Attica and Euboea were two of the regions which preserved the most closely united masses of the Mycenaean population and had not suffered destructions and desolations as other regions had towards the end of the Mycenaean age. The Dorians never managed to conquer Attica, which continued throughout historical times to be inhabited by Ionians. According to Attic tradition which refers to this habitation, Ion -who divided the Ionians of Attica into tribes: the Geleontes, Aigikoreis, Argadeis and Hopletes- was considered the leader of the Athenians. His son, Xuthus, was appointed as Polemarch by the Athenians after his victory over the Thracians

According to Thucydides, Attica was divided into individual komae (villages) with separate leaderships in the time of Cecrops. In cases of war, their leaders met to deliberate with the king. Certain modern scholars place the abolition of these local self-governments during the reign of Theseus, to whom the settlement of Attica is attributed with the formation of a common boule and prytaneion. Some others claim that the tradition pertaining to Theseus is a later invention and place the settlement in the mid-8th century BC.

| Migrations | Recent theories | Political organization | Ethnic consciousness |	Geometric period
Note: Click on the icons to read a brief description.