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It would appear that the first settlers came from the Peloponnese around 3500-3000 BC and built a suburb in the area of Colona as well as in the Temple of Aphaea.
In the Early Bronze Age (2500-2000BC), the Aegean’s, a tribe similar to the Cretans came and settled on Aegina. They developed trading links with Attica, the Peloponnese, the Cycladic islands and Crete. This did not carry on for long however as the Greek tribes arrived who were called the Acheans. This new civilisation was completely wiped out, possibly by an unexpected invasion.
The first actual recorded information about Aegina is the conquest of the island by the Doreans of Epidavros in 950 BC. They chose Aegina as their base in order to concentrate on the sea and trading, and soon became very rich and powerful. These traders imported silver from North Africa and this was introduced as a means of exchange. From this silver, the first coins were created which were imprinted with the image of a turtle.
Aegina gradually slipped into decline. The traders turned to money lending and Aegina became a center for borrowing, and the seeds of destruction grew.
After the battle of Salamis, Athens emerged as the foremost Greek City-State, competing at all levels with the powerful Spartans and the Corinthians; and the nearby Aegina, so close and hostile represented a potential threat, which had to be eliminated. After news reached Athens of an alliance between Aegina and the Corinthians, Athens attacked and captured both Aegina's and the Corinthians’ fleet. After this, Athens decided to empty Aegina of its inhabitants and once again, Aegina fell silent.
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