Republic of Cyprus
The Republic of Cyprus is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean, located south of Turkey, west of Syria and Lebanon, north of Egypt, and southeast of Greece. Here's an overview:
History
- Prehistoric Period: Cyprus has one of the oldest known records of human activity on the island, with evidence of human presence dating back to the 10th millennium BC.
- Ancient Times: Cyprus was colonized by Mycenaean Greeks in the 2nd millennium BC. It later came under the influence of the Phoenicians, Assyria, Egypt, and the Persian Empire.
- Greek and Roman Periods: Cyprus was part of the Kingdom of Macedon and then became a Roman province in 58 BC.
- Byzantine Empire: After the division of the Roman Empire, Cyprus became part of the Byzantine Empire.
- Crusader and Venetian Rule: The island was captured by the Crusaders in 1191 and later sold to the Venetian Republic in 1489.
- Ottoman Rule: In 1571, Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Empire after a fierce battle.
- British Rule: The United Kingdom annexed Cyprus in 1914, and it officially became a British Crown Colony in 1925.
- Independence: Cyprus gained independence from Britain on August 16, 1960, after the Zürich and London Agreements.
- Conflict and Division: Tensions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots led to intercommunal violence, culminating in the Cyprus Conflict of 1974, where Turkey intervened militarily, leading to the current division of the island.
Geography and Demographics
- Area: Cyprus covers an area of 9,251 km².
- Population: Approximately 1.2 million people, with the majority being Greek Cypriots and a significant Turkish Cypriot minority.
- Capital: Nicosia (Lefkosia in Greek, Lefkoşa in Turkish) is the last divided capital in the world.
Politics and Administration
- Government: Cyprus operates under a presidential representative democratic republic. The President of Cyprus is both head of state and government.
- Legal System: Based on English common law, with local modifications.
- International Status: The Republic of Cyprus is recognized internationally as the sole legitimate government of the island, though the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey.
Economy
- Currency: The Euro (€).
- Sectors: Tourism, shipping, banking, and real estate are significant to the economy. Cyprus also has offshore gas reserves, which are beginning to be exploited.
International Relations
- EU Membership: Cyprus has been a member of the European Union since May 1, 2004.
- UN and Peacekeeping: The United Nations has a peacekeeping force in Cyprus, known as UNFICYP, to maintain the ceasefire line between the two communities.
Culture
- Language: Greek and Turkish are the official languages, with English widely spoken.
- Religion: Predominantly Greek Orthodox Christianity among Greek Cypriots, and Islam among Turkish Cypriots.
Sources
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