a historical region in northwestern Greece, along the Ionian Sea. Epirus includes the areas of Arta, Preveza, Thesprotia, and Joannina, covering an area of 9,200 sq km. Population, 310,300 (1971). The chief city is Joannina. Most of the area is occupied by the Pindus Mountains, which rise to a maximum elevation of 2,633 m.
Epirus, a predominantly agricultural region, has crops of wheat, oats, tobacco, and cotton, which are cultivated on the plain, as well as vineyards and olive groves. Livestock, chiefly sheep and goats, is raised in mountain pastures. Forestry is practiced, and citrus groves are cultivated along the coast. Fishing is also a means of livelihood. Epirus has no railroads; the main highway leads from Joannina to Preveza.
It is thought that Epirus was the original area from which the Greek tribes spread over the Balkan Peninsula and the islands of the Aegean Sea. In historical times, Epirus was inhabited by the Chaones, Molossians, and other tribes. During the reign of the Molossian king Pyrrhus (late fourth—early third centuries B.C.), Epirus was united as a single state. After this period the entire population were known as Epirotes.
In 168 B.C., Epirus was conquered by the Romans, who destroyed more than 70 cities and enslaved approximately 150,000 Epirotes. Under Augustus the territory of Epirus was made part of the Roman province of Achaea. During the reign of Trajan, in the second century B.C., Epirus was joined with Acarnania to form the province of Epirus. In the fourth century it became part of Byzantium, and in the 13th and 14th centuries the territory was part of the Epirote State. In the mid-15th century, Epirus came under Turkish rule. In 1881 the Arta region was annexed to Greece, and after the Balkan Wars (1912–13) all of Epirus became part of Greece.