Prehistory
10,000 - 8,500 BC |
Pre Neolithic period.
First signs of life found a small rock shelter in
Aetokremnos. |
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8,000 - 7,000 BC |
Neolithization found at
Shillourokambos settlement in Limassol district. |
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6,800 - 3,800 BC |
Early Neolithic settlement
in Khirokitia - between Limassol and Nicosia. |
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3,800 - 2,500 BC |
Chalcolithic site at Erimi
- transitional period between Neolithic and Bronze age. |
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2,500 - 1050 BC |
Bronze Age - metal work
developed bringing major changes in the culture and its
economy. Commercial trading with the Aegean area and
first Greek (Mycenaean) settlements established on the
coast of Cyprus. |
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History
1050 - 325 BC |
Continued immigrations
from the Greeks and invasions by the Phoenicians and a
series of successive dominance by Assyrians, Egyptians
and Persians. |
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333 BC |
Persian power destroyed by
Alexander the Great. |
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323 BC |
Alexander the Great dies
and Cyprus comes under the rule of the Viceroys of
Ptolemy I of Egypt. Capital moved to Paphos. |
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58 - 38 BC |
First Roman occupation of
Cyprus. |
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45 AD |
Apostles Paul and Barnabas
arrive in Cyprus spreading Christianity and succeed in
converting the Roman Proconsul, Sergius Paulus, to
Christianity in Paphos thus making Cyprus the first
country governed by a Christian. |
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116 AD |
Jewish revolt against
Roman power and Christianity killing thousands of
Cypriots and Jews. As a result further Jewish
settlements in Cyprus were forbidden. |
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324 AD |
Beginning of the Early
Christian period. |
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395 AD |
Cyprus comes under the
rule of the Byzantine Empire. |
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488 AD |
Patriarch of Antioch tried
to bring the Church of Cyprus under his control.
However, Cyprus Archbishop Anthemios, inspired by a
dream, found the tomb of St. Barnabas with a copy of St.
Mathew's gospel which he showed to Emperor Zeno. The
Emperor accepted this as the status of the Church of
Cyprus and granted Archbishop imperial privileges which
are still used by the current Archbishop. |
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7th - 10th
Centuries |
Continuous Arab raids on
Cyprus with great destruction to churches and
ecclesiastic art. Castles of Kyrenia and Saranta
Kolones built at Paphos. |
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965 AD |
Arabs expelled from Asia
Minor and costal areas by Byzantine Empire stopping the
long standing raids. The advance of Seljukes in Asia
Minor and the first crusade forced Constantinople
Emperors to fortify Cyprus - castles of Hilarion,
Bufavento and Kantara built. |
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1184 |
Isaac Comnenos usurps the
Byzantine authority and declares himself the independent
ruler of Cyprus . |
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1191 - 1192 |
Part of Richard Coeur de
Lion's fleet wrecked of the coast of Limasol on the way
to the third crusade. His fiancée, Berengaria of Navare,
survived the wreck and was discourteously treated by the
new ruler Comnenos. Richard invaded and captured Cyprus
and transferred sovereignty to Gy de Lusignan starting a
300 year dynasty. |
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1192 -1489 |
Cyprus ruled with by the
feudal system and the Catholic church officially
replaced the Orthodox which did manage to survive the
many persecutions. Flamagusta became one of the riches
cites in the Middle East. By the end of the 14th
century Flamgusta was captured by the Genoese and
Limasol sacked by the Egyptians. |
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1489 - 1571 |
Venetians ruled Cyprus
using it as a fortified base against the Turks. Heavy
taxes paid for the fortifications and cultural
development and trade diminish. However Turkish
successfully invaded Cyprus gaining control after
Flamagusta fell after a one year siege. |
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1571 - 1878 |
Under Turkish rule limited
autonomy was granted allowing the re-establishment of
the Greek Orthodox Church and expelling the Latin
Church. 1821 Mainland Greeks rebelled against the
Turks; Cypriot Archbishop and other notables executed. |
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1878 |
Agreement between Turkey
and Great Britain transferred administration of Cyprus
to Great Britain. New reforms introduced. |
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1914 |
Turkey entered World War I
against Great Britain who annexed Cyprus from Turkey. |
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1955 - 1959 |
After a four year
struggle, Zurich agreement declares Cyprus should be an
independent republic. |
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August 16, 1960 |
Cyprus declared an
independent republic. Cyprus becomes a member of the
United Nations, the British Commonwealth and the Council
of Europe. |
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July 20, 1974 |
Using a coup d'etat
against President Makarios, Turkey invaded Cyprus in
violation of international law. 37 percent of the
island was taken uprooting the mostly Greek population.
Turkish occupation continues on Cyprus to this day
with United Nations troops guarding the green line that
divides the capital city of Nicosia. |
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August 3, 1977 |
Archbishop Makarios III
died after a heart attack. Leader of the House of
Representative, Mr. Spyros Kyprianou, succeeds him as
President of Cyprus. |
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February 21, 1988 |
Mr. George Vassiliou wins
presidential elections for a 5 year term. |
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February 14, 1993 |
Mr. Glafkos Clerides was
elected President of the Republic of Cyprus for a 5 year
term and re-elected for another 5 year term in February
1998 |
