Evia has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, with Abantes being the potential first inhabitants. Homer mentions the participation of Evia in the Trojan War and the existence of important cities such as Chalkida, Eretria and Kirinthos. Evia reached the height of its prosperity in the 8th century B.C., founding up colonies in southern Italy. Yet, an end to this success and affluence would be put with the most historically common way: a war between the two strongest cities of Evia that long competed each other. This is the very famous Lelantine War between Chalkida and Eretria with several other Greek cities, allying with one of the two factions.

Of course, the final result was for both cities to experience major disasters. Not being able to recover, they were both driven in decline. During the Golden Age of Pericles, a large part of the island was under Athenian control, and after the victory of Philip in the battle of Chaeronea, it passed to the Macedonians. What follows is the rule of Romans, Byzantines, Franks and Venetians, who happened to be the key holders, until 1470 when Evia joined the Ottoman Empire.

A failed attempt to recapture the island was made in 1688 by the Venetian admiral Morosini, and finally with the London Protocol of 1830 Euboea became a part of the newly established Greek state.