History Of Cyprus
History of Cyprus At the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, this jewel of the Mediterranean has been one of the most desired countries since people started recording history. From Ancient Greeks and Romans to Crusaders and Ottomans, this island has experienced its fair share of colonization and conquests. The beauty of it all is an intricately connected culture that no other country can boast of and the legacy of the past times that can be seen on every corner of the island. To top it all off, the breathtaking nature of the island makes it a perfect holiday destination. It is no wonder the Goddess of Beauty and Love, Aphrodite herself chose this island as her birthplace. The oldest remains depict the settlements of the Neolithic period, some 9000 years ago. They are scattered all across the island, giving Cyprus a unique vibe. In 2500 BC, copper took the main stage as the most valuable commodity. The island was so abundant in copper that the people named this very country by its name (Cyprus is Greek for copper). Cyprus History It was copper itself that attracted the interest of many dominant powers of the region, the first being the Achaean Greeks in 1200 BC. They brought with them their Mycenaean culture, the traces of which can be seen in ivory carvings and vases illustrating different motives, from human figures and boats to bulls and chariots. After the Achaean Greeks, the Phoenicians, Assyrians and Egyptians subsequently seized control of the island, building roads and establishing infrastructure. When the Romans arrived, the island was already neatly divided in small city kingdoms with the main language being Hellenistic Greek. The Romans took it upon themselves to transform the island into a senatorial province. After the Romans, the island was on and off a part of Byzantine Empire, until Richard the Lion Heart conquered it in the name of England. After being sold to the Knights Templar, the island changed hands several times, from Franks to Lusignans and then to Ottoman Empire, until it was again in the possession of Britain in 1878. In 1960, Cyprus gained its independence. However, in 1974, after the invasion of the Turkish Army, it was divided in two communities, separated by a ‘Green Line’, i.e. the UN-buffer zone. In 2004, the south part of the island became an official member of the EU, with the Euro being its currency officially from 2008 and Greek and Turkish being the official languages. As the island is visited by millions of holiday makers each year, English is widely spoken all around Cyprus and is an official language in international business.