tell me cyprus history?

Answer 1

Chronological History of Cyprus

c.8,500 - 8,000 BC - Hunter Gatherers in Cyprus

7,000 - 5,300 BC - The first settlers: the Khirokitians

4,000 - 2,500 BC - Chalcolitic (Copper) Age: stone crucifix pendants are carved

2,700 - 1,600 BC - Cypriot Bronze Ages, Early and Middle: cattle, horses, and bronze making are introduced as well as highly individual pottery style

1,600 - 1,050 BC -
The Late Bronze Age: period of sophisticated literate city states such as Enkomi-Alasia and Kition

1,500 - 1,450 BC - Hittite rule in Cyprus

1,450 - 1,000 BC - Beginning of the Egyptian domination of the island

1,200 - 1,000 BC - Establishment of the city states of Salamis (capital at the time), Soli, Marion, Paphos, Kurium, and Kyrenia; arrival of Greek colonies

1,000 - 850 BC - Iron Age - Cypro-Geometric Period.
The coming of Iron, the Dorians and a Dark Age also known as Cypro-Geometric I and II

850 - 750 BC - Iron Age - Cypro-Geometric Period.
The Phoenician led Renaissance and Assyrian rule on the island.

750 - 475 BC - Iron Age - Cypro-Archaic Period.
Time of the city-kingdoms despite the island being ruled by a succession of foreign countries for much of the period (Assyrians, from 709 BC; Egyptians, from c.570 BC; and Persians, from 545 BC)

568 - 525 BC - Egyptian domination

525 - 333 BC - Iron Age - Cypro-Classical Period
This period sees the Persian occupation and the rule of the island and the duel between the city kingdoms of Kition and Salamis.

333 - 58 BC - Hellenistic rule
During this period the heirs of the Alexander the Great rule Cyprus

58 BC - 395 AD - Roman Empire ruling Cyprus:
350 years of quiet provincial prosperity

395 - 649 - Island becomes a part of the Byzantine Empire when Cyprus is gradually converted from paganism to Orthodox Christianity (Early Byzantine period)

649 - 965 - A second Dark Age
The island is caught on the frontier between the two warring empires of Byzantium and Islam

965 - 1191 - Late Byzantine Period
This period sees the return of the island to Byzantium

1191 - 1192 - Rule of the island by Richard I (the Lionheart), of England and later by the Knights Templars

1192 - 1489 - Lusignan Period
Rule of the island by the Frankish Lusignan dynasty

1489 - 1570 - Venetian domination of Cyprus

1571 - 1878 - Ottoman Rule
Conquest and rule of the island by the Ottoman Empire

1878 - 1925 - Ottoman Land - British Administration
In accordance with a defence-alliance between Britain and the Ottoman Empire, the administration of Cyprus passes to Britain

1925 - 1960 - British Crown Colony
Cyprus is annexed by Britain when Ottoman Empire enters into the World War I on the side of Germany; subsequently the island becomes a crown colony and under the British rule

1960 - Foundation of the Republic of Cyprus
Turkish-Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot communities declare the independent Republic of Cyprus, guaranteed by Britain, Greece and Turkey, based on the London and Zürich Agreements.

1963 - Inter-communal violence
Inter-communal strife in Cyprus and the subsequent collapse of the constitutional rule

1974 - Coup d'etat by the Greek army officers stationed on the island to overthrow the President (Makarios) with the aim of uniting the island with Greece; subsequent Turkish Military intervention (under the provisions of the Treaty of Guarantee of the Republic of Cyprus)

1974 - Division of the island into Turkish-Cypriot North and Greek-Cypriot South

1975 - Declaration of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, to pave way for a federal settlement on the island

1983 - Foundation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

1990 - The 'Republic of Cyprus' (effectively the Greek-Cypriot South Cyprus) applied for full membership to the EU on 4th July 1990. This application was made without the consent of the Turkish-Cypriot Community as was required by the 1960 Constitution of the 'Republic of Cyprus'.

2002-3 - Dialogue and negotiations between Denktash & Klerides to unify the North & South before EU entry

2003 - Borders Open
After 30 years borders open between North and South Cyprus on 23 April 2003, following the Turkish-Cypriot Authorities ease the border restrictions.

2004 - Twin-Referendums on uniting the island under the UN Annan's Plan - accepted by Turkish-Cypriots, but rejected by Greek-Cypriots. Island (effectively Greek-Cypriot Southern Cyprus) becomes a member of the EU.
http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/history/
History in Cyprus dates as far back as 7000 BC, the Neolithic Age, with settlements along the north and south coasts of the island.
After1400 BC, the first Greeks came to the island, Mycenaen merchants, who started the Hellenisation of the island.


