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 .
53