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CYPRUS HISTORY - Cyprus island through
the ages.
A brief account of the rich history of Cyprus
from the Neolithic period to its present date. See also details on Cyprus
sights, sightseeing and museums.
Cyprus World - Cyprus History:
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CYPRUS
PREHISTORY - The Neolithic Period - 7000 BC to
3900 BC |
The
first settlers arrived to the island approximately 7000.BC,
which is today known as the Neolithic age, and were originally
inhabitants of the Near East. Once settled on the island, they
selected areas with access to water, and preferred to be near
the sea, which could also be defended easier strategically.
The first of the settlements were circular in shape, and built
of large stones, which were collected from rivers. The upper
shelter sections of the dwellings were made of daub, and mud-bricks. |
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CYPRUS
CHALCOLITHIC PERIOD - 3900 BC to 2500 BC |
The
Chalcolithic period is best described as the in-between or transitional
period, between the Stone & Bronze Ages. Despite the fact
that the Chalcolithic period was at least 1500 years pre Bronze
Age, this was still the period that bronze was first discovered,
and exploited on a very small minimal scale. |
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CYPRUS
BRONZE AGE
- 2500 BC to 1050 BC |
In
the mid-3rd century millennium BC, circa 2500 BC, the first
discovery of copper was evident at the many different locations
throughout the island. This new discovery also seemed to have
attracted new settlers to the island, believed to come from
Anatolia. Once arrived, they taught the inhabitants their secrets
and techniques of metalworking |
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CYPRUS
GEOMETRIC ERA - 1050 BC to 750 BC |
A
large earthquake (or earthquakes) had hit Cyprus hard, towards
the end of the Bronze Age, causing catastrophe, and total destruction,
officially marking an end to an era. The earthquake left so
much havoc in its wake, that almost all of the large settlements
were completely destroyed. Unfortunately, the aftermath of this
disaster would create Cyprus’s darkest hour. The island
was deteriorating, and its population levels decreased to a
very low level, that it was threatening. This continued for
the next two centuries |
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CYPRUS
ARCHAIC ERA - 750 BC to 480 BC |
In
709 BC, Latnana (as Cyprus was then called) was dominated by
a new power on the island, the Assyrians. Latnana was separated
into seven kingdoms, and all had to pay a contribution to their
leader, the King of Assyria, who ruled all of the seven kingdoms. |
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CYPRUS
CLASSICAL ERA - 480 BC to 325 BC |
The
era of prosperity continued, but the island falls prey to several
conquerors. Cypriot Kingdoms become successively tribute to
Assyria, Egypt and Persia. King Evagoras of Salamis (who ruled
between 411-374 BC) not only threw off the Persian yoke, but
also strove for the unification of the Cypriot kingdoms. |
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CYPRUS
HELLENISTIC ERA - 325
BC to 50 BC |
The
Persian domination of Cyprus was brought to an end by the campaign
of Alexander the Great in Anatolia. In return for the help of
the Cypriot kings in the siege of Tyre, Alexander granted them
their independence |
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CYPRUS
ROMAN PERIOD - 50 BC to 330 AD |
When
the Empire of Alexander the Great ended, the power of Roman
Empire grew. Cyprus would then become a province of the Roman
Empire, and in its path, gradually losing its very distinctive
identity, and the cultural character that it had formed under
the mix of many different rulers and civilisations. The Romans
interest for the island was strategically motivated, understandably,
since Cyprus is a gateway to three continents. There were other
interests too, for their newly added province. |
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CYPRUS
BYZANTINE PERIOD - 330
to 1191 AD |
After
the division of the Roman Empire, Cyprus comes under the Eastern
Roman Empire, known as Byzantium.
Christianity was taught for the first time to the Jewish community
of Paphos, by Saint Paul and Saint Barnabus in 46AD. Among the
new converts, was the proconsul of Cyprus, Sergius Paulus, who
later became the world's first governor of a Christian state. |
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CYPRUS
FRANKISH RULE - 1191 - 1489 AD |
Isaac
Comnenus, self proclaimed 'Emperor' of Cyprus was the last independent
leader of the island. At the time, English King Richard Coeurdelion
aka 'Richard the Lionheart', led the Third Crusade to the Holy
Land together with the French King Phillip II Augustus, and
Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. |
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CYPRUS
VENETIAN RULE - 1489 - 1570 AD |
In
1489, Cyprus was ceded to Venice by Caterina Cornaro, the last
Lusignan ruler. The economic and political brigades that were
already created before 1489 by the Venetians, with the pretext
of protection from the Ottomans, meant that the move was not
opposed by the western powers. |
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CYPRUS
OTTOMAN RULE - 1570 - 1878 AD |
When
the Ottomans arrived in Larnaca in 1570, nothing could have
prevented them. Despite the fortifications and diplomatic attempts
by the Venetians, who were ruling Cyprus at the time. Within
a year, the Ottomans moved north to the capital of Nicosia,
and then further north to Famagusta. Whilst on their travels,
they led a trail indiscriminately killing Cypriots and Latin’s,
burning churches and looting |
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CYPRUS
BRITISH RULE - 1878 - 1960 AD |
Under
the 1878 Cyprus Convention, Britain assumes administration of
the island. It still 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. |
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CYPRUS
INDEPENDENCE - 1960 to the Present |
According
to the Zurich-London Treaty, Cyprus becomes an independent republic
on 16th 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 Soverign
Bases (158.5 sq.km) on the island at DekeliaThe Greek Cypriots
alternating support for independence and union with Greece,
and the efforts of the Turkish Cypriots towards partition of
the island, in combination with the military and strategic aims
of the Great powers at various times meant that friction that
existed between both sides escalated into violence in 1963 |
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TURKISH
INVASION OF CYPRUS - 1974 |
Turkish
invasion of Cyprus and subsequent 38% of the island occupied
by the Turkish army. |
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CYPRUS
JOINS THE EUROPEAN UNION - 2004 |
Cyprus
becomes a full member of the European Union |
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Cyprus History
