This paper traces the economic activities of the Illyrians on the eastern Adriatic coast from approximately the 4th century BC until the establishment of Roman rule. It does not give a general socio-political picture of the area, instead with the guideline of the works of classical authors and the results of archaeological research it tries to show the economic activity of the Illyrians. Firstly, primary economic activities are taken into account like animal husbandry, often transhumance, agriculture, hunting and fishing, which were the most important economic activities for the survival of the communities. Furthermore, Illyrian exchange and trading activity is closely related to the Greek colonization of eastern Adriatic. The Greek presence on the eastern Adriatic coast led to a partial elucidation of the life of Illyrian communities that 126 came into contact with an advanced civilization from which they learned in terms of construction, shipbuilding, and coinage, and from which they also profited. They profited, in terms of exchange and trade, exchanging their agricultural and animal products for luxury Greek products and wine. Also, they profited through pirate activities, creating problems in navigation along the eastern Adriatic coast and also attacking the Greek coast. It was these pirate activities, along with certain socio-political circumstances, that led to the Roman intervention and the eventual complete fall under Roman rule.