Zante history guide

After the Trojan war,the Zakynthians became independent from the kingdom of Ithaca and installed Democracy. Following this, the island was then ruled by the Democrats for some 650 years. With the crusades of the west, the Ionian islands were occupied in succession by the Venetians, the Franks, inhabitants of the Andes, the kingdom of Naples and the Tokous (the Florentine princes).Eventually,Zakynthos became both organised and influenced by the Venetians which led to the renaissance of the island. The fresh town slowly stretched outside the boundaries of the ancient castle of Psofidas, moving down towards the sea where over the years a large,commercial harbour was created.