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History
 The
Dodecanese islands have been inhabited since the prehistoric period and were
first ruled by the Minoans and then the Achaean Greeks. But their economic
and intellectual development began with the arrival of the Dorians in 1100
BC, reaching a peak of growth in the 8th century. The three great cities of
Lindus, Kamiros and Ialyssos, which were founded on the island of Rhodes in
the 6th century BC, constituted along with Kos, Knidus and Halicarnassus in
Asia Minor, the Dorian Hexapolis (confederacy of six cities). The economical
and cultural growth of this area was cut off prematurely by the Persian
tempest, which then shook all Greece. After the defeat of the Persians,
several Dodecanesean islands became members of the Athenian Alliance in 408
B.C. and the three large towns of Rhodes united into one state.
 More
particularly, Kos prospered in the 4th and the 3rd century B.C. because of
the school of "Medicine" created there by the founder of medicine
Hippocrates. Because of their strategic and vulnerable position, these
islands have been subjected to an even greater catalogue of invasions and
occupations than the rest of Greece. The Romans started conquering the
islands in 146 BC, inheriting them to the Byzantine Empire who lost them to
the Arabs in the 7th century AD. The Crusading armies from Europe reclaimed
them for Christendom and in 1309 the Knights of the Order of Saint John who
became the rulers of Rhodes, extended their sovereignty to the other islands
as well. In early 16th century for the Dodecanese began a long period of
occupation by the Turks, which was ended in 1912, by the colonial ambitions
of Italy. The Italians, especially under Musolini, tried to reform the
cultural characteristics of the region, mainly by discouraging the public
use of Greek language and investing in architectural projects that stressed
the islands? historical ties with the Latin world. Second World War brought
the abrupt end of these plans and the islands were official restituted to
Greece in 1948.
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