The island of Ithaca was continuously
inhabited, even during its lower periods, for almost six thousand
years- In most of its historical Periods it was never totally
isolated, due to its traditional marine activity that kept
it in contact with other distant civilizations.
A small and Poor island, Ithaca was influenced and or dominated
by the most powerful states of each period. The periods of
the different conquerors who influenced its historical evolution
are mentioned in the following text.
The origins of the first people to inhabit
the island, which was during the last years of the Neolithic
Period (4000-3000 B.C.), is unknown. The traces of buildings,
walls and a road from this time period prove that life existed
and continued to do so during the Early Hellenic era (3000-2000
B.C.).
In the Pre-Mycenaean years (2000-1500 B.C.) some of the Population
migrated to the southern part of the island. The buildings and
walls that were ex caxvated showed the life-style of this period
had remained primitive.
 During
the Mycenaean period (1500-1100 B.C.) Ithaca rised to the
highest level of its ancient history. The island became the
capital of the Cephalonians states, which included the surrounding
islands, and the opposite lands, and was refered to as one
of the most powerful states of that time.The lthacans were
characterized as great navigators and explorers with daring
expeditions reaching further than the Mediterenean Sea.
The famous epic poems of Homer, the Iliad (1193 -1184 B.C.),
and the Odyssey (1184-1174 B.C.) relate to this period depicting
the political, cultural, and social fife on the island.
 Soon
after Ulysses' reign ended, the state's power diminished,
and it became subject to the Dorian rule (1100-800 B.C.).
Ithaca, no longer an important center was under the jurisdiction
of the nearest large island.
During the ancient Hellenic prime (800-180 B.C.) the Corinthians
neglected the small and barren island. Independent organized
life continued in the northern and southern part of the island.
In the southern part, in the area of Aetos the town Alalcomenae
was founded.
From this period many objects were found from excavations,
which were of important historical value. Among these objects
were the coins imprinted with the name Ithaca and the image
of Ulysses and that it was self governed.
| Rome-Byzantium-Middle
Ages |
The rule of the Roman Empire (180 B.C.-394 A.D.) did not alter
the way of life on the island.
The majority of the population lived on the fertile land at
the northern part of the island, but a few also inhabited the
area in the south, known today as Vathy.
The objects of adoration towards the ancient gods and Ulysses
discovered, showed that old religion existed and remained until
the end of the era. During the Byzantine period (394-1185 A.D.)
Ithaca was annexed to Cephallonia and both islands were under
the authority of the Epirus province. The Byzantine Empire coerced
the population into paying heavy taxes for any property or income
they owned.
They also had to deal with invasions from pirates, which forced
them to seek refuge up in the mountains, where they established
their homes and remained there until the Venetian rule. During
this period the Christian religion was instituted and churches
and monasteries were erected in different areas of Ithaca.
During these years a town named Jerusalem was built above the
Bay of Polis. Unfortunately this town due to powerful earthquakes,
fell to ruins and dropped into the sea. It has been reported
that a few decades ago the ruins could be seen from a height
over the bay.
The Norman Occupation (1185-1204 kD.) is the first in a
number of continuous but rather short dominations, which altogether
lasted for almost three centuries.
During the Norman rule Ithaca became part of the Cephallonian-Zante
county and was somewhat neglected. The county is cessioned
by the Normans to the Orsini Family of Rome (1204-1357 A.D.)
who controlled the island by force with the cooperation of
the pirates.The Orsini's rule was ended by King Richard of
Napoli , who placed the county under the jurisdiction of the
Toques Family (1357-1479 A.D.) The Toques end and strengthened
the county developing it into an independent state with a
well equipped army and naval fleet. They kept their authority
until 1479. They abandoned the islands when they were informed
that the then very powerful Turks were planning to annex the
island to the Ottoman Empire.
In 1479 the Turkish forces landed on the islands setting the
villages on fire, plundering, killing people and taking them
captives. Ithaca became desolate and isolated. Many of the people
fled from the island out of fear of the Turkish occupiers. Those
that remained, were hiding up in the mountains to avoid the
pirates who controlled the channel between Cephallonia and Ithaca
and the bays of the island. In the following five years the
Turks, Toques and Venetians placed claims on the islands diplomatically.
