Archaeological findings have proved that the island was
inhabited during the Neolithic Period. Its first inhabitants
were the Carians, Leleges, Phoenicians and Minoans. Then,
the island was conquered by the Dorians.
Leros flourished culturally during the 5th century, when
various philosophers and scientific brought an intellectual
growth to the island.
After the Persian Wars, the island united with Athens
and became a member of the Athenian Alliance.
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They exercised their tyrannical power on the inhabitants
until 1523, when they were beaten by the Turks, who took
control over the entire Aegean.
Despite the Ottoman yoke, the island managed to keep a
kind of autonomy. When the Greek Revolution of 1821 started,
the inhabitants of Leros were part of the first to rise
up against their oppressors.
Despite the Greek Revolution, the London Protocol gave
back the islands of the Dodecanese to Turkey in 1830.
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The island of Leros was liberated by the Greek “Sacred
Battalion”. Then, the English occupied the island for
two years.
Leros, with the rest of the Dodecanese, became part of
the newly built Greek State in March 1948.
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