Periods of Cyprus history

Prehistoric Cyprus

Cyprus is considered one of the oldest islands. The earliest data about it dates back to the Neolithic era. From those times, figurines have been preserved, including the so-called Pomos idol, characterized by perpetually outstretched arms. At that time, the Minoans lived here, who almost disappeared after the 15th century BCE catastrophe. After that, the state of Alasia emerged on the island, and in the 13th century BCE, Cyprus was conquered by the Egyptians. Then, various peoples and tribes ruled these beautiful lands. Only in the 12th century did the first mentions of the Greeks' presence appear. Archaeologists have found inscriptions made in Greek, in a distinctive Cypriot style.

Ancient Cyprus

In 526 BCE, Cyprus became part of the Persian satrapy of Ionia. In 380 BCE, the island was returned to Persia again. But peace on these beautiful lands was relatively short-lived. In 350 BCE, a rebellion against the existing regime broke out, lasting six years and ending with the victory of the conquerors. In 321 BCE, war broke out again, related to the campaigns of Alexander the Great, resulting in Cyprus becoming part of Hellenistic Egypt. Only in 58 BCE did the Romans recapture the island.

Byzantine Period and the Crusades

In 395, after the fall of the great Roman Empire, Cyprus became part of Byzantium. For over 800 years, relative peace reigned, periodically interrupted by Arab raids. Eventually, the island was divided between Byzantium and the Arabs. This coexistence lasted until 965, when Cyprus fully returned to its ancient rulers. Peaceful life ended in 1191, when the island was conquered by England during the Third Crusade. A year later, the territories were given to the French knight Guy de Lusignan, whose family ruled Cyprus until 1489.

Cyprus under the Control of the Venetian Republic and the Ottoman Period

In 1489, after brief battles, the Venetian Republic seized control of the island. But it was not easy to control these lands. Cyprus was constantly subjected to various attacks, and in 1571 it was captured by the Ottoman Empire. The locals were forced to pay exorbitantly high taxes. To avoid huge financial expenditures, many Greek Cypriots took desperate measures – they converted to Islam while secretly adhering to all Christian traditions. Nevertheless, 300 years of Ottoman rule gradually "Turkified" the local population. The Ottoman Empire implemented several reforms, including the abolition of serfdom, which applied to Greek peasants. However, most locals were dissatisfied with the heavy taxes and unbearable living conditions. Consequently, from 1572 to 1668, the island experienced waves of mass uprisings, which were ruthlessly suppressed.

Cyprus as a British Colony

In 1871, the island came under British control. Although formally it belonged to the Ottoman Empire, and the locals continued to pay tribute to them, albeit not as high as before. In 1882, an incredible event for that time occurred – a local Constitution was adopted. In 1914, the island definitively passed to Britain. In 1925, Cyprus was officially declared a crown colony. However, most of the local population disagreed with this. They aspired to unite with Greece. As a result, the island saw waves of unrest and strikes. In 1955, the first armed conflict between the British and Cypriots occurred. This led to a war, resulting in Cyprus gaining independence in 1960. And in 1974, the island was divided between the Turks and Greeks.