Cyprus - 9,000 Years of History

Cyprus- Brief Historical Review

7000-3900 B. C. -Neolithic Age

Remains of the oldest known settlements in Cyprus date from this period. This civilization developed along the North and South coasts. First, only stone vessels were used. Pottery appeared on a second phase after 5000 BC.

3900-2500 B. C. - Chalcolithic Age

Transitional period between the Stone Age and the Bronze Age.

Chalcolithic settlements and evidence of a fertility cult were found in Western Cyprus . Copper discovered.

2500-1050 B.C. -Bronze Age

During this period Cyprus was known as 'Alasia'. Copper was exploited and brought wealth to Cyprus . Trade developed with the neighbors, Egypt and the Aegean . After 1400 B.C. Mycenaeans and Achaeans reached the island, spreading the Greek language, religion and customs. They took control over Cyprus and established the first city-kingdoms of Pafos, Salamis , Kition and Kourion.

1050-750 B. C. - Geometric Period

Hellenization of Cyprus was complete, with ten city-kingdoms. The cult of the Goddess Aphrodite flourishes at her birthplace Cyprus in a period of great prosperity. Phoenicians settle at Kition.

750-325 B.C. - Archaic and Classical Period

The era of prosperity continues, but the island falls prey to the several conquerors. Cypriot Kingdoms become successively tributary to Assyria , Egypt and Persia .

King Evagoras of Salamis (who ruled from 411-374 B.C.) unifies Cyprus and makes the island one of the leading political and cultural centers of the Greek world.

333-325 B.C.

Cyprus becomes part of the empire of Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia.

325-58 B.C. - Hellenistic Period

Cyprus comes under the Hellenistic state of the Ptolemies of Egypt, and belongs from now on to the Greek Alexandrine world. The Ptolemies abolish the city-kingdoms and unify Cyprus . Pafos becomes the capital.

58 B.C. -330 A.D. - Roman Period

Cyprus comes under the dominion of the Roman Empire . During the missionary journey of Saints Paul and Barnabas, the Proconsul Sergius Paulus is converted to Christianity and Cyprus becomes the first country to be governed by a Christian. Destructive earthquakes occur during the 1 st century BC and the 1 st century AD the cities are rebuilt. In 313 the Edict of Milan grants freedom of worship to Christians and Cypriot bishops attend the Council of Nicaea in 325.

330-1191 A.D. - Byzantine Period

After the division of the Roman Empire Cyprus comes under the Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantium , with Constantinople as its capital. Christianity becomes the official religion. Empress Helena visits Cyprus and founds the Stavrovouni Monastery. Earthquakes during the 4 th century completely destroy the main cities. New cities arise, Constantia is now capital, and large basilicas are built from the 4 th to 5 th century AD. In 647 Arabs invade the island under Muawiya. For three centuries Cyprus is constantly under attack by Arabs and pirates until 965, when Emperor Nicephoros Phocas expels Arabs from Asia Minor and Cyprus .

1191-1192 A.D. - Richard the Lionheart and the Templars

Isaac Comnenus, self proclaimed 'Emperor' of Cyprus , behaves rudely to survivors of a shipwreck involving ships of Richard's fleet on their way to the Third Crusade. Richard in revenge takes possession of Cyprus marrying Berengaria of Navarre in Lemesos where she is crowned Queen of England. A year later he sells the island for 100,000 dinars to the Knights Templars who resell it at the same price to Guy de Lusignan, deposed King of Jerusalem.

1192-1489 A.D. - Frankish (Lusignan) Period

Cyprus is ruled on the feudal system and the Catholic Church officially replaces the Greek Orthodox, which though under severe suppression manages to survive. The city of Ammochostos is now one of the richest in the Near East . The era of the Lusignan dynasty ends when the last queen Catherine Cornaro cedes Cyprus to Venice in 1489.

1489-1571 A.D. - Venetian Period

Venetians view Cyprus as a last bastion against the Ottomans in the east Mediterranean and fortify the island, tearing down lovely buildings in Lefkosia to reduce boundaries of the city within fortified walls around Ammochostos which were considered at the time as works of art of military architecture.

1571- 1878 A.D. - Ottoman Period

In 1570 Ottoman troops attack Cyprus , capture Lefkosia, slaughter 20.000 of the population and lay siege to Ammochostos for a year. After a brave defense by Venetian commander Marc Antonio Bragadin, Ammochostos falls to the Ottoman commander Lala Mustafa, who at first allows the Besieged a peaceful exodus, but later orders the flaying of Bragadin and puts all others to death. On annexation to the Ottoman Empire , the Latin leadership is expelled or converted to Islam and the Greek Orthodox Church restored; in time, the Archbishop, as leader of the Greek Orthodox, becomes the people's representative to the Sultan. When the Greek War of Independence breaks out in 1821, the Archbishop of Cyprus, Kyprianos, three bishops and prominent Cypriots are executed. The Muslim minority during the Ottoman period eventually acquires a Cypriot identity.

1878-1960 A.D. - British Period

Under the 1878 Cyprus Convention, Britain assumes administration of the island. It remains formally part of the Ottoman Empire until the latter enters the First World War on the side of Germany , and Britain in consequence annexes Cyprus in 1914. In 1923 under the Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey relinquishes all rights to Cyprus . In 1925 Cyprus is declared a Crown colony. In 1940 Cypriot volunteers serve in the British Armed Forces throughout the Second World War. Hopes for self-determination being granted to other countries in the post-war period are shattered by the British who consider the island vitally strategic. After all means of peaceful settling of the problem are exhausted, a national liberation struggle is launched in 1955 against colonial rule and for union of Cyprus with Greece , which lasts until 1959.

1960- Republic of Cyprus

According to the Zurich-London Treaty, Cyprus becomes an independent republic on 16 th August 1960. It is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement. According to the above treaty, Britain retains two Sovereign Bases (158.5 sq. km) on the island, at Dekeleia and Akrotiri- Episkopi.

The 1960 Constitution of the Cyprus Republic proves unworkable in many of its provisions and this makes its smooth implementation impossible. In 1963, the President of the Republic proposes some amendments to facilitate the functioning of the state and the Turkish Cypriot community responds with rebellion. The Turkish Cypriot ministers withdraw from the Cabinet and Turkish Cypriot civil servants cease attending their offices while Turkey threatens to invade Cyprus . Since then, the aim of the Turkish Cypriot leadership, acting on instructions from the Turkish Government, has been the partitioning of Cyprus and its annexation to Turkey . Using as a pretext the coup of July 1974, instigated against the Cyprus Government by the military Junta, then in power in Athens , Turkey invades Cyprus on July 20 1974, violating all principles governing international relations and the UN Charter. As a result, approximately 37% of the island is occupied, 40% of the Greek Cypriot population violently uprooted and thousands of people, including civilians, killed, ill-treated or disappeared without trace. The continuation of Turkish military occupation and the violation of the fundamental human rights of the people of Cyprus have been condemned by international bodies, but until today Turkey refuses to withdraw from Cyprus and maintains the island's division by the force of arms.

As of May 1 st 2004, Cyprus has become an official member of the European Union. However, the Cyprus problem remains unsolved

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