By1050 BC Cyprus can be considered a Greek island, with the language, culture and religion of Greece well established. Cyprus has ten city-kingdoms and by 800 BC it is a flourishing and prosperous country.


From750 BC Cyprus is conquered several times by Assyria, Egypt and Persia. In 333 BC Alexander the Great claims Cyprus for part of his empire. Cyprus continues to be part of the Hellenist Empire until 58 BC.


In 58 BC Cyprus becomes part of the Roman Empire. Saint Paul is converted to Christianity whilst in Cyprus and Cyprus becomes the first country governed by a Christian.


After the division of the Roman Empire Cyprus becomes part of Byzantium, with Constantinople as its capital.
In1191 AD Cyprus is defeated by the crusader Richard the Lionheart. The island is then sold to the Knights Templar, who resell it to Guy de Lusignan. From 1192 to 1489 Cyprus is ruled under a feudal system and Catholicism becomes the official religion.
In1489 control of the island passes to the Venetians who takes steps to fortify the island and build walls around the towns of Nicosia and Famagusta.
In1571 Ottoman troops invades the island and Cyprus becomes part of the Ottoman Empire. Islam is introduced to the island and Catholicism is expelled. The Greek Orthodox religion is restored.


IN1878, under the Cyprus Convention, Britain assumes administration of the island although it remains part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1914 however, when the Ottomans entered the 1st World War on the side of the Germans, Britain annexed the island. In 1923 Turkey relinquishes all rights to Cyprus and in 1925 Cyprus is declared a Crown colony.
An armed struggle breaks out in 1955 against colonial rule, which lasts until 1960 when the island is granted independence.


In 1963 Turkish-Cypriot ministers withdraw from the Government in protest at proposed changes to the Constitution and Turkey threatens to invade.


In1974 the Greek junta instigates a coup in Cyprus against the Cypriot Government and Turkey uses that as an excuse and invades the island.
http://www.cyprusexplorer.com/history.htm
http://www.kypros.org/Cyprus/history.html
http://www.agiasofia.com/cyprus.html
http://www.ucy.ac.cy/usefulE/cyprushistoryE/cyprushistorye.html

Answer 2

Cyprus became part of the Byzantine Empire after the partitioning of the Roman Empire in 395, and remained so for almost eight hundred years, interrupted by a brief period of Arab domination and influence.

After the rule of the rebellious Byzantine Emperor Isaac Komnenos, King Richard I of England captured the island in 1191 during the Third Crusade. On May 6, 1191, Richard's fleet arrived in the port of Lemesos and took the city. When Isaac arrived to stop the Crusaders he discovered he was too late and retired to Kolossi Castle. Richard called Isaac to negotiations but Isaac broke his oath of hospitality and started demanding Richard's departure. Richard ordered his cavalry to follow him in a battle against Isaac's army in Tremetusia. The few Roman Catholics of the island joined Richard's army and so did the island's nobles who were dissatisfied with Isaac's seven years of tyrannical rule. Richard's army was bigger and better equipped, assuring his victory. Isaac continued to resist from the castles of Pentadactylos but after the siege of his castle of Kantara he finally surrendered. In a fit of sardonic irony, Richard had Isaac confined with silver chains, scrupulously abiding by a previous promise that he would not place Isaac in irons should he be taken prisoner. Richard became the new ruler of Cyprus, gaining for the Crusade a major supply base that was not under immediate threat from the Turks as was Tyre. Richard looted the island and massacred those trying to resist him. He and most of his army left Cyprus for the Holy Land early in June. In his absence Cyprus was governed by Richard Camville.

In 1192, the French knight Guy of Lusignan purchased the island, in compensation for the loss of his kingdom, from the Templars. The Republic of Venice took control in 1489 after the abdication of Queen Caterina Cornaro, the widow of James II, the last Lusignan king of Cyprus. Caterina, of a noble Venetian family, was painted by both Bellini and Titian.


Akamas peninsulaThroughout the period of Venetian rule, Ottoman Turks raided and attacked the peoples of Cyprus at will. The Greek population of Cyprus were given weapons by the Venetians and fought the attacking Ottomans. In 1489, the first year of Venetian control, Turks attacked the Karpasia Peninsula. In 1539 the Turkish fleet attacked and destroyed Limassol. Fearing the ever-expanding Ottoman Empire, the Venetians had fortified Famagusta, Nicosia, and Kyrenia, but most other cities were easy prey.

Answer 3

Cyprus is a last country in the world, which one has a divided capital city.

Answer 4

Cyprus has a colourful past due to its location at the crossroads between east and west.
There's a great potted version on the following website:

Answer 5

There is some information about the history of Cyprus at:
http://www.bartleby.com/65/cy/Cyprus.html
and
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5376.htm

Answer 6

One of the embattled islands that was part of the Venetian empire at one point.