Roman period

The first real and historical conquerors were the Romans, who considered Zakynthos a strategic place for the development of trade and the expansion of their influence and occupied the island in 191 BC. However, the inhabitants of the island did not want to submit to Roman rule and launched several revolts, which ended with the arrival of Admiral Fulvius in 150 BC. He proclaimed the so-called Roman Law and the following period was characterised by a more peaceful atmosphere of coexistence between the indigenous inhabitants and the Romans.

A parliament was established on Zakynthos and the island introduced its own currency. In general, these times marked a flowering for the inhabitants, both culturally and economically.

Christianity also spread to the island, brought here around 34 AD by Mary Magdalene and Mary of Cleophas on their pilgrimage to Rome. Annual festivals are held in their honour in the town of Maries and Christianity continues to be of great importance throughout Greece today. Greeks take great pride in their family and in observing Christian festivals and traditions.

Byzantine period

After the decline of the Roman Empire, the Ionian Islands and other former Roman colonies along the western Mediterranean coast experienced a period of uncertainty and numerous raids by Arab pirates, and then especially Constantine the Great. In the 4th century, he annexed Zakynthos to the province of Illyria, beginning a new historical era for the island - the Byzantine rule, characterised primarily by stability and social rebirth.

The inhabitants of the island were divided into three social classes, with the highest class consisting of landowners and landowners, the middle class including merchants and workers, and the peasants slipping into the lowest class. During the Byzantine Empire, Christianity flourished here and many churches, chapels and monasteries were built, some of which still stand today. In addition to religious buildings, defensive fortresses were built to better protect the island from pirate attacks and crusades.

Venetian period

After the collapse of the Byzantine Empire, Zakynthos experienced a rather uncertain period, with several families and dynasties in power. However, it managed to extend its territory and influence to the coast of mainland Greece, making the island more important.

In 1479, the Ottoman Turks took control of Zakynthos, but they showed little interest in the island and soon the Venetians gained control. The rule of the Venetian Republic was an important epoch in the history of the Greek islands, not excluding Zante, and the influence of Venetian culture is still evident on the island today.

Zakynthos was annexed to the Italian overseas provinces in 1485 and just a few years later the Venetian government came out with a campaign to relocate many of its inhabitants to the island. The coexistence between Venetians and islanders was relatively peaceful compared to previous nations, although even here we would find darker moods - there was a popular uprising for political rights between 1628 and 1632, but it ended in bloodshed. In general, however, the two nations got on reasonably well, largely probably because the islanders were allowed social and religious freedom.

The Venetians nicknamed Zakynthos "fiore di Levante", which translates as "flower of the East", and it was under the Venetians that most of the olive orchards on the island were planted. The period of Venetian rule is characterised by the island's prosperity and flourishing in cultural and architectural terms, to the extent that the island came to be known as the 'Venice of Greece'. Many of these beautiful buildings from the Venetian period can still be admired today. Although most of them are no longer original. Unfortunately, the aftermath of the great earthquake of 1953 was very devastating for the whole island. However, thanks to the efforts of the locals, many of the historic buildings have been restored in an authentic style.