The History Of Cyprus
- The Persaud Foundation
- Jun 30
- 13 min read
Updated: Jul 3
In this article, we are discussing the intriguing & rich history of Cyprus!
Cyprus is a small island country in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Turkey. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the third most populous island in the Mediterranean Sea. The isle is approximately 37.22 nautical miles (42.832011 miles or 68.93144 kilometers) from the mainland country of Turkey on Asia Minor. Additionally, is approximately 149 miles long from east to west, & 62 miles from north to south at its widest point.
Cyprus has been settled by various groups of people, since at least the Bronze Age approximately 13,000 to 12,000 years ago, giving time for its incredibly interesting & unique culture to develop. The island has been ruled by various empires, the most namely of which are the British Empire, Roman Empire, & Ottoman Empire.
The isle is very well known for its rich culture & history, arts, & folk music. A strong part of the local culture is hospitality. Guests & visitors are almost always offered small amounts of food as a sign of appreciation, & are often served with a special kind of silver fork known as the protsoues.
Cyprus contains a unique ecoregion known as the Cyprus Mediterranean Forests, known for its endemic species, temperate climate, & vast sprawling landscapes. Approximately 128 plants are endemic to these forests, as well as a sub-species of sheep. The island isn’t only diverse in its terrestrial landscapes, & is also highly diverse in its marine landscapes. This is shown in their beautiful sea caves, rocky shorelines, & seagrass meadows.
In this article, we are going to delve into the documented History of Cyprus, the Indigenous Aboriginals of Cyprus, the Most Destructive Man-Caused & Natural Disasters to affect Cyprus, & the Economy of Cyprus. With that being said, let us delve into the long, complex, & magnificent history of Cyprus.
The Documented History Of Cyprus
Before Colonization
Prehistoric Cyprus
As stated in the introduction, human settlement in Cyprus dates back as far as 13,000 years, in the Mesolithic Age. Approximately 12,000 years ago, the European Boar was introduced to the island, which were likely meant to be a source of meat.
The first true settlement on Cyprus was at modern Khirokitia, which dates back approximately 9,000 years. This settlement had a population of 2,000, & many large stone houses. A few other ancient settlements or houses are Roudias, & Aetokremnos.
The first settlers of the island were farmers & agricultural workers, & did not produce many ceramics or pottery. Many hunted & fished as well. It seems that they introduced domesticated dogs, sheep, goats, certain kinds of deer, & red foxes.
Pottery was introduced to the island sometime around 5,000 B.C.
Bronze Age Cyprus
3rd Millennium B.C to 1,200 B.C
Around the middle of the 3rd Millennium B.C, Pottery was introduced to Cyprus. These Cypriots made many different kinds of ceramics, ranging from vases to bowls, to various kinds of cups. They were often ornate, & are well known for their distinctive designs. These ceramics were completely handmade without the use of a pottery wheel, & continued to be until 1,500 B.C.
Around the middle of the third millennium, Cypriots learned how to make bronze by combining tin & copper. Cyprus then became one of the main producers of copper, & traded with other Mediterranean countries.
Two port cities in Cyprus were responsible for the majority of exports & imports during the Second Millennium, those cities being Kiton & Enkomi. Kiton served the southeastern parts of the island, while Enkomi served the south. Another city was mentioned across various texts, that city being Alashiya. It is theorized that Alashiya was the capital of the Kingdom of Cyprus.
After the 16th century B.C., Cypriots adopted a written script known as Cypro-Minoan, used to write the original language of Cyprus. The original language of Cyprus is known as Eteocypriot, which translates to “Original Cypriot”. By the Archaic Cyprus Period,
1,400 B.C to 1,100 B.C
As trade increased between Crete & Mycenaean Greece, Trade between Cyprus & other Mediterranean Nations rapidly increased as well. The capital city of Cyprus, Alashiya, is mentioned in several ancient languages & documents, including Ancient Egyptian, Akkadian, Hittite, & Ancient Greek.
Following the raids & large-scale destruction caused by the Sea Peoples, many Mycenaean Greek People fled to Cyprus seeking refuge. Beginning in 1,250, many Bronze Age Civilizations began to fall into decline & disarray, & ultimately, ended up destroyed. This event is known as the Late Bronze Age Collapse. After the collapse, Cyprus was plunged into a set of Dark Ages, lasting from approximately 1,150 B.C, to 850 B.C.
Archaic Cyprus
1,050 B.C to 600 B.C
The city-states of Cyprus were ruled by a monarchy, rather than a ruling class. Around 1,050 B.C., Cyprus was hit by a massive earthquake, which leveled many towns & structures. While many of them were quickly rebuilt, the southern port city of Enkomi never completely recovered, with the majority of residents moving to Salamis, a city that occupies the area of modern Famagusta. The other main city at the time, Kition, became temporarily abandoned as well.
Seeing an opportunity to take over the Copper-Rich Trade Magnate, the Tyrians invaded the island of Cyprus. As Kition was abandoned, they chose to siege that city first. Kition quickly became one of the cultural centers of the Phoenicians, with the goddess Astarte being venerated there.
The Phoenicians used the island to build a trading network between their kingdom, Egypt, Greece, Italy, & the entirety of the western Mediterranean. The island had such an influence, that the Hebrew word Kittim, meaning people from Kition, became used as a blanket term for anyone Western, no matter their nationality.
Around 900 B.C., King Šalmaneser the III of the Assyrians began demanding tribute from all Phoenician cities. As a result, Cyprus began exporting large amounts of wood & copper to the Assyrian Empire.
After Colonization
Egyptian Cyprus
Cyprus temporarily became independent when the Assyrians lost control of the island, however, this independence would not last long. In 560 B.C., King Amasis of Egypt began occupying Cyprus, as he was anticipating that the Babylonians would attempt to attack them. While the Cypriot kings were still formally in charge of their city-states at this time, they recognized the authority of the Egyptian Government.
The Egyptians wouldn’t last very long as the rulers of Cyprus, as the Persian King, Cyrus the Great, would soon conquer the island. Around 530 B.C., Cyprus officially became a part of the Persian Empire.
Persian Cyprus
530 B.C to 499 B.C
As stated above, Cyprus officially became a part of the Persian Empire in 530. The Cypriot Kings were allowed to remain as rulers of their city-states, however, they once again, respected the authority of the Persian Empire.
This would change with the rule of King Darius the Great, who strengthened Persia’s grip over the island. Around 499 B.C., the Ionian Revolt began to take shape, so in order to restore order in the Western Regions of the Empire, the Persians sent an army that would pass through Cyprus. The army not only helped with the revolt, but it assisted in settling the tensions in Cyprus.
Onesilus, the brother of a Cypriot King, realized that the island was the perfect location to attack Phoenician ports. He requested assistance from Greek Rebels to assist with this, & he quickly received it. With the end goal of controlling Cyprus, he besieged each city state of the island, conquering every single one except for Amathus.
The Persians quickly sent troops from Cilicia to stop the uprising, culminating in a massive naval campaign against the Greeks & Cypriots, which resulted in a win for the Cypriots. What followed was an equally large land battle, which the Persians won.
In the end, Cyprus was reorganized into approximately 10 city-states, with the majority loyal Persia, yet open to Greek ideas.
Greek Commander Cimon attempted to siege the island in 466 B.C., & managed to defeat the Persians in the Battle of Eurymedon, however, he was ultimately unable to capture the island.
Around the 390s, King Euagoras of the city-state Salamis attempted to unify Cyprus, with the end goal of ruling the whole island. He attempted to gain the favor of the Persians by sending ships to their naval campaign in Sparta, however, he did not succeed. Euagoras decided to revolt against the Persians as a result.
He managed to unify the majority of the island, & even expanded his influence as far as Phoenicia. The Persians invaded Cyprus to stop the revolt, & resulting in a win for the Persians. Euagoras was forced to sign a peace treaty, giving up most of his land & power, yet keeping control of Salamis. While Persian Control over Cyprus was restored, this would not be the last revolt.
In 350 B.C., another revolt occurred, which was promptly suppressed by King Artaxerxes of Persia.
Egyptian Cyprus
323 B.C to 58 B.C
The Cypriots participated in the Greek siege of Tyre in Persia, fighting alongside Alexander the Great's Troops. Upon Alexander's death in 323 B.C., Cyprus was fought over viciously by his successors. At first, it was occupied by Ptolemy of Egypt, though that would soon be interrupted. Antigonus I the One-Eyed, the successor of Alexander, attacked the island with his son in 306 B.C. The Egyptian Forces were overwhelmed, & quickly defeated. The island remained in the hands of the Greeks until the Battle of Ipsus in 301 B.C. when it was returned to Ptolemy.
At this point, all power was lost from the Kings of Cyprus. Many of the resources from Cyprus such as wine, wood, & copper were hoarded by the Egyptian Treasury from this point onwards. It remained a part of Egypt until 58 B.C., with the conquest of the Romans.
Roman Cyprus
58 B.C to 965 A.D
In 58 B.C., the island was officially conquered by the Roman Republic. It then became a part of the province of Cicilia & Anatolia, before being taken back by the Ptolemaic Empire of Egypt during a civil war, then finally becoming an independent province in 31 B.C. The rich copper mines of the island were gifted to Herod the Great or Judea, a compatriot of the Romans who assisted in the war.
Although Salamis was the largest city on the island, New Paphos was elected to be the new Capital, as well as the Religious center.
The Romans built a new Cyprus, with the best engineers building aqueducts, roads, bridges, temples, & gymnasiums. This new Cyprus was prosperous, & rich with beauty & culture.
Around 116 A.D., several Messianic revolts occurred on the island, though they were quickly suppressed.
Two major earthquakes caused much damage to Cyprus in 332 & 336 A.D., causing the capital to be moved to Salamis, which was then renamed Constantia.
As the people of Rome began to convert to Christianity, the Cypriots followed along. Christian Churches & Basilicas were established in many cities, & given autonomy within the church. The Churches of Cyprus were made to be autocephalous, meaning that they did not have to report to the leaders of the mainstream church, a status they keep in the modern day.
Very few noteworthy things occurred on the island until 647 when the Umayyad Caliphate attacked Cyprus. This conflict lasted until approximately 680, when the Byzantine Empire decided to share the rule of Cyprus with the Umayyad Caliphate, splitting the taxes evenly. This agreement was maintained until 965 when the agreement was broken & the isle was taken by the Byzantines. The arts flourished during this time, with many mosaics & paintings surviving into modern day.
Byzantine Cyprus
965 A.D to 1561 A.D
As stated above, the island became a part of the Byzantine Empire in 965 when Emperor Nicephorus II of Phocas gained complete control of the island.
Around 1185 A.D., Issac Comnenus, the governor of Cyprus, rebelled & declared himself emperor of the Byzantine Empire. He successfully defended against attacks from the Empire, however during a battle in 1191 against English Soldiers sent by King Richard I, he was captured & imprisoned. The island was promptly captured by British Forces, & sold Guy of Lusignan, the disgraced King of Jerusalem.
Kingdom of Cyprus
1192 A.D to 1489 A.D
Guy called himself The Lord of Cyprus & lived on the island. He established the Kingdom of Cyprus, a kingdom that would last from 1192 to 1489. Soon after purchasing the island, he brought over many families & individuals who had lost their lands & livelihoods in the Siege of Jerusalem. Unfortunately, Guy passed away in 1192, & was succeeded by his brother Amalric. Amalric was soon crowned king of Cyprus by the Holy Roman Empire.
During the next hundred years, Cyprus gained a reputation for being a place of immense wealth, and affluence, as well as the place where many nobles resided. Famagusta, one of the islands main cities, was well known as a trading center for the entire Mediterranean.
In 1361, new Cypriot King Peter I organized a crusade with support from Western European Mercenaries, & began besieging cities. He managed to secure the city of Adalia, & soon after in 1365, sacked Alexandria in the Alexandrian Crusade. Unfortunately, after 3 days, he couldn’t adequately defend the city, & abandoned his conquest.
During his son’s ascension to the throne, the tensions between the city-states of Genoa & Venice worsens over the trade of Cyprus, resulting in Genoa stealing possession of Famagusta & holding it for almost a century. This heavily affected the economy of Cyprus, leading to a negative downturn.
In the year 1429, the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt invaded & sacked the island, forcing it to pay tribute. The final Lusignan King, James II, managed to seize the throne with the help of the Egyptians, & remove the Genovese from the island in 1464. He passed away soon after, with his wife, Caterina Cornaro, being the last monarch of Cyprus. She came under strong pressure from the Venetians, & finally, in 1489.
Venetian Rule Of Cyprus
1489 A.D to 1571 A.D
The Republic of Venice ruled Cyprus for 82 years from 1489 to 1571.
Ottoman Cyprus
1571 A.D to 1878
The Ottoman’s took over Cyprus in the year of 1571 after capturing Nicosia. Soon after, the city of Famagusta would fall as well.
Thousands of Muslims migrated to the island as a result, & settled largely in North Cyprus. Approximately 30,000 settlers came, most being Sunni Muslim. The Ottomans didn’t care much for Cyprus or the people of Cyprus, leading to a corrupt & inefficient government. There were various uprising
British Cyprus
1878 A.D to August 16th, 1960 A.D
In the year 1878, it was deemed that the island of Cyprus would remain under sovereignty of the Ottomans while being officially administrated by Britain.
During World War 1 Britain would annex Cyprus from the Turkish for strategic use, which was recognized under the Treaty of Lausanne. In 1925, Cyprus officially became a crown colony, meaning that it was governed by England.
The island was not affected much by the Second World War, apart from multiple airstrikes.
Modern Cyprus
August 16th, 1960 A.D to Present
Finally, on August 16th, 1960, Cyprus gained its independence from Britain, & became an independent Country.
After much tension between Greek Cypriots & the Turkish Cypriots, & the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriots declared themselves to be an independent state on the 15th of November, 1983. The state of Northern Cyprus is only recognized by Turkey as of publishing this article, & comprises the Northeastern parts of Cyprus.
The Indigenous Aboriginals Of Cyprus
Greek Cypriots
Greek Cypriots are the main ethnic group of Cyprus, comprising between 76% & 98.8% of the population. These Cypriots are originally descended from people of Greek Origin. Their culture is very similar to Turkish Cypriots in many ways, however there are a few key differences. They primarily speak Cypriot Greek, & Standard Greek.
The majority of Greek Cypriots are Christian, & are members of the Greek Orthodox Faith.
Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriots are the second ethnic group of Cyprus, comprising approximately 10.2% of the population.
They primarily speak Standard Turkish, & Cypriot Turkish. The Turkish Cypriot Ethnicity exists as a result of the Ottoman Conquest of 1571 when approximately 30,000 Turkish Settlers came to the island. Individuals are primarily Sunni Muslims.
Very few Turkish Cypriots still live in Cyprus today, as many have immigrated to the United Kingdom, Turkey, or other European Countries for economic development.
The Most Destructive Man-Caused & Natural Disasters To Affect Cyprus
Disaster No. 1: 1995 Paphos Earthquake
On the morning of February 23rd, 1995, a 5.9 magnitude Earthquake struck Cyprus. The earthquake originated approximately 40 kilometers northwest of the city of Paphos. The Earthquake caused damage in several countries, with Cyprus taking most of it. The shaking could be felt as far as Israel, Lebanon, & even Turkey. As a result of the Earthquake, 2 people passed away in a building collapse, & 5 sustained injuries. 70 homes were destroyed, while 500 sustained minor damages.
Disaster No. 2: The 2004 Locust Invasion Of Cyprus
In November 2004, Cyprus experienced a swarm of thousands of Locust Insects. They seem to have originated in Northern & Central Africa, carried to Cyprus by strong winds. They first appeared on the Western Shores, then quickly spread inland. These locusts decimated potato crops in the Paphos District, & fields in the Limassol District. A spraying initiative was carried out, which killed many of the locusts. It seems that they were attracted to Cyprus by the unusually hot weather, & heavy rain.
Disaster No. 3: The Cypriot Flash Floods Of 2010
On February 27th, 2010, major rain caused flooding in the Kyrenia & Nicosia regions of Cyprus. There were no recorded cases of injuries or casualties as a result of the flooding. Approximately 3,000 people were affected by the flooding, & 700 homes, 56 offices, & 27 vehicles were reported to have damage.
The Economy Of Cyprus
Cyprus has an economy based on tourism, & agriculture. The most popular fruits grown in the Greek areas of Cyprus are grapes, deciduous fruits, potatoes, certain vegetables, olives, & cereal grains. In the Turkish areas, crops such as citrus fruits, wheat, barley, carrots, & tobacco are more popular. Fishing is a very small part of the economy, as most fish are still imported.
In 2008, Cyprus Joined the Eurozone, adopting the Euro as its official currency. Their GDP per capita is approximately 37,149$, while their GDP is 34.221 billion U.S.D.
Directories / Credits
Citation No. 1: “Cyprus (Historical Overview)”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Turkey. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2024.
Citation No. 2: “History of Cyprus”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Cyprus. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2024.
Citation No. 3: “History of Cyprus”, Written by Herman W. Goult, & John S. Bowman, & Published on July 26th, 1999. Published by Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2024.
Citation No. 4: “Flood in Cyprus”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the United Nations. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2024.
Citation No. 5: “Today in Earthquake History”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the United States Geological Survey. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2024.
Citation No. 6: “Cyprus Suffers A Rare Locust Invasion”, Written By Unknown, & Published on November 1st, 2024. Published by ReliefWeb. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2024.
Citation No. 7: “Economy Of Cyprus”, Written by Herman W. Goult, & John S. Bowman, & Published on July 26th, 1999. Published by Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2024.
Citation No. 8: “History”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Cyprus Profile. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2024.
Citation No. 8: “Prehistory Of Cyprus” Written by Unknown, & Published in 2017. Published by Livius. Retrieval Date: September 26th, 2024.
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