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'état 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.
