8000-1570
Cyprus , The island of Venus .
8000-3900 BC NEOLITHIC AGE Remains of the oldest known settlement in Cyprus dating from this period can be seen in Khirokitia and Kalavassos (Tenta), off the Nicosia-Limassol road. This civilization had developed along the North and South coasts. First only stone vessels were used. After 5000 B.C., the art of pottery was invented.
3900-2500 BC CHALCOLITHIC AGE Most Chalcolithic establishments are found in Western Cyprus, where a fertility cult develops. The copper of the island begins to be exploited and used.
2500-1050 BC BRONZE AGE Copper is more extensively exploited bringing wealth to Cyprus. Trade is built up with the Near East, Egypt and the Aegean. After 1400 BC, Mycenaeans from Greece reach the island, perhaps as merchants. During the 12th and 11th centuries several waves of Achaean Greeks come to settle on the island bringing with them the Greek language, their religion, their customs. They build new cities like Paphos, Salamis, Kition. Kourion. The island from now on is progressively hellenised.
1050-750 BC GEOMETRIC PERIOD There are ten Kingdoms in the island. Phoenicians settle at Kition. The 8th century B.C. is a period of great prosperity.
750-325 BC ARCHAIC AND CLASSICAL PERIOD The era of prosperity continues, but the island falls prey to several conquerors. Cypriot Kingdoms try to preserve their independence but come variously under the domination of Assyria, Egypt and Persia. King Evagoras of Salamis (who ruled from 411-374 BC) rebels against Persia and unifies the island but, after a great siege has to conclude peace with Persia and loses control of the whole island.
333-325 BC
Alexander the Great defeats Persia and Cyprus becomes part of his empire.
325-58 BC HELLENISTIC PERIOD
After the succession struggles, between Alexander's generals, Cyprus eventually comes under the Hellenistic state of the Ptolemies of Egypt, and belongs from now onwards to the Greek Alexandrine world. The capital is now Paphos. This is a period of wealth for Cyprus.
58 BC - 330 AD ROMAN PERIOD
Cyprus becomes part of the Roman Empire, first as part of the province of Syria, then as a separate province under a proconsul. During the missionary journeys by Saints Paul and Barnabas, the Proconsul, Sergius Paulus is converted to Christianity and Cyprus becomes the first country to be governed by Christian. Destructive earthquakes occur during the 1st century B.C. and the 1at A.D. and cities are rebuilt. There is a great loss of life when the Jews who lived in Salamis rebel in 116, and from the plague in 164 AD. In 313 the Edict of Milan grants freedom of worship to Christians and Cypriot bishops attend the Council of Nicaea in 325.
330-1191 AD BYZANTINE PERIOD
After the division of the Roman Empire in two parts, Cyprus comes under the Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantium, with Constantinople as its capital. Constantine the Great's mother, Helena is said to have stopped in Cyprus on her journey from the Holy Land, with remnants of the Holy Cross and founded the monastery of Stavrovouni. More earthquakes during the 4th century A.D. completely destroy the main cities. Cities lose their splendour and remain in ruins. New cities arise, Constantia is now the capital, and large basilicas are built as from the 4-5th century A.D. In 488, after the tomb of St. Barnabas is found, Emperor Zeno gives the Archibishop of Cyprus full autonomy and privileges including holding a sceptre instead of a pastoral staff, wearing a purple mantle and signing in red ink. In 647 Arabs invade the island under Muawiya. In 688 Emperor Justinian II and Caliph al-Malik sign a treaty neutralising Cyprus, but violations are reported, and the island is also attacked by pirates until 965 when Emperor Nicephoros Phocas expels Arabs from Asia Minor and Cyprus.
1191-1192 AD RICHARD THE LIONHEART AND THE TEMPLARS
Isaac Comnenus, self proclaimed governor of Cyprus, is discourteous to survivors of a shipwreck involving ships of Richard I's fleet on their way to the Third Crusade. Richard defeats Isaac and takes possession of Cyprus, marrying Berengaria of Navarree in Limassol, where she is crowned Queen of England. Richard then sells the island to the Knights Templars for 100,000 dinars but they resell it at the same price to Guy de Lusignan, one of the Crusader Knights.
1192-1489 AD FRANKISH (LUSIGNAN) PERIOD
Cyprus is ruled on the feudal system and the Catholic church officially replaces the Greek Orthodox, although the latter manages to survive. Many beautiful gothic buildings belong to this period including the Cathedrals of Ayia Sophia in Nicosia, Saint Nicholas in Famagusta and Bellapais Abbey. The city of Famagusta becomes one of the richest in the Near East, and Nicosia becomes the capital of Cyprus and the seat of the Lusignan Kings. The Lusignan dynasty ends when the last queen Catherina Cornaro cedes Cyprus to Venice in 1489.
