History

History
The history of the island of Thera
The Venetian Rule: 1207 - 1580
In 1204, the crusader armies of Western Europe spurred on by Venetian trading interests, sacked Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
The Turkish Rule: 1580-1820
Paradoxically, the fortunes of Santorini fared better under the Turks than they had with the Venetians.
Santorini from the Late 19th Century to 1956
Beginning with the end of the 19th century, Santorini’s economy became quite diverse.
The Minoan Civilization
c. 3000 to 1125 B.C.
Aegean Bronze Age
The Aegean bronze age civilisations established a far-ranging trade network. This network imported tin and charcoal to Cyprus, where copper was mined and alloyed with the tin to produce bronze.
Minoan Akrotiri
Excavations starting in 1967 at the site called Akrotiri under the late Prof. Spyridon Marinatos have made Thera the best-known "Minoan" site outside of Crete, the homeland of the culture.