10 000 - 7000 BC Late Mesolithic Age
Beside fossil findings of pygmy elephants and hippopotamus, oldest traces of nomadic hunters and collectors of the Eolithic period have been discovered on the peninsula of Akrotiri.

7000 - 3000 BC Neolithic Age

7000 BC
At the beginning of the neolithic period the habitants of the island settle down in settlements of circular huts built from clay with foundations of river stones along the north and south coast. Stone vessels with patterns, stone and bone tools such as blades and needles are used. The dead are buried under the floors of the houses.

4500 BC
The population increases, the first ceramic vessels, are manufactured. Red-brown bowls decorated with a comb and small stone statues were found coming from this period.

3000 - 2500 BC Chalcolithic Age
Most Chalcolithic settlements were found in western Cyprus.

At that time a fertility cult developed.
Copper is being discovered and the first copper items such as tools and jewellery are produced. Copper is traded for other objects such as obsidian.
Pottery is decorated with floral and linear red-coloured motifs on white ground.

2500 - 1050 BC Bronze Age
Cyprus is known under the name of Alasia.
Copper is more extensively exploited bringing wealth to Cyprus. Items found in graves prove trade activities with Krete, Egypt and the Phoenicians. The Egyptians trade Silver against Cypriot copper.
The technique of bronze production as well as the necessary zinc is introduced on the island by merchants from the Near East.
Considerable settlements arise such as Egkomi with multi-storeyed houses on square foundation.
A enormous variety of red, glossy, carved ceramic decorations appear. Typical for this period are clay models depicting everyday scenes or ritual acts such as the famous model of a mystery celebration found in Vouni.

After 1400 BC influences from the west-aegean area are noticeable. Mycenaeans and Minoans reach the island as merchants bringing ceramics and jewellery. The forms and shades of the pottery are versatile depicting often animal and human figures.
The production of gold jewellery is rich.
Now also the kypro-minoan script developes.

During the 12th and 11th centuries, mass waves of Achaean Greeks come to settle on the island spreading the Greek language, religion and customs. They gradually take control over Cyprus and establish the first city-kingdoms of Pafos, Salamis, Kition and Kourion. The Hellenisation of the island is now in progress.

1050 - 750 BC Geometric Period (Iron Age)

Cyprus is now a Greek island with ten city-kingdoms. The cult of the Goddess Aphrodite flourishes at her birthplace Cyprus.
Phoenicians settle at Kition introducing the skill of iron production.
The manufacturing of iron reduces the significance of bronze. Geometric designs are typical for the decoration of pottery of this period. Phoenician traders settle and declare Kition to be a phoenician kingdom.

750 - 475 BC Archaic Period
The era of prosperity continues, but the island falls prey to several conquerors. Cypriot Kingdoms become successively tributary to Assyria, Egypt and Persia in the 6th century b.c.
Great tombs are built such as the Tombs of Salamis and adorned with valuable gifts. Ivory works show eastern influence. The painting of vases thrives and a new style developes where flowery looking animal or plant motifs are painted on mainly light-coloured ground.

475 - 325 BC Classical Period
The Persian rule (until 331 b.c.) was marked by conflicts among the population. Revolts of the city-kingdoms (449/448 and 392) were cruelly suppressed and only Alexander the Great's victory over the Persians(333 BC) freed the island.

325 - 58 BC Hellenistic Period
After the death of Alexander the Great, Cyprus falls under rule of the Ptolemies. The city-kingdoms are abolished, the island is unified and governed by Alexandria. Pafos becomes the capital.
Another period of economic and cultural prime begins, characterised by its rich building activity. Large, beautifully decorated necropolis like the tombs of the kings in Pafos give evidence for the wealth of the cities at that time.

58 BC - 330 AD Roman Period
The Ptolemies hand over the island to the Romans as gratitude for assistance. Cyprus comes under the dominion of the Roman Empire. Pafos remains capital. Cities like Pafos, Kourion and Salamis develope to centres of art and culture. Splendid buildings are constructed, decorated with valuable mosaics like the House of Theseus, the House of Dionysos and the House of Aion.
During the missionary journey of Saints Paul and Barnabas in the year 45 AD, the Proconsul Sergius Paulus is converted to Christianity and Cyprus becomes the first country to be governed by a Christian. Destructive earthquakes occur during the 1 st century BC and the 1 st century AD and cities are rebuilt. 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, Cyprus comes under the Eastern Roman Empire known as Byzantium, with Constantinople as its capital. Christianity becomes the official religion. Saint Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, comes to Cyprus, carrying with her the relics of the holy cross and founds the Stavrovouni Monastery. New earthquakes during the 4th century AD completely destroy cities like Salamis and Kourion. New cities arise, Constantia is now capital, and large basilicas are built from the 5th century AD.
In 488, after the tomb of St. Barnabas is found, Emperor Zeno grants the Church of Cyprus full autonomy and gives the Archbishop the privileges of holding a sceptre instead of a pastoral staff, wearing a purple mantle and signing in red ink.
The island is subject to constant Arabic attacks. During the 7th century AD, a close relative of Mohamed, Hala Sultan arrives in Cyprus. A mosque was built at the place she died.

1191 - 1192 Richard the Lionheart and the Templars
lsaac Comnenus, self proclaimed 'Emperor' of Cyprus, separates the island from the byzantine empire. When he behaves discourteously to survivors of a shipwreck involving ships of Richard's fleet on their way to the Third Crusade. Richard in revenge defeats lsaac, and takes possession of Cyprus marrying Berengaria of Navarre in Limassol where she is crowned Queen of England.

A year later he sells the island for 1.00,000 gold dinars to the Knights Templars who, due to continuous conflicts with the Cypriot people, hand it over at the same price to the Franconians.

1192 - 1489 Franconian Era
Impressive cathedrals and monasteries are built, the orthodox christian faith is suppressed severely by the roman-catholic church though manages to survive. The city of Ammochostos is now one of the richest in the Near East. It is during this period that the historical names of Lefkosia, Ammochostos and Lemesos are being referred to as Nicosia, Famagusta and Limassol respectively. The Franconian era ends when the last queen Catherina Cornaro abdicates from the throne in favour of the Venetians in 1489.

1489 - 1571 Venetian Era
Venetians regard Cyprus as a last bastion against the Ottomans in the east Mediterranean and fortify the island, tearing down lovely buildings in Lefkosia to reduce the boundaries of the city within fortified walls. They also build impressive walls around Ammochostos which were considered at the time as works of art of military architecture.

1571 - 1878 Ottoman Era
The conquest of the island by Ottoman troops in 1571 marks the beginning of the economical and cultural fall of Cyprus. The governors ruling, exploited country and people, corruption and dispossession where part of everyday life. Thousands of Cypriots emigrated.
Although many christian churches were transformed to mosques, the orthodox-christian was restored and permitted. The Archbishop, as leader of the greek orthodox community becomes the people's representative to the Sultan. When the Greek War of Independence breaks out in 1821, the Archbishop of Cyprus, Kyprianos, three bishops and prominent Cypriots are executed. The Muslim minority during the Ottoman period eventually acquires a Cypriot identity.

1878 - 1960 British Era
The administration of the island is assigned under the 1878 Cyprus Convention, to Britain. Britain guarantees the military