A Brief History of Cyprus
The Island of Cyprus
The island is renowned for very early human activity from around the 10th millennium BC and has archaeological remains from the Neolithic period. It is also the home to some of the oldest water wells in the world.
Cyprus was settled by Mycenaean Greeks in two waves in the 2nd millennium BC.
Imperial Powers
Because it has such a good strategic location in the Middle East, it was subsequently occupied by several major powers. These include the empires of the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, and the Venetians. After this, the island was ruled for three centuries by the Ottomans from 1571 until 1878 when it was placed under British administration before becoming a British Colony in 1914.
An Independent Country
Independence was granted in 1960 but within three years intercommunal violence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots started, which caused the displacement of more than 25,000 Turkish Cypriots and brought the end of Turkish Cypriot representation in the Republic.
Then on the 15th July 1974, a coup d’état by Greek Cypriot nationalists and elements of the Greek military junta attempted to incorporate Cyprus into Greece. This led, the following month, to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus causing the displacement of over 150,000 Greek Cypriots and 50,000 Turkish Cypriots.
A separate Turkish Cypriot state in the north was established by unilateral declaration in 1983 (only Turkey recognises this State) a move widely condemned by the international community who consider the northern part of the island to be part of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
Cyprus Today
The Republic of Cyprus is a sovereign democratic nation that has been a member of the European Union since 2004. The currency is the Euro. Around 3% of the island comprises two British Overseas Territories of Akrotiri and Dhekelia which are administered as British Sovereign Base Areas by the British Ministry of Defence.
Further Information About Cyprus:
- An Overview of Cyprus
- Accommodation & Places to Stay
- Places of Interest
- How to Get There
- Weather & Climate
- Local Cuisine
- Things to Do in Cyprus