The first inhabitants of the island are thought to have been Achaeans who came from Peloponnese in the 16th century BC. During historical times the island belonged at first to Athens and then to Sparta and later passed on to the Macedonians. The Romans occupied it at the beginning of the 2nd century BC. This was followed by the long Byzantine period. After the fall of Constantinople, Zakynthos fell under the domination of the Orsinis until 1485, when it was seized by the Venetians and remained under them for over 300 years. The Venetians imposed their own laws and divided the islanders into three categories: the nobles who were registered in the Libro d'Oro, the citizens, and the common people. The terrible oppression of the common people by the nobles led to their revolt in 1630, which in the end was bathed in blood.