Corfu

Early History

What we know as the island of Corfu came into existence some 9000 years ago when a rise in the mediterranean sealevel seperated it from the greek mainland. The earliest documented settlement was created by emigrants from Eretria in the 8th C BC. By the time of 664 BC Kerkyra had acquired the reputation of being an intimidating naval power; a reputation it victoriously defended in the first naval battle of Greece against Corinthia.

Although Corfu constituted the second largest naval fleet at the time of 480BC, it didnt engage in the Persian Wars. In the 4th C BC however Corfu extended its realm of influence onto mainland Greece and conquered the cities of Buriat and Polis. From 300BC onwards Corfu's supremacy began to decline as a result of constant attacks suffered from Syracuse and Macedonia.

The island finally became Rome's first Greek province during the war fought out between Rome and Queen Teuta.