Some of the names that were given to Amorgos during the course of the centuries were Patagi, Platagi, Pangali, Psychia, and Karkisia and have course Amorgos. The name Amoulgos is found written in scripts of the 5th century A.C. when in 431 a contract was signed in Constantinople by the Patriarch Minas and the ruler of the island is said to be "Theodoros bishop of Paros, Sifnos and Amoulgos".

The fact that Amorgos is situated near the Asia Minor coastlines had made her a passage way to the East for the Archaic Greek tribes and consequently the Greek civilization. Also in archeological excavations on the island inscriptions were found that testify the passing of immigrants from Samos, Crete and other areas, confirming it as the passageway for various populaces.

During the ancient times, Amorgos was constituted of three cities : Minoa, Aigiali and Arkesini. Each one had its own currency, many of which have survived until today. Minoa apparently took its name from Minoas of Crete. From these three cities only Arkesini has preserved some of her walls. All three cities are located on the west side of the island across from Naxos.

Amorgos used to be dependent to the Athenians , as they used to attribute taxes to them. Later during the Roman Empire, Amorgos was used as a place of exile. It was stated that Gaios Vivios Serenas the proconsul of Spain had been transferred there.

During the Byzantine Empire, Amorgos belonged to the province of the islands that had Rhodes as their capital and following that, together with the islands of Paros and Sifnos it constituted the episcopate that in 1803 was united with Paronaxia. During the Byzantine Empire the Monastery of Panagia Xaoviotissa was built, which based on tradition was built in 1088 by the emperor Alexios Komninos. 

After the collapse of Constantinople by the Franks in 1204, in 1207 Amorgos fell under the rule of the Venetians brothers, Andrew and Ieremias Gizis. Amorgos went over to the hands John Votatzis emperor of Nice, because the bishop of Naxos Sanoudos extracted it from the Gizi brothers, but nevertheless the emperor handed it over to Ieremia Gizi. It stayed under the Gizi dynasty until 1309. After that it went under the rule of the Sanoudon Dynasty and stayed under their domination until 1352 when it was partitioned. One of the pieces came under the domination of Nikolaos Sanoudos, Duke of Naxos, who in order to revive his relationship with the powerful family of the Gizis, handed over to them his piece of Amorgos. Amorgos did not stay under one specific conqueror for a long period of time. Various conquerors came and went such as Grimanis, Kiriinis , up until 1447 when it became part of Astipalaia.

Up until 1534 when Amorgos became Patriarchal province, the church had a strong western influence in 1831 it became part of the Archbishopric of the Cyclades. Already from 1828 the first Greek school that was founded by the Monastery of Hozoviotissa was apparent on the island. Later the municipality of Amorgos was created in 1835. Finally in the end of the 19th and 20th century independent Amorgos starts developing. The residents expand heir stock raising , agriculture and course commerce.

During the 2nd World War it again went through difficult times, but it did not surrender. During the 60' many residents immigrated and thus the land was deprived of working hands. Amorgos is an island of the unprofitable shipping line. today Amorgos is undergoing vast development and fast moving growth.