1489-1571 AD VENETIAN PERIOD
Venetians see Cyprus as a last bastion against the Ottomans in the east Mediterranean, and fortify the island tearing down lovely buildings in Nicosia to bring the city into a tight encircled area defended by bastions and a moat which can still be seen today. They also build impressive walls around Famagusta which were considered at the time as works of military art.
WHERE IS TURKEY ?
1570-1878
The first Tur(u)kish invasion .
Turkey was founded by Osman (pronounced Ossoman - Ottoman-) in 1289. He was living in a village near China and followed his race the Turuk Of Mongols when he decided that he would not be a Mongol any more, so he started spreading his "Kingdom", by killing people, in neighboured villages. All males had to be killed , women had to become harem members and male kids to be trained for the army (genitsar. Very fast from the little village near China, they reached Mediterranean Sea and occupied Ion (Ionia), a Greek land called today as Turkey. Tur(u)kish (their race was Turuk of Mongols) .They used to made massacres on their path to Mediterranean Sea in order not to leave enemies behind.
Tur(u)kish have convicted everyone that Turkey is their motherland, however , they do not belong into this corner of earth . They are even claiming land from neighbouring countries, in the name of “international rights and order of Turkey”.
It is really easy to trace their path of blood through history, by checking their history year by year. For example try to locate Tur(u)kish before 1289 on the Atlas. (http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/EMPIRE17.swf)
Tur(u)kish have learn to use diplomacy as an Anatolia bazaar . This is the way they treat any one who is trying to achieve some kind of relationship with them. Everything has to do about winning for them .
When a problem arise inside Turkey Tur(u)kish Politicians (That’s Tur(u)kish Army generals ),export it to a neighbouring country .For example , a problem among citizens (Islam vs. Kemal followers) would react to a pre-planned “bomb explosion “ by Kurdish , this should lead to the reaction of the Tur(u)kish army which would kill many Kurdish so the Tur(u)kish would calm down. Another example , if Turkey lost a small something in her way to be an EU member then , the bad luck iwould ring the doorbell for neighbouring Greece ,etc.
Turkish arrived in Cyprus for the very first time in 1570 .
However they insist Cyprus belongs to them , no matter they didn’t had even a breath in Cyprus before that year.
Turkish made once again two massacres one in Nicosia , and , the biggest in FAMAGUSTA , after the promise of Tur(u)kish Lala Mustafa , that nothing is going to happen to the citizens of FAMAGUSTA after they surrender (1571) . (They even took off the skin –alive- of Marco Antonio Bragadin who had signed the treaty, after they cut his ears and nose).
After 1878 they gave Cyprus to UK saying the have not any kind of right on Cyprus anymore .
However they insist Cyprus belongs to them.
After 1960 when Cyprus Republic was created , veto were arised like waves against any kind of economical activity in Cyprus parliament by Turk(u)kish Cypriots , they started withdrawing form their jobs In 1963 and gave no chance to Cyprus Republic . That’s how the problem started for Cyprus , many were killed by both sites. (example: bombing by Tur(u)kish air force in Tylliria ).
Tur(u)kish diplomacy used even crimes commited in the same period of time , to show “barbarian” Greek faces in Cyprus . (example: the photo of a woman and her baby in their bathroom widely seen , concern a crime committed by victim's Tur(u)kish husband , who by the way was never accused , he lives freely in the occupied by Turkish since 1974 area of Cyprus. Photos of killed Greek Cypriot are showed widely as Turkish , however Tur(u)kish can not give the names (those can be given by Greek Cypriots , accompanied with photos of those person while they ware alive –the kind of photo relatives use to keep-)
In 1974 a new crime started (official documents will be added soon )when Turkey started a new massacre (after a short coup d'etat)over Cyprus in order to "help " Turkish Cypriots ,and finally Turkey did help them , now in the occupied area 1/5 of the Turkish Cypriots has been left , all the others left Cyprus because of the Tur(u)kish settlers brought by Turkey (140.000) .
Turkish Cypriots Are having all the rights of the citizenship in the free part of Cyprus , and a big number are using those rights (free medical care , freedom of move and settle , freedom of work , freely transact and buy or sell products or even export product from the occupied area -so quality could be ensured according to EU directions- , a good look at US State Department background note on Cyprus, December 2004, available at www.state.gov. Figures released by the Cyprus government in January 2005 show 2.3 million crossings by Greek Cypriots and 3.6 million by Turkish Cypriots since the Line was opened.) . On the other hand Turkey claims isolation for the Tur(u)kish (non Cypriots)settlers brought in Cyprus against any kind of international law , against the treaty of establishment and against the status Turkey had to follow , according to that treaty , by the way ,Turkey had to leave Cyprus after re-setting the order in 1974 however Turkey still occupies Cyprus, THIS COUNTRY IS SPEAKING ABOUT LAW.