History of Andros
During the Neolithic period 6-3 Millennium BC, Andros was inhabited by the
Carrians, Phoenicians and Cretans. Traces of Neolithic settlements of the
6th Millennium BC were discovered recently at Strofolia on the west coast of
Andros. Later traces from this era were also discovered on the north coast
at Microgiali. In the area of Plaka, traces of a small settlement were also
found dating from the Middle Bronze Age.
During the C16-13th BC, the indigenous inhabitants of the island were driven
out by the Ionians that invaded from the mainland. Traces of the first
Ionian settlement were found in the area of Paliopolis. In the Geometric period,
C10-9th BC, the island experienced the first period of colonisation with
settlements in Sagora and Ipsili. At the same time, the Temple of Ipsili was
built. The C8th BC saw the beginning of the second period of colonization,
the Andrians, together with the people of Halkida, created cities in Halkidiki,
amongst these the famous Stagira, the birthplace of Aristotle.
Throughout the period C7th to 480 BC the city known today as Paliopopolis
began to flourish. Andros was conquered by the Persians during the Persian
Wars and the Athenians failed to recapture the island under the leadership of
Themistocles. In 477 C Andros joined the first Athens Alliance and took part in
the Sicilian offensive of 415-413 BC. In the year 408 BC the island was
under siege by the Athenians due to the fact that Andros had withdrawn from the
alliance the previous year. During the Hellenistic era, 320-30 BC, Andros
fell under the Macedonian rule. At this time, Paleopolis was fortified by
strong walls and the city was developed to include an agora, bath houses,
theatre and temples. In 133 BC the island came under the rule of the
Romans.
During the first Byzantine period C4-6th AD, the great churches of Paleopolis
were built and for the first time, a small settlement in Hora appeared. By the
end of the C6th, Paleopolis began to decline. In the main Byzantine
period, C7-12th AD, Andros was a province of the Byzantine Empire. In the
C9th, Andros developed an Academy of Philosophy where Leon the Wise, Emperor of
Constantinople, studied. From the period, C9-11th AD, Andros suffered from
Saracen raids which forced the population to migrate to the inland areas of the
island.
The C12th AD saw Andros flourishing in commercial businesses and production
of silkworms. In the early C13th until the middle of the C16th, Andros fell
under the rule of the Venetians. It was during this time that the two
fortified cities of Mesa Kastro and Pano Kastro in Hora were built. Also the
Tower of Makro Tandolos and the Monasteries of Agios Nicolas and Zodoch Pygis
were built. In 1566, Andros was conquered by the Ottomans. The Tower
of Bisti Mouvela was constructed in theC17th and in the C18th the first Greek
Schools were created, the most important of these being The School of the Holy
Trinity in Korthi.
On the 10th May 1821, Theophillos Kairis declared the participation of Andros
in the Greek Revolution and from this time, right up until the 1940s, Andros
became a flourishing maritime centre. Evidence of this can be seen today
in Andros from the many beautiful neo-classical houses and mansions, especially
in and around Hora, that were owned by the captains and ship-owners during this
time, in particular the families of Goulandris and Empirikos. They also donated
buildings and land to be used for cultural reasons that would benefit the island
such as museums.
Today there are few sailors and ever fewer farmers left in Andros.
Tourism has slowly but steadily began to develop and take precedence as a main
form of employment. However this has been carried out in a sympathetic way
that maintains the beauty of the island and makes Andros one of the most
beautiful islands to visit in the Cyclades.
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