Cyprus History - Historical Highlights:
Cyprus is an island rich in archaeological heritage, history and customs.
7000-3900BC
The first Cyprus settlers date back to the Neolithic/Stone Age.
2000 and 1000 BC
The Mycenaean and Achaean Greeks colonize the island, and Cyprus develops its Greek character.
750-325 BC -ARCHAIC AND CLASSICAL PERIOD
Cyprus comes under Assyrian, Egyptian and Persian domination. King Evagoras of Salamis (who ruled from 411-374 BC) unifies Cyprus and makes the island one of the leading political and cultural centres of the Greek world.
333-325 BC
Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, arrives in Cyprus and makes it part of his empire.
325-58 BC HELLENISTIC PERIOD
Cyprus comes under the Hellenistic state of the Ptolemies of Egypt, and becomes part of the Greek Alexandrine world. The Ptolemies abolish the city-kingdoms and unify Cyprus. Paphos becomes the Capital.
58 BC - 330 AD ROMAN PERIOD
Cyprus becomes a part 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.
330-1191 AD 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.
1191-1192 RICHARD THE LIONHEART AND THE TEMPLARS
Richard the Lionheart occupies Cyprus and marries Berengaria of Navarre in Limassol where she is crowned Queen of England. A year later he sells the island to the Knights Templars, who resell it to Guy de Lusignan, deposed King of Jerusalem.
1192-1489 FRANKISH (LUSIGNAN) PERIOD
During this period the Catholic Church officially replaces the Greek Orthodox Church. However despite severe suppression the Greek Orthodox Church manages to survive. The city of Ammochostos (Famagusta) becomes one of the richest in the Near East.
1489-1571 VENETIAN PERIOD
In an attempt to withstand the Ottoman Empire, Venetians take over Cyprus and fortify the island building impressive walls. They also unfortunately destroy a lot of buildings.
1571-1878 OTTOMAN PERIOD
The Ottoman invaders arrive spreading death to thousands. Lefkosia (Nicosia) is captured while the Venetians manage to hold out in Ammochostos for a year, before being defeated to the Ottomans. The Muslim minority during the Ottoman period eventually acquires a Cypriot identity.
1878-1960 BRITISH PERIOD
Britain assumes administration of the island. It remains formally part of the Ottoman Empire until 1914 when Britain takes control of the island. In 1923 under the Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey gives up all rights to Cyprus and in 1925 Cyprus is declared a Crown colony. The Greek-Cypriots become eager for their independence but Britain is unwilling to give up the strategic advantages of Cyprus. So after negotiations fail, the Greek-Cypriots mounted a liberation struggle against British rule from 1955 to 1959 and in 1960 Cyprus finally gain its independence.
1960 REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
According to the Zurich-London Treaty, Cyprus becomes an independent republic on l6th 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 on the island, at Dekeleia – Ayios Nicholas and Akrotiri- Episkopi.
1974 TURKISH INVASION
Turkey had been threatening to invade Cyprus throughout the 1960’s, the aim of the Turkish Cypriot leadership (acting on instructions from the Turkish Government) being to partition Cyprus. Finally in 1974, 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 20th1974, violating all principles governing international relations and the UN Charter.
As a result, about 37% of Northern Cyprus is today occupied by Turkey, 40% of the Greek Cypriot population violently uprooted and thousands of people, including civilians, killed, ill-treated or disappear 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.
2002 - EUROPEAN UNION
In December 2002, the European Council gave the green light for Cyprus to become a full EU member, as of May 1st 2004, regardless of a solution to the Cyprus problem. The UN Secretary General, Mr. Anan has personally delivered a proposed plan for the re-unification of Cyprus, which is currently under consideration by the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides. The plan proposes a Swiss-like government structure
13°C
19°C