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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CYPRUS

For centuries Cyprus has been influenced by the cultures of many different nations, which has led to an island with a rich and diverse historical and architectural heritage. From Soli and Vouni in the West, Arabahmet Pasha Mosque in Lefkosa to Salamis and the site of Apostolos Andreas in the East there are much to reflect 9000 years of civilization. It is not possible to say when first habitants of Cyprus lived, but it is believed possible that as long ago as 9000 B.C. there were settlements on Cyprus that are migrated to the island from Anatolia, Syria or Palestine.

Cyprus has had many names, but the name we use now is believed to have come from the word copper of which there was, and possible still is, an abundance of on the island. An alternative theory is that its name comes from the word Kypros(the Greek for henna) of which there was also abundance. No one knows for sure.

Cyprus has had a troubled history. The abundance of copper, timber, and the trategic location between East and West resulted in repeated invasions, changes of rulers, and strife for the inhabitants. Before the annexation to Rome in 58 B.C. Phoenicians, Archaeans, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and Greeks colonized Cyprus.

In 43 A.D. Christianity came to Cyprus and in 330 A.D. Cyprus became part of the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire. And so it remained until 1191 when Richard the Lionheart, on his way to the Holy Land to fight the 3rd Crusade, conquered the island. A year later Richard sold the island to the Knights Templar for 100,000 Byzants. The Knights Templar, unable to exploit the island satisfactorily, then returned the island to Richard who sold it to the French nobleman Guy de Lusignan. The Lusignan dynasty ruled the island for the next three hundred years a rule that was often oppressive, effectively reducing Cypriots to serfdom.

In 1489 the Lusignan King James died leaving the Kingdom to his Venetian wife who abdicated giving the island to Venice. The Vetenians saw Cyprus primarily as a military base and built fortifications all over the island. Cypriots, at that time, were seen merely as a populous to be taxed as much as possible. In fact, it is said that Venetian rule was so unpleasant when the Ottomans arrived in Cyprus in 1571 the locals felt as if they had been liberated from slavery.

The Ottomans abolished serfdom and instated the Ortodox Church as the Church of Cyprus. They also made being Catholic a punishable offence, so Cypriots had to choose between Orthodox Christianity and Islam. The majoruty chose Christianity, but the result was that the population begun to take on the ethnic structure it still possesses today, namely Greek and Turkish.

The Ottoman Empire, entered the First World War on the side of Germany, and emerged defeated. Partly occupied by foreign powers, and with harsh restrictions imposed, Cyprus became a part of the British colonies following the Treaty of Lausanne in 1925. In 1960 the Treaty of Zurich was signed to give independence to Cypru whilst protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriot population. The guarantors of this treaty were Britain, Greece and Turkey.

In 1963, relations between the two communities seperated by language, culture and religion had deteriorated. 13 articles of the Constitution were attempted to be changed in favour of Greek Cypriot community, also disarming Turkish Cypriot Police and establishing the National Greek Cypriot Guards. There measures were in clear contravention of the Treaty of Zurich. Civil war began and the United Nations sent in troops in an attempt to restore peace, creating the Green Line, which effectively divided the communities.

In 1974, Greece attempted a military coup in conjunction with the Greek National Guard in a bid to achieve ENOSIS(Idea of union with Greece).

On the 20th of July, Turkey, after consultation with Britain, intervened militarily, namely Peace-Keeping Action to protect the Turkish Cypriot community. This was in exercise of the powers of guarantee agreed in the Treaty of Zurich.

Since this time the island has remained divided. On the 15th November 1983, The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was founded. It is a fully democratic state and with exception of a few border incidents, internal peace has been established.