A Brief History
Hardly a month goes by without yet another discovery. The history of Cyprus goes back way into Neolithic times. Neolithic remains have shown that this island has been inhabited since the Stone Age. Its strategic position, as much as its attractiveness as a place to live, has meant that Cyprus has had many different rulers over the centuries. The Hittites were followed by the Egyptians, and then by the Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Lusignans, Venetians and Turks. Each has left traces to be felt whilst you are wandering in the jasmine scented streets of the island. Gothic churches rub shoulders with crusader castles, and ruined temples with British Colonial architecture in a homogeneous and fascinating blend of styles and cultures. The all pervading sense of the past adds to the enchantment today to make your holiday unforgettable.
The History of Cyprus stretches over ten thousand years …………
7000 - 5300 BC Neolithic
Colonisation of Cyprus by Syrian Farmers or Cilician Deer herders
4000 - 2500 BC Calcolithic
Emergence of metal users and settlement of west Cyprus
2700 - 1900 BC Early Cypriot (Early Bronze Age)
Arrival of people from Anatolia, ox plough cultivation starts,
sporadic exchanges with Levantine mainland.
1900 - 1600 BC Middle Cypriot (Middle Bronze Age)
Beginning of contacts with Aegean’s. First mention of Alasia
(probably Cyprus) and its export of copper in Near Eastern
Historical records. Start of large scale pottery export to Levant
and Egypt; fortifications and development of urbanisation in Cyprus.
1600 - 1050 BC Late Cypriot (Late Bronze Age)
Development of Enkomi as a major port. Large scale imports
of Mycenaean pottery begin. References to Alasia in
Tel el-Amarna documents. Enkomi and Kition destroyed by
sea peoples, first settlement at Maa Palaeocastro beginning of
second wave of Achaean settlers and Enkomi abandoned.
1050 - 950 BC Cypro-Geometric I
Consolidation of Cypriot Kingdoms
950 - 850 BC Cypro- Geometric II
Obscure period in the history of Cyprus
850 - 750 BC Cypro-Geometric III
Phoenician colony at Kition, Royal tombs at Salamis,first burials.
750 - 475 BC Cypro-Archaic Period
Cyprus belonged to the Assyrian Empire for years and
later was integrated into the Persian empire.
475 - 325 BC Classical Period
Up rise against the Persians. Destruction of the Persian
Empire by Alexander the Great.
325 - 58 BC Hellenistic Period
Cyprus is involved in the struggle amongst Alexander’s
Generals for the division of the empire, Ptolemaus won
and ruled over Cyprus.
58 - 330 AD Roman Period
Cyprus becomes part of the Roman Empire. Beginning of
Christianity under St Paul and St Barnabas.
330 - 1191 AD Byzantine Period
Foundation of Islam and Arab invasion.
1191 - 1489 AD Venetian Period
Venice takes over after the abdication of Caterina Cornaro,
last Queen of Lusignan but there is always the fear of the
Ottoman Empire.
1571 - 1878 Ottoman Period
The Ottomans conquer Cyprus which becomes part of
the Ottoman Empire. Settlers from all over the Ottoman
Empire come to Cyprus.
1878 - 1918 British Period
The Ottoman lease Cyprus to Britain.
1914 - 1960 British Colonial Period
After the Treaty of Lausanne (1925) Cyprus becomes a
British Colony. In 1918, headed by orthodox clergy, the Greek
speaking population started to claim Enosis (union
with Greece). In 1950 the Orthodox Church launched a campaign
for Enosis by petitioning in their churches. An underground
combat organisation called EOKA form to fight the British off
the İsland.
1960 The foundation of the Republic of Cyprus
1960 the Republic of Cyprus was formed with its own
constitution with Britain and Turkey as Guarantors.
The President, a Greek Cypriot, and the Vice-President a Turkish
Cypriot with 50 parliamentarians. The Republic was only to
survive 3 years, after the Greek Cypriot President attempted
several unilateral amendments to the Constitution. This
resulted in the Turkish Cypriot parliamentarians withdrawal
from Government.
1963 The Island Splits
A bitter civil war between Turkish and Greek Cypriots
begins. The Island effectively splits into two pieces and
guarded enclaves form. The advent of eleven years of
bloodshed, the most tragic and dramatic period in
the lives of all Cypriots.
1974 Turkish Intervention
A military coup led by Nichos Sampson spurred the violation
of the Turkish Cypriot Enclaves with mass murders within
Turkish Cypriot villages. Under the 1960 Constitution, Turkey
used its right to guarantee, and intervened to save the Turkish
Cypriots.
Today Since the Turkish Intervention Cyprus has remained two
Autonomous states. In 1983 the Turkish Republic of Cyprus
was formed. The Green Line running through Nicosia
separates the two peoples but on 23.April.2003 Turkish
Cypriots and Greek Cypriots (and other EU Citizens) have
been able to across the Green Line to visit each other.
In April 2004 a Referendum on the Annan Plan to reach a final
settlement took place - the Turkish Cypriots voted ‘yes’ but the
the Greek Cypriots voted ‘no’, shortly and the greek afterwards
Cypriots were admitted to the EU as The Republic of Cyprus.
The Turkish Republic of Cyprus remains embargoed with no
direct flights to the Island. The talks continue …………
