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The region where the villages of Zagori are found today appears
to
have been inhabited by the prehistoric years, which is also proved
by the relics of cyclopean walls that have been found there. At
the
historical years it was inhabited by Molossoi and at the period
of the Byzantine empire it accepted a lot of raids by Slavic tribes,
which is also evident from the countless toponyms of Slavic origin.
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However,
the history of the region begins from the period of the
Turkish Domination and specifically in 1430, when fourteen villages
of Zagori, on the north-east of Ioannina, offered subjugation
to sultan
Mourat in return for a number of privileges, among which self-government
was the most important. The villages of Western Zagori followed
with
respective privileges, such as autonomy and freedom of implementation
of religious duties. In the 17th century, Eastern and Western
Zagori were
linked in an autonomous federation of 46 villages and were named
Vilaeti
of Zagori or simply Zagori. All the sultans maintained the privileges
that
this region had ensured and Ali Pasha particularly increased them.
The
villages knew great prosperity until 1868, when the High Gate
abolished
their privileges. They had managed however until then to be greatly
developed both economically and intellectually.
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The
ordeals that the villages of Zagori went through were particularly
difficult during World War II, the Domination period but also
later during
the civilian war. The region became field of martial enterprises
and the
villages of Eastern Zagori were burnt completely by the Germans.
As
a result of the destruction, a lot of residents abandoned their
villages
and sought a better life in the big urban centers.
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