Human and Civilazation

At the crossroad of East and West, North and South, Pindos, the land of cattle breeders, has been for centuries the bridge uniting humans and civilizations. A great number of archaeological sites and troves confirm the presence of humans from the Upper Paleolithic period (14,000 BC) until the after-Byzantine period (1204-1479). The first organized settlements were set up during 4th century BC, when Tharipas was king of Epirus and Archelaos king of Macedonia. Until then, the residents were nomad cattle-breeders and lived in small permanent settlements without walls protecting them and without borders. During the 4th BC century the strategic sites which controlled the access to Northern Pindos were fortified. The area flourished during 3rd BC century when Pirros was the king of Epirus, Macedonia and Thessaly. The Romans conquer would mark the start of a period of decadence-a small exception was the Macedonian part of Pindos. Nevertheless, the development of the road network by the Romans would ease the communication and the exploitation of the forest wealth of the area. The base for financial growth would come during Byzantine middle age and mainly after 1204, when the Epirus domain was founded. An important role to this was played by monasteries which functioned as financial, spiritual and educational centers with important social activities. The Othoman conquer (15th century) wouldn’t interrupt the upward course of the communities. Most of them would maintain their autonomy until the end of the 19th century. The wealth that was gathered by the activities of emigrant traders –mainly from Zagori and Metsovo- was not only used for the development of the settlements and the easement of transportation (bridges and road network), but also for the building of the newly founded Greek State at 1830. This was achieved by the institution of benefaction. Northern Pindos would become part of the Greek territory during the Balkan Wars (1912-1913). The successive wars and mainly World War II and the international financial and political changes forced the local population to migrate to bigger cities of Greece or abroad (Western Europe, America). Since the late 1970’s a period of mild growth has started along with the development of a legal frame that guarantees the protection of natural and human environment.