Mid Neolithic Period (50000 BC) The first residences settle in huts next to the riverbank of modern day Arkadiko.

Pre Classical Thracian Period

In the area reside people of Thracian descent. Idoni and Drois.

Classical Period

(Greek stage) 360 BC Colonists from the island of Thasos settle in the plains of Drama. .

357 BC

Phillip’s Macedonians come to the region. Photo _ bust of Phillip.

4th 3rd century BC

Αναγείρεται σημαντικό Erection of the important Sanctuary of Dionysus - location has not yet been discovered, however, a possible location is the area of Agia Varvara (Saint Barbara).

Hellenistic Period

Drama is part of the Macedonian Kingdom.

Roman Period (42 BC)

Drama and the Sanctuary are part of the Latin colony of Philippi.

Early Christian Period ( 1st - 4th century AD)

Steady decline of the Sanctuary of Dionysus and the construction of an Early Christian Basilica in its place.

4th _ 10th century AD

Barbaric invasions by Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Koutrigouron, Slaves and Bulgarians.

Middle Ages – Byzantium (10th - 14th century AD) 4ος αιώνας

Drama is a castle with 1500 to 2000 residents who serve military purposes. It includes the wall and the church of Agia Sofia which was originally dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary .

1204 - 1224

The region comes under the control of Lombard Marque Boniface of Montferrat. The Bulgarians seize Drama and destroy the wall. When Boniface reoccupies the town the wall is repaired

1224 - 1321

The town is liberated by the Franks and it becomes the seat of the administration and maybe even a diocese as well.

11th century AD

The Normans seize Drama.

1241

In the context of the new Greek country of Nicia, the administration of the region is undertaken by the future Emperor and founder of the Byzantine Dynasty of the Paleologou family, Mixail Paleologos.

1282

The Byzantine Emperor, Andronicus Paleologos II marries Yolanda Momfera who takes the name Irene. The Empress lives for a long period of time in Thessaloniki as well as in Drama, where she dies at the age of 46. Photo - Fresco of Andronicus Paleologos II.

1321 - 1344

Invasion by the Catalans and Civil wars by the Byzantines leave catastrophic marks on the region.

1344 - 1382

In 1345 the Kraal of Serbia, Stephan Dusan occupies Serres and Drama. In 1365 Drama is bequeathed to John Ougklesi who in 1371 loses his life, fighting against the Turks. In 1383 the region comes under the control of the Ottomans and the Sultan Murat I.

Ottoman Period (1383- 1912)

17ος αιώνας. In the 17th century the traveler Evilya Tselebi visits Drama. The population is about 3000 residence and he describes the region as idealistic, with dynamic citizens and wealth. There were 12 mosques and 30 commerce stores along the stream (modern day 19th May Street) and near the city clock. Photo_ Fresco from a mosque .

Ottoman Period 1383 - 1912

In the 17th century the traveler Evilya Tselebi visits Drama. The population is about 3000 residence and he describes the region as idealistic, with dynamic citizens and wealth. There were 12 mosques and 30 commerce stores along the stream (modern day 19th May Street) and near the city clock. Photo – Fresco from a mosque.

1780

Mahmud Passas, better known as Dramalis is born.

In 1807, comrades of the resistance leader Nikotsara are executed. Dramalis assumes the position of Commander in Chief of the Army against the revolt in Peloponnesus where he dies, beaten by Kolokotroni in Korinthos. Later in 1850 there was an observed increase in the Greek population, mainly by new arrivals from Epirus. The tobacco age begins.

1893-1902

The creation of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization and the Higher Macedonian Committee, have as a result the inflow of armed groups of guerillas into Macedonia. With the tolerance which was shown by the Ottomans the Greek population is plunged into despair and hopelessness. In 1902, Chrysostomos Kalafatis is enthroned as Metropolitan Bishop of Drama (the future national martyr of Smyrni). His arrival in Drama marked the beginning of the Macedonian Struggle.

1907 - 1910

Bishop Chrysostomos is withdrawn due to his strong national activities. In 1908 he returns only to be finally taken away as an agitator and instigator of the rebellion movement in June 1909. In 1910, from the 19,382 citizens of Drama, 13,000 were Turks, 6,000 Greeks, 350 Jews and 32 Bulgarians.

October 1912 _ First Balkan War23

Drama is taken without a struggle by the 7th Bulgarian Division initiating the First Bulgarian occupation of Drama. The Metropolitan Bishop and protector of the Greeks population was Agathangelos Konstantinidis.

Liberation

Drama is liberated on July 1st 1913 by the Greek Army by the arrival into the city of the 21st Greek Regiment with Colonel Nikolao Michalopoulo- Arkadiko as commander.

June 22nd 1916 _ Second Bulgarian occupation

Until Greece's entry into the war the Bulgarians tried to secure their dominance by gradually dislocating the Greek authorities and by annihilating the Greek citizens by using terrorism, starvation and deprivation.

October 10th 1918_ Capitulation by Bulgaria

Account: 45,000 dead in Eastern Macedonia. 1922 - Refugees arrive in the region. 1928 - 70% of the population is refugees from Thrace, Asia Minor and Ponto. This is the beginning of a new age for Drama. April 21st 1941_ arrival of the 2nd Bulgarian Boarder Brigade in Drama and the beginning of the third and bloodiest Bulgarian occupation.

October 26th 1944. The Bulgarians leave Drama.