1000 BC (approx)		Phoenicians named the island NURA and founded Mahón and Ciudadela.

300 BC		All the Balearic Islands were under the influence of Carthage.

123 BC		Became part of the Roman Empire and the eastern harbour was named "Portus Magonis" (Port Mahón).

427-534 AD		Vandals destroyed the Roman Empire and took over the Balearics. The Byzantines destroyed the Vandal Empire and returned the Balearics to Catholicism, ruled by the court of Justinian.

1000		Ciudadela was known as "Medina Minurka", capital of Arab Menorca, it was dependent for several years on the Arab Kingdoms of Denia and Cordoba.

1087		Menorca and other islands became part of the independent Moslem kingdom until 1203 when the Arabs seized back the Balearic islands. Mallorca was captured by the Catalans and the Moors on Menorca became independent.

1287		Menorca, the last of the Balearics occupied by the Arabs was taken by the King Alfonso III of Aragon and Catalonia and Christianity was returned to Menorca.

1298		For several years Menorca was ruled from Mallorca until in 1343 the King of Aragon again took Menorca and re-populated the island, mostly with settlers from Catalonia: the majority were farmers and with them came the Catalan language. The Balearics became part of the United Kingdom of Spain, as a result of the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon to Isabella of Castille. Mahón was attacked and destroyed by the infamous Barbarrossa.

1554		Charles V, Emperor of Spain, ordered the construction of Fort San Felipe as protection against continuous attacks on Mahón harbour. The Turkish Ottoman fleet destroyed Ciudadela. They carried away more than three thousand captives.

1708		During the Spanish War of Succession, Britain occupied Menorca and gave support to Archduke Charles of Austria against Phillip V of Bourbon. The treaty of Utrecht officially recognised British possession.

1756		The French took Menorca during the Seven Year War and founded San Luis.

1763		Menorca was returned to England by virtue of the Peace of Paris. During this second occupation defence and military bases were extended. The foundations of Georgetown (Es Castell) were laid in honour of King George III of England.

1769		San Cristobal was founded and became the centre of Es Migjorn Gran.

1781-1782		Franco-Spanish troops landed at Mesquida and forced Governor James Murray to surrender to the Duc de Crillon. Menorca was left defenceless after significant forts were demolished. Many of the liberal laws introduced under British rule were revoked e.g., forbidding Catalan to be taught in schools and the inquisition was brought back, previously abolished by the British. Menorca suffered a serious economic recession after the introduction of new taxes and trade restrictions. Britain took the island for the third time and they immediately began refortification works. It was during this occupation that Lord Nelson visited the island on board the "Faudroyant". Britain gave up most of its colonies in the Mediterranean and gave Menorca back to Spain, in return for Napoleon’s retreat from Egypt The Treaty of Amiens. Spain was proclaimed a republic and the monarchy was restored.

1909		The importance of tourism was discovered with foundation of the "Society for the attraction of Foreigners".

1936-1937		Menorca during the Spanish Civil War fought with the republicans and Menorca was the only island in the Balearics to back the Catalans against General Franco.

1953		First charter flight arrived in Menorca from London.

1975		After Franco’s death, Spain became a constitutional monarchy under King Juan Carlos I. The Balearics is one of the seventeen autonomous regions of Spain.