Cyprus History
The known history of Cyprus dates back over 9000 years. The remains of Neolithic settlements (7000 - 9000 BC) may be visited at Khirokitia, whilst finds from the site are on display in the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia. By 3000 BC stone tool weapons had been replaced by implements fashioned from copper. It is believed that the name "Cyprus" is derived from the Latin word for copper "Cuprus" The islands trade in copper made it one of the busiest commercial centers in the Mediterranean.
1300 BC saw the arrival of the Mycenean Greek traders who found kingdoms that grew prosperous and important. Once thriving however the island became the target of a large number of invaders and conquerors including the Romans, Byzantines. Richard The Lionheart of England, The Crusader Knights and the Venetians.
In 1571 Cyprus was invaded and captured by the Turks and it remained under Turkish occupation until 1878 when the British took over the administration of the island. The arrangement continued until 1914 when Cyprus became a British Colony.
After several years of struggle for independence, Cyprus became an independent Republic in 1960, it’s first independence for 3500 years. Archbishop Makarios became the first President of the new republic .Britain retained sovereign rights with military bases at Akrotiri and Episkopi in the West and Dhekelia in the east.
Britain, Greece, and Turkey became guarantors of the new state of independence. In 1974 a coup was staged in Cyprus by the Greek military junta and this was followed by the Turkish Invasion. Since then 37% of the island has been under Turkish occupation. As a result of this unlawful occupation 200,000 Greek Cypriots (40% of the Greek Cypriot population) have been uprooted from their homes. The Turkish troops have effectively sealed off the northern section of the island.
Cyprus still remains illegally divided by the military forces of Turkey.
In 1878 the British took over the administration of the island after the Turkish occupation of 307 years. In the 1920's it became part of the colony .After many years of struggling for independence this was achieved in 1960. Britain, Greece and Turkey became guarantors of the new state of independence. However the new Republic was faced with a myriad of problems.
The biggest problem was the lack of harmony between the Greek Cypriots who made up about 70% of the population and the Turkish Cypriots who accounted for 30 % President Makarios (the 1st president and National Hero of Cyprus) submitted proposals for amending the constitution.
These were rejected by the Turkish Cypriots, who then withdrew from The House of Representatives and the Government. This led to violence and by March 1964 a U.N. Peace Keeping Force was based on the island In Nicosia the Greek and Turkish sectors were separated.
Despite the presence of the U.N. and the attempts of mediators to solve the problem tension ran extremely high and the threat of invasion by the Turks was ever present.
In 1974 a military coup was planned by the "Colonels" of Greece, They planned to oust Makarios and replace him and annexe part of Cyprus. .On the 15tli of July 1974 The Presidential Palace was attacked, President Makarios escaped But on the 20th July 1974 The Turkish army invaded using the coup as an opportunity to realize their objective of occupying the northern part of the island.
Today the island still remains illegally divided. Separated by the" Green Line". 37% of the island including some of the most beautiful places in Cyprus such as Kyrenia are illegally occupied by the Turkish Military Troops. As a result of this unlawful occupation 200,000 Greek Cypriots have been uprooted from their homes.
In 1983 the occupied sector declared itself an Independent State but this State is only recognized by Turkey. In 1990 some 65,000 Turks were brought from the mainland to live in the occupied sector, in a bid to alter the demography of the Island.. There are approx 35,000 troops in the occupied territory.
A solution to the Cyprus problem has still to be found.
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