CHRONOLOGY OF CYPRIOT HISTORY

NEOLITHIC PERIOD

9^th – 4^th Millennium BC

Settlements of the Khirokitia culture.

First use of pottery vessels.

CHALCOLITHIC PERIOD

4^th – 3^rd Millennium

First use of copper.

BRONZE AGE

Mid 3^rd Millennium – late 2^nd Millennium

Intensification of copper trade and flourishing arts and crafts.

IRON AGE

1^st Millennium BC

The spreading of the Greek culture and Hellenisation of the island after the arrival, between the 13^th and 11^th century BC of the Mycenaean-Achaean Greeks. In the mid 9^th century BC Phoenician settlers began to arrive, concentrating mainlyin coastal city of Kition. City-Kingdoms were established throughout Cyprus.

ARCHAIC PERIOD

8^th-5^th Century BC

Vicissitudes of the city-kingdoms due to foreign domination from the East and Africa – the Assyrians (8^th-6^th century BC) the Egyptians (560-525BC) and the Persians (525-333BC)

CLASSICAL PERIOD

480-310BC

499BC – Kimon, the Athenian General, is killed at Kition.

Onesilos, King of Salamis.

Cyprus joins the Ionian revolt against Persian rule. 

411-374 BC Evagoras I, King of Salamis makes Cyprus on of the leading political and cultural centres of the Greek world.

332 BC – The city kingdoms of Cyprus welcome Alexander the Great and participate in his expeditions.

Zeno of Kition the founder of the Stoic school of philosophy.

HELLENISTIC PERIOD

310-30BC – Cyprus is party of the Ptolematic Empire. 

ROMAN PERIOD

30BC – 330 AD

Cyprus is a province of the Roman Empire.

1^st Century AD: Christianity is introduced by St Paul and St. Barnabas. St. Barnabas is the founder of the Church of Cyprus.

BYZANTINE PERIOD

330-1191 AD 

Cyprus is a province of the Byzantine Empire.

488 – Emperor Zeno gives Cypriot Archbishop full autonomy and privileges.

649-965 – Arab invasions of the island.

649 – Death in Larnaca of Umm-Haram, aunt of the prophet Mohammed.

CYPRUS UNDER THE CRUSADERS

1191-1192

King Richard I of England, the Lionheart 1191.

The Order of the Knights Templar (1191-1192)

LUSIGNAN (FRANKISH PERIOD)

1192-1489

Cyprus is ruled under the feudal system.

1192 – Guy de Lusignan, former King of Jerusalem whose family came from Poitou in France, takes Possession of the island.

1194- Guy de Lusignan is succeeded by his brother Aimery who later obtained the title King of Cyprus from the Western Emperor Henry V1. Aimery’s successors rule the island from 1205-1489

VENETIAN PERIOD

1489-1571

1489- The Venetians acquire Cyprus which is commercially and strategically important to them.

1570 – Turkish invasion forces capture of Nicosia. The siege of Famagusta begins.

1571 – Famagusta capitulates to Commander Lala Mustafa and Cyprus is annexed to the Ottoman Empire.

OTTOMAN (TURKISH) PERIOD

1571-1878

1754 -0 Archbishop and Orthodox hierarchy are made responsible for collecting taxes.

1821 – Archbishop, bishops and prominent Cypriots accused of planning participation in Greek War of Independence against Ottoman Empire are executed.

1856- Government takes over all collection of taxes from Archbishop.

BRITISH PERIOD

1878-1960

1878-1914 – Cyprus is leased by the Ottoman Turks to Britain.

1914- Cyprus in annexed by Britain in consequence of outbreak of World War 1 when Turkey aligned herself with Germany.

1923 – Turkey relinquishes all rights on Cyprus under the Treaty of Lausanne.

1925 – Cyprus is declared a crown colony until 1960.

1960 – (August 16^th) The republic of Cyprus is formally declared and British rule ended. Cyprus’ sovereignty and territorial integrity are guaranteed in Britain, Turkey and Greece (Treaty of guarantee, 1960)

TURKISH OCCUPATION

1974 – July 20^th Turkish Troops arrive in Cyprus, the first phase of the Invasion.

CYPRUS JOINS THE EUROPEAN UNION

2004 (May 1^st). Cyprus formally accedes to the E.U. along with nine other countries.

CYPRUS no man is an island, Published by Press & Information office, Republic of Cyprus.