Archaeological discoveries suggest that
the first appearance of man on the
island dates back to the Neolithic
Period.
Early Bronze
Age. Santorini followed the cultural
evolution which took place in the rest
of
Cyclades
Islands. Marble vases , pottery and
marble figurines have been found. All
these find belong to the Early
Cycladic civilization.
Middle Bronze Age. Santorini
entered the so-called Middle Cycladic
civilization. An important ancient
city seems to have existed at the south
of the island near Akrotiri. The close
relations with Crete are proved by the
influence on the pottery and painting
which were found by archaeologists.
About 1550 BC.
It is believed that the island Strongyle
(rounded), was shattered and its
remaining fragments constituted Thera,
Therasia and Aspronisi. Tidal waves
washed the shores of the surrounding
islands and Crete. The eruption is
estimated to have been four times more
powerful than that of Krakatoa in 1883.
Its repercussions within the Aegean area
were terrific. The sinking of Strongyle
is frequently identified with the
submergence of the
mythical Atlantis.
Earthquakes destroyed everything. Upon
the ruins was founded the Late Minoan
City of Acrotiri, a new urban
society. One or more rooms in each house
were decorated with wall-paintings
featuring naturalistic landscapes or
animals or humans. This city is now
coming to light and promises to greatly
extend archeological knowledge. The
lay-out of the city resembles the
present-day villages of Santorini. One
can visit the Ancient city of Acrotiri
and walk through its streets.
About 1500 BC. At Akrotiri a
society existed which can be
characterized as urban. It seems that
this society was a mixture of Cretans
(Minoans) and local Cycladic people.
About 1450 BC. Eruption of the
volcano.
Abt 1330 BC.
According to Herodotos, Phoenicians came
and settled in
Kalliste.
They stayed there for five generations.
This information has been neither
verified nor rejected by archaeologists.
About 1115 BC.
The island became a Lacedaemonian
colony. It was completely isolated from
the outside world and entered a long
"dark age". By that time the island was
named
Thera
after Theras.
Abt 825 BC. The Phoenician
alphabet was imported to Thera, Milos
and Crete and so the Hellenic language
acquired its alphabet.
Archaic period (7th and 6th centuries
BC). Thera was in close contact with
Crete, Paros, Attica, Corinth, Rhodes
and Ionia. The relations were rather
superficial. The conservative Therian
society was not easily influenced. The
fertile soil covered the needs of the
local people who avoided maritime
adventures. As a result the Classical
period of ancient Hellas did not leave
any particular characteristics in Thera.
Hellinistic period (300-145 BC).
The island's strategic position was
especially esteemed by the Ptolemies.
Thus, Thera became an important naval
base from which the successors of
Alexander the Great launched their
campaigns for dominion over the Aegean.
197 BC. Eruption of the volcano.
19 AD. Eruption of the volcano.
46 AD. Eruption of the volcano
726 AD. Eruption of the volcano.
1204 AD. The Fourth Crusade
created the Latin Empire of the
Bosphorus.
1207 AD.
The Duchy of Naxos of the Archipelago
was founded and assigned to Marco I
Sanudo. Thera was ceded as a Barony to
Giacomo Barozzi. The administration
remained in the hands of five
generations of Barozzis until 1296. The
Barozzis used to call themselves "Dominatores
insularum
Santorini
et
Therasia".
1296 AD. The Byzantine Likarios
liberated Santorini along with the
islands of Amorgos, Seriphos, Kea, Ios,
Siphnos and Pholegandros.. However the
newly-won freedom was very short lived
and before the year was out the Barozzis
had returned to Santorini.
During the next years the history of the
island is the history of the rivalries
between local lords and the Duke of
Naxos or disputes between the latter and
the Turks.
1570 or 1573 AD. Eruption of the
volcano.
1579-1821 AD. Turkish occupation
1650 AD. Eruption of the volcano
(26th Sept - 6 Dec)
1707 AD. Eruption of the volcano
(23rd May - 17th Jan 1708)
1821 AD. Santorini is liberated.
1866-1870 AD Eruption of the
volcano.
1870 AD. Mamet and Gorceix
carried out a trial excavation in
Akrotiri where a late Minoan settlement
exists.
1899 AD. Robert Zahn carried out
minor excavations at the site of Potamos
(Akrotiri)
1925 AD 11th Aug - 1926 AD 21st May.
Eruption of the volcano
1928 AD. Eruption of the volcano
(23rd Jan - 17th Mar)
1939 AD End Aug - 1941 Beg July.
Eruption of the volcano
1950 AD. Eruption of the volcano
(10th Jan - 2nd Feb)
1967 AD. Professor Marinatos
begun excavations at Akrotiri and
uncovers a Late Minoan settlement.
Today An island which can be
described as a paradise for tourists and
archaeologists.
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