Inhabited since 4000 bC it appears to have derived its name from a rare plant, murgos, from which was extracted a dye for imperial tunics.

Following the prosperous Cycladic period, from which interesting ruins remain, tthe island came under Athens rule in the Hellenic period and formed part of the Delo league.

It was passed thereafter to the Macedoines and on to the Romans.

It was part of the Roman empire (Rome and Constantinople) for 1350 years until the beginning of the 13th century when Venice took claim of the island.

After about 300 years of Venetian possession Amorgos fell to the Turkish occupation.

In 1823 the Ottoman empire granted freedom and Amorgos became part of the new Greek state.