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| INTRODUCTION
TO 10,000 YEARS OF CIVILIZATION |
| Prehistory
- The Neolithic Period (7000 BC - 3900 BC) |
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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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| The
Chalcolithic Period (3900 BC - 2500 BC) |
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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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| The
Bronze Age (2500 BC - 1050 BC) |
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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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| The
Geometric Era (1050 BC - 750 BC) |
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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 people’s
population levels decreasing were so low, that
it was threatening. This would continue for
the next two centuries. |
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| The
Archaic Era (750 BC - 480 BC) |
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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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| The
Classical Era (480 BC - 325 BC) |
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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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| The
Hellenistic Era (325 BC - 50 BC) |
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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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| The
Roman Period (30 BC - 330 AD) |
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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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| The
Byzantine Era (330 - 1191) |
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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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| Frankish
Rule (1191 - 1489) |
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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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| Venetian
Rule (1489 - 1575) |
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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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| Ottoman
Rule (1570 - 1878) |
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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
under British Administration (1878 - 1960) |
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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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| From
Independence (1960) to the Present |
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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 1960. |
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