During the last ice age most of the islands of the Cyclades were united into a big landmass.

The islands flourished during the early Bronze Age, when the Cycladic culture appeared.

On the islands, particularly on Schoinoussa and Irakleia, ruins from classical antiquity and the Roman period can be found.

Since the 11th century most of the islands of the Lesser Cyclades were given as property to the Hozoviotissa Monastery in Amorgos.

[4] The monastery even today retains large areas in the islands as its property.