The earliest inhabitants of the island known to historians were the Kares (Carians), a pre-Hellenic tribe probably allied to or under the dominion of the Minoans, who eventually were forced by pressure of invading tribes to move on and settle in Asia Minor.
Os primeiros habitantes da illa coñecidos polos historiadores foron os carios, unha tribo prehelénica probablemente aliada con, ou baixo, o dominio dos minoicos que finalmente foron forzados pola invasión das tribos a trasladarse e asentarse en Asia Menor.