The Republic of Cyprus is located in Eastern Mediterranean. It is rich in history and its strategic position in the area made it vulnerable to invasions from different civilizations. The New Stone Age village in Khirokitia that dates back to 6800 BC has been preserved to show that this island was populated in the Neolithic era. Some of the oldest water wells in the world( 9000 to 10,500 years old) are present here and the civilizations that captured this country include Greeks, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Arabs, French, Venetians and Turks. Each invader followed the other, sometimes arriving in waves, like the Greeks did and sometimes for short periods, thus impacting the lifestyle and culture of the country. It became a British colony in 1878 and was annexed formally following the First World War. Cyprus has always been torn between the Turks and Greeks as they demanded that this island belongs in their area and consequently is a part of their state which resulted in civil wars between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Cyprus was granted independence by Britain in 1960 but the dispute continued and a green line was drawn in 1974 between them. Officially Cyprus belongs to Greek Cypriot and now a part of Commonwealth and Eurozone.
The Advent of Civilization in Cyprus The very first and oldest signs of human existence were found in Aetokremnos on the south coast, of hunter gatherers which lived in settled communities in 8200 BC. As Bronze Age came to an end, the island experienced the arrival of two waves of Greek settlements that took over. The major Greek Gods / Goddess and Kings namely Aphrodite, Adonis, Cinyras, Teucer, and Pygmalion are associated with this island and thus this place has an importance in Greek mythology and is very dear to the Greeks. From 780 BC onwards, Assyrians took over the land and later Egyptians gained the upper hand for a brief time period. Alexander The Great conquered it in 333 BC but after his death, Cyprus came under the Byzantine Empire. During this time period, Cyprus became enriched with Hellenic and Christian traditions and still holds on to them.
Independence from Colonization The Muslim, Venetian and Ottoman Empire raided the country later and the Kings of England snatched it from the jaws of potential invaders. Nevertheless, Turk influence has never been fully banished from here. The Ottoman government established the millet system and abolished the feudal system. Under this, non-Muslims were governed by their own religious figures and authorities. Ottoman rule was oppressive and the economy of the country declined terribly. Britain exploited Cyprus as a colony, used its naval routes to control their other colonies, especially India. Meanwhile, the fight of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to declare the island as a part of Greek and Turkey continued throughout. The United Nation made efforts to resolve the issue by dividing the areas between them with a‘ green line’ which becomes a neutral area. The continuous invasion and fights have had a drastic effect on the economy and overall well-being of the country. Tourism declined too, owing to the destruction of historical sites, which were restored later. Greek Orthodox is the main religion of the region.
Facts and Figures Cyprus is the third largest island, smaller than Sicily and Sardinia. Two mountain ranges dominate the area; Troodos
Mount Olympus is situated in the Troodos range, the famous mountain that is the birthplace of Greek Gods and Goddesses.
and Kyrenia. In the centre is situated the Mesaoria plain which holds the longest river, the Pedios river. Mount Olympus is situated in the Troodos range, the famous mountain that is the birthplace of Greek Gods and Goddesses. It is the biggest tourist attraction of Cyprus. The sub-tropical climate brings dry and warm summers that are spent on the beaches all over the island, amidst the presence of green turtles. Meadows full of wildflowers and vineyard cluttered valleys leading up to the rocky and rugged mountains full of pines, where people escape for hiking, trekking and water skiing. The culture and heritage of almost more than ten different civilizations come together with the Byzantine churches, Greek Orthodox Monasteries, Turkish mosques, Roman mosaics and Phoenician monuments. The ancient runes are a delightful sight.
This country has progressed beyond bounds and is on its way to becoming a celebrated and developed island with its rich history, modern infrastructure and a booming economy, which will be soon thronged by tourists from all over the globe.
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