Cyprus - a brief history
The third largest island in the Mediterranean, standing at the cross roads of Europe, Africa and Asia, Cyprushas a rich and fascinating history dating back 10,000 years.
Since the Mycenaean Achaeans established the first Greek roots here 3,000 years ago, the island has been subject to invasions and occupations by numerous other civilizations including the Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Crusaders, Venetians, Ottomans and the British. The apostles Paul and Barnabas visited Cyprusand the remains of early Christian basilica can still be found around the island along with ancient Greek temples, Roman amphitheatres, Crusader castles, monasteries and Neolithic settlements.
Amongst this diverse cultural heritage, local customs have still survived with craftsmen’s creating earthenware vessels, hand woven materials and exquisite hand made lace in time honoured tradition.
Neolithic Period - Bronze Age
The oldest known settlements in Cyprus date from the Neolithic period between 8200 and 3900 BC, in the later Chalcolithic Age a fertility cult develops and copper is discovered, the latter being exploited more extensively in the Bronze Age bringing wealth to Cyprus. Trade develops with the Near East, Egyptand the Aegean between 2500 and 1050 BC and Cyprusis known as Alasia. Mycenaean Greeks arrive after 1400 BC firstly as merchants and are followed by mass waves of Achaean Greeks who settle on the island, bringing with them the Greek language, religion and culture. The Greeks take control of Cyprusand establish the city-kingdoms of Pafos, Salamis, Kition and Kourion.
Hellenistic Age
By the 10th Century BC, the Hellenisation of the island is complete and it is divided into 10 city kingdoms, during this period, the cult of Aphrodite flourishes at her birthplace in Cyprus. The 8th Century BC is a period of great prosperity, but in the 7th Century BC the island is conquered by the Assyrians, Egyptians and Persians. King Evagoras of Salamis unifies Cyprus making it one of the leading political and cultural centres of the Greek world. In the 3rd Century BC Cyprusbecomes part of the Empire of Alexander the Great, following a succession battle between Alexander’s generals, Cypruscomes under the control of the Hellenistic state of the Ptolemies of Egypt, the city kingdoms are abolished and Pafos becomes the new capital of Cyprus.
Roman Age
Between the 3rd and 1st Centuries BC, Cypruschanges hands again and is now under the control of the Roman Empire. It is during this period that Saints Paul and Barnabas visit Cyprus on their missionary journey, converting the Roman Proconsul Sergius Paulus to Christianity thus making Cyprus the first country to be governed by a Christian. After the division of the Holy Roman Empire, Cypruscomes under the Eastern Roman Empire known as Byzantiumwith its capital in Constantinople. Christianity now becomes the official religion and Empress Helena visits the island founding the Stavrovouni Monastery. This period sees earthquakes which destroy the main cities, new cities are built in their place. When the tomb of St Barnabas is found, the Emperor Zeno gives the Church of Cyprus full autonomy. In 647 Arabs invade the island, these attacks continue for three centuries until 965 when the Emperor Nicephoros Phocas expels the Arabs from Cyprusand Asia Minor.
Lusignan - Venetian Age
In 1191, Richard the Lion heart’s ships on the way to the third crusade are shipwrecked off Cyprus, Isaac Comnenus, and the self-proclaimed Emperor behaves discourteously to the survivors and in revenge Richard the Lionheart defeats him and takes possession of the island. He marries Berengaria of Navarre in Limassol castle where she is crowned Queen of England. Just a year later he sells the island to the Knights Templar for 100,000 dinars, they sell it a year later to Guy de Lusignan, deposed King of Jerusalem.
The Catholic Church officially replaces the Greek Orthodox Church, the latter manages to survive despite strict repression. Cyprus is now ruled according to the feudal system. When the last Queen of the Lusignans Catharine Cornaro cedes Cyprusto Venicein 1489, the Lusignan Dynasty is at an end.
The Venetians consider Cyprusthe last bastion against the Ottomans in the eastern Mediterranean and fortify the island against attack, they built impressive fortified walls around Lefkosia and Ammochostos. Despite these fortifications considered to be great works of military architecture, Ottoman troops attack in 1570, capturing Lefkosia, slaughtering 20 000 people and laying siege to Ammochostos for a year. Despite a brave defense, Ammochostos eventually falls siege to the Ottoman commander Lala Mustafa, Cyprusis annexed to the Ottoman Empire. The Latin leadership is expelled or converted to Islam and the Greek Orthodox Church is restored, the Archbishop becomes the peoples’ representative to the Sultan.
Ottoman Age
Cyprus remains under Ottoman rule for over 300 years until the Greek War of Independence in 1821, the Archbishop and other leaders are executed.
In 1878, following the Cyprus Convention, Britain takes over the administration of the island, although Cyprus remains officially part of the Ottoman Empire until after the First World War. Britain annexes Cyprus in 1914, and following the 1923 Lausanne Treaty, Turkey relinquishes all rights to the island, two years later Cyprus is declared a Crown colony.
Cypriots fight alongside the allies in the Second World War and there are hopes that independence will be granted in the post war years. The British however consider the island vitally strategic and in 1955 a national liberation struggle is launched against British rule and for union with Greece.
The Republic of Cyprus
The Zurich-London Treaty creates the Republicof Cyprus, and the island joins the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the Commonwealth. Britain retains two Sovereign bases on the island. The island is independent for the first time in nearly 4000 years. Peace however is short-lived, the new constitution is unworkable and in 1963 the President of the Republic proposes some changes. The Turkish Cypriot community responds with rebellion with Turkish Cypriot ministers withdrawing from the Cabinet and civil servants no longer attending their offices. Turkey threatens to invade Cyprus.
An island divided
Following the 1974 coup instigated against Cyprusby the military junta in power in Athens, Turkeyinvades Cypruson 20th July 1974. As a result approximately 37% of the island is occupied and 40% of the Greek Cypriot population is uprooted. Thousands of people are killed or disappear without trace, their fate remaining a mystery to this day. Turkey continues to occupy the island with the presence of 35,000 troops, they bring settlers from mainland Turkey to the northern part of the island giving them properties stolen from Greek Cypriots forced from their land. Byzantine churches, monuments and antiquities are destroyed or looted and place names are changed, the demographic and cultural identity of the occupied areas is slowly altered.
A series of UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions condemn the invasion and occupation of Cyprusand demand the safe return of refugees to their homes and the tracing of missing persons. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot leadership declares the occupied areas an “IndependentState” with the support of Turkey. The international community unilaterally condemns this action, declaring it illegal and calling for its withdrawal. With the exception of Turkeyno country in the world has recognized the pseudo-state.
Since 1975 UN supported negotiations to resolve the Cyprusproblems have been going on intermittently, progress has been obstructed by Turkish intransigence. In April 2003, the Turkish Cypriot leadership, open up a number of “checkpoints” on the UN controlled “Green Line” that divide the island in two. For the first time in over 30 years Greek and Turkish Cypriots are able to cross to the opposite side of the island and visit their former homes and lands. Many Greek Cypriots however are horrified to see the destruction of their homes, villages and churches and are unable to go into their houses which had been inhabited by settlers from mainland Turkey.
During this period, an increased feeling of hope develops and a stronger desire to end the 30 year division of the island. UN led reunification efforts are doubled in the lead up to Cyprus’ accession to the European Union in May 2005. The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan presents a plan as a basis for the unification of the island and negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides begin again. A total of three drafts of the plan are made before it is put before the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities in referenda on 24th April 2004. The Turkish Cypriot community vote in favour of the plan which would allow them to join the EU with the rest of the island whilst the Greek Cypriots vote overwhelmingly against it believing that the settlement is unjust. The International community expresses disappointment in the outcome and the UN recalls its envoy from Cyprus.
The government controlled Republic of Cyprusbecomes a full member of the European Union on 1st May 2004, the island remains divided to this day.