The possession of the islands were finally giventhe Turkish
Empire (1484-1499 A.D.).During this time the Venetians had strengthened
into major power with an organized fleet. The Ionian islands
were part of their pursuits, and in 1499 a war between the Venetians
and the Turks started. Ithaca, and the other islands were besieged
by the allied fleets of the Venetians and the Spanish. The fleets
prevailed, and from 1500 A.D. the Venetians controIled the islands.
According to a treaty of 1503, Ithaca, Cephallonia and Zante
belonged to the Venetians, and Lefkada to the Turks.
The Venetian rule (1504-1797 A.D.) of lthaca officially began
in 1504 with a governor appointed representing Venice. In order
to build up Ithaca, the Venitians offered the sale of land for
cultivation leaving a tax free period for the first five years.
This offer attracted quite a few people from the surrounding
islands and land, to come and settle on the island. In the beginning
of this time period the people remained in the mountain villages,until
the Venitians established themselves because the pirates still
controlled the surrounding sea. New inhabitations were developed
by the coasts, the population grew and Vathy became the capital
of the island. In 1563 a Cephallonian governor represented the
rulers, and had the responsibility of the tax collection; but
after continuous protests from the people, in 1697 the island
was controlled by two elected lthacans.
 The
population steadily increased to 4,500 by the middle of the
17th century and reached a total of 10,000 at the end of the
Venetian period. In that period the systematic cultivation,
especially that of the raisin, which large amounts were exported,
brought about a better economical situation for the people.
In the same century ships were built on the island to confront
the pirates. Within a short period of time a remarkable naval
force was created with the over fifty large ships in its fleet
and many excellent sailors from the population.
During theVenetian occupation Ithaca was considered a semi-independent
island ruled with a liberal and democratic system, and was
the only Ionian island where no aristocracy, upper and lower
classes existed. Production, export and shipping were the
main factors of the economical and social improvement on the
island.
A few years after the French revolution took place, the Ionian
area came under the rule of the French Democrats (1797-1798
A.D.) and the island became the honorary capital of Cephallonia,
Lefkada, and part of the Greek mainland which formed the Ithacan
country.  The
population welcomed the French, who took care in the control
of the administrative and judicial systems, but later the
heavy taxation they demanded, caused a feeling of indignation
among the people. During this short historical period the
new ideas of system and social structure greatly influenced
the inhabitants of the island.
At the end of 1798 the French were succeeded by Russia and
Turkey (1798-1807 A.D.) which were allies at that time. Corfu
became the capital of the Ionian States, and the form of government
was democratic with a fourteen member senate in which Ithaca
had one representative.
The Ithacan fleet flourished when it was allowed to carry
cargo up to the ports of the Black Sea. In 1807, according
to an agreement with Turkey the Ionian islands once again
came under the French rule (1807-1809 A.D.). The French quickly
began preparing to face the English fleet, which had become
very powerful, by building a fort in Vathy.
In 1809 England gained possession of the Ionian Sea and Ithaca
after the siege on the French fort at Vathy. Under the English
rule (1809 - 1864 a,d,) "The United States of the Ionian
Islands " was formed, governed by a constitution which
was imposed in 1817 and Ithaca was represented in the Ionian
Senate by one Member. In the years of the Hellenic Revolution
against the Turkish occupation, Ithaca was one of the islands
where hospitality and medical care were offered to the revolutionaries
 A
number of Ithacans also participated in the Hellenic fleet.The
population steadily increased and reached a total of 15,000
by the end of the English period. A few people emigrated most
drawn to Romania, the number of sailors were increasing and
several Ithacans kept high positions either in intellectual
or financial areas in Europe.
The island and the people were progressing in all fields and
there was a lot of construction including that of the road
from Vathy to Northern Ithaca.
 Productivity,
trade, private and communal education were factors that increased
the standard of living on the island. This Period there were
visits by many Homerists and Historians. They investigated
the areas that were referred to in the Odyssey.
During the last years of the English rule three main parties
were formed. The most important of the three was the Radical
Party which supported the Union with Greece.
Finally, because of the international situation in Europe
and after a series of negotiations, in 1864 England granted
the Ionian islands to Hellas.
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