The first settlements of the island occur in the 9th millennium BC. They were agriculturalists and introduced dogs, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs as well as wild animals such as foxes, fallow deer, which were previously unknown to the island. Their houses were round with floors made out of burned lime. Life expectancy was average about 34 years.
Around 4500 BC the Ceramic Neolithic period began and newcomers introduced a new Neolithic era. The old round houses gave their place to other square houses with rounded corners. The Neolithic culture was destroyed by an earthquake around 3800 BC. Despite the violent natural catastrophe there was an internal evolution that was finished around 3500 BC where the Chalcolithic (copper and stone) period began. Metal works appeared for the first time that stamped the future of the island for centuries.
Because of disturbances in Minor Asia around 2300 BC people from Anatolia arrived introducing a new era to the island since the newcomers new how to work with metal.
At around 1300-1200 BC (late Bronze Age) was a time of local prosperity for the island. Cities were rebuilt on a rectangular grid plan where houses were built on the street front. At this period civilizations like Mycenaeans and Achaeans were introduced to the island who established new cities which later became kingdoms like Amathus, Curium, Kition etc.
The strategic location of Cyprus and its natural recourses attracted the attention of many invaders and rulers like Assyrians, Egyptians, and Persians that raided the island.
The Phoenicians arrived and settled around 1050 BC dominating the city of Kition, that later became their most powerful stronghold. Salamis, Paphos, Curium and Amathus thrived during this period. Later the Assyrians ruled, followed by the Egyptians at 565 BC. The Cypriot Kingdoms remained independent but had to pay tax to the Egyptians, who were replaced by the Persians until 332 BC.
From 332 to 325 BC Cyprus was ruled by 7 Kingdoms, as some say and other by 10 (Salamis, Paphos, Curium, Soloi, Tamassos, Ledra, Kition, Amathus, Idalion, and Chytroi).
From 325 to 50 BC with the death of Alexander the Great the empire was passed to the hands of Ptolemy and as Cyprus was annexed by the Egyptians with Alexandria as its capital a governor was appointed to run the island. The kingdoms were abolished in 312 BC. During this period arts flourished. It was also a time of public works, theatres and gymnasiums were established. Paphos flourished as the capital of Cyprus.
Rome annexed Cyprus in 58 BC first as a province of Syria and later as a separate province under a proconsul. A period of large public buildings, such as the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates at Curium and the Temple of Zeus at Salamis.
Both Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony offered once again Cyprus to Cleopatra as a gift.
During the Christianity victimizations by the Romans, the apostles Paul, Barnabas and Mark landed in Cyprus in the year 45 AD. The first Bishoprics were established on the island. Barnabas died a martyr’s death in Salamis. A Jewish revolt in 116 AD led to the death of around 240,000 people and the destruction of Salamis, later rebuilt with the financial help of Emperor Hadrian. The Roman period came to an end with the division of the Roman Empire and Cyprus became a part of the Byzantium Empire, a period of prosperity. Numerous churches were constructed and existing temples became churches too. In this period the island suffered many Arab raids.
Richard the Lion Heart (King Richard of England) whilst out crusading was forced by bad weather to land on the island at Limassol. His reception was not good so he conquered the island. Needing money to finance his crusades he sold the island to the Knights Templars in 1192. They on their turn sold the island buck to King Richard and he then sold it to a Frankish crusading knight – Guy de Lusignan. King Richard married Queen Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in Limassol. The only Royal Wedding and Coronation to have taken place outside England.
The Lusignans introduced a Norman feudal model to the island. The Latin Church as introduced and the Orthodox Church persecuted. Through trade the island prospered and Famagusta became one of the richest cities of the east. Several Gothic buildings were contracted during this period. After the death of Peter 1st in 1369 the Lusignan influence slowly weakened and once again the island was passed to the Venetians by Catherine Kornaro, the last Queen of Cyprus In 1489.
In 1570 – 1878 once again Cyprus was annexed by the Ottoman Empire. Many Turks arrived and settled on the island creating the two communities. The Latin Church was evicted but the Orthodox Church was allowed to continue. Under the Turkish rule the island fell into economic decline. In 1878 under the terms of an alliance the sultan ceded Cyprus to the British for the purpose of defence and administration. In 1914 when Turkey entered the war on the side of Germany Cyprus was formally annexed by Great Brittan. In 1923 under the treaty of Lausanne, Turkey renounced all claims to the island.
Under the British rule Cyprus prospered. Problems arise when many Cypriots began to demand union with Greece. In 1950 and again in 1955 the Cypriots asked the UN to recognise their demand for independency. In 1995 Colonel Georgios Grivas Digenis launched an armed struggle for independence.
In 1960 Cyprus was given its independency as the Independent Republic of Cyprus with Archbishop Makarios 3rd as its first President.
On the 20th July 2004 without any notice Turkey launched an invasion to the island. With over 40,000 troops illegally occupied by force 37% of the island, banishing 200,000 refugees to the south part of the island and replacing them with Turks. Thousands were killed by the Turkish troops among them civilians and 1619 are still missing.
With the exception of the North, Cyprus has flourished under the influence of tourism as the North has steadily declined under the Turkish Occupation.
On the 1st May 2004 Cyprus has become a full member of the EU.
Apartment
Nicosia, Strovolos
110,000.00€ CY£
64,380.14
House
Nicosia, Strovolos
1,300,000.00€ CY£
760,856.20
Showroom
Paphos, Ktima
3,600,000.00€ CY£
2,106,986.40
House
Nicosia, Strovolos
590,000.00€ CY£
345,311.66
Villa
Larnaca, Mosfiloti
2,350,000.00€ CY£
1,375,393.90
House
Nicosia, Lakatamia
760,000.00€ CY£
444,808.24
2007 Akreo Property Consultants & Estate Agents. All right reserved
Developed By SK Webline Ltd
The first settlements of the island occur in the 9th millennium BC. They were agriculturalists and introduced dogs, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs as well as wild animals such as foxes, fallow deer, which were previously unknown to the island. Their houses were round with floors made out of burned lime. Life expectancy was average about 34 years.
