The first to inhabit it were the Thracians, whilst on the peninsula of mountain Athos the first to occupy it were the Pelasgians. The fertile earth and the existence of minerals in the area resulted in many colonies being set up.

Important moments in its history were the destruction of the Mardinio fleet at mountain Athos, the legendary section of Xerxis canal and the siege of Potidea. An important period for the area was that of the Peloponnesian War. Since 348 BC after the destruction of Olynthos by Phillip the 3rd the area belonged to the Macedonian Kingdom. In 168 BC the Romans took over whilst under the Byzantine rule it encountered catastrophically invasions.

In the 9th century the first monasteries were established at Agion Oros, whilst in the 14th century most of the area was under the Serbian rule. The Turkish then enslaved it but it enjoyed special benefits due to the minerals that were there. It took part in the revolution of 1821, was freed in 1912 and in 1922 it welcomed a hoard of refugees from Minor Asia.

Ancient sites
- Olynthos
- Potidaea

Persons
- Aristotle the ancient philosopher

Stageira, a colony founded by the island of Andros, was the birthplace of the great philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle is considered to be one of the greatest minds in human history and a "father" of the sciences and philosophy of the western culture. Aristotle was also the teacher of Alexander the Great, who often mentioned that in his father, owed his life, but in his teacher Aristotle, owed the values of his life.