, Apollo’s, birthplace) which lies in the heart of the Cyclades and is protectively encircled by the remaining islands. Beyond this mythical importance, the Cyclades were logistically fundamental for trading charters between Europe, Asia Minor and Africa. During antiquity, sailors would always determine to stay in sight of land and as intersections between the continents, the Cyclades islands were essential for navigating the uncertain seas.
The geographical advantages of the Cyclades promised great commercial authority to whoever ruled over them, which gave rise to continuous power struggles throughout the ages. The result is a fascinating amalgamation of traces left behind by civilisations such as the Neolithics and Mycaeneans to empires such as the ancient Romans and Byzantines.
After such a prosperous history, the Cyclades experienced a decline in power and authority throughout the 19th and 20th century. This was largely due to the opening of new trade route in 1893, the Corinth Canal which proved more efficient and amenable to the recently invented steamships which redefined global commerce and rendered many once powerful regions useless. The islands faced further hardships through war, emigration and urbanisation on the mainland and until the 1950s, they experienced little, if any, significant developments.
By 1957, the Cyclades had experienced an immense boom in tourism with some of the world’s most glamorous figures holidaying frequently on the now famed islands, among them Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Antiparos, Syros and Tinos. Whilst at the start of the 20th century, Mykonos did not have a single hotel to offer its few travellers, by 2005 nearly 200 had cropped up across the island and 909 throughout the entire Cyclades.
A timetable of historical events in the Cyclades islands
c. 5000 BC The Cyclades are first inhabited
3000 BC – 2000 BC The Cyclades develop organised communities
2000 BC – 1650 BC The island of Santorini reaches prosperous heights as a main centre of trade in the Mediterranean.
1650 BC – 1550 BC Volcanic eruption on Santorini followed by a series of destructive tidal waves severely impacts its commercial power.
c. 1100 BC Destruction and abandonment of various settlements across the Cyclades.
c. 700 BC The temple of Apollo is built on the sacred island of Delos followed by more honorific structures across other Cyclades islands.
c. 550 BC Oldest surviving sculpture of the winged goddess, Nike, derived from Delos.
c. 499 BC The island of Naxos is attacked by Persian forces under the Persian king, Darius the Great.
480 – 478 BC Various Cycladic city states join Greek forces against Persian attacks and are victorious.
431 – 404 BC The Cycladic city states unite with Athens in the Peloponnesian war against Sparta
377 – 355 BC The Cycladic city states unite with Athens in the second league against Sparta
166 BC Rome gives Athens dominance of the Cyclades.
88 BC Mithridates, ruler of the Hellenistic Kingdom of Pontus, attacks and destroys Delos.
69 BC Delos is looted by pirates.
41 BC Rome establishes control over Naxos.
c. 300 AD Christianity is established in the Cyclades.
c. 400 AD After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire takes control of the Cyclades.
1204 The Fourth Crusade conquers Constantinople and the Cyclades come under Venetian rule.
c. 1715 Control of the Cyclades falls into the hands of the Ottoman empire through two successful raids.
1821 - 1829 Greek War of Independence fights for freedom from Ottoman rule and is victorious.
1941 Occupation of the Cyclades by Italian and German forces during World War II.
1957 Tourist revenue rivals and eventual surpasses the Cyclades’ chief raw export material (tobacco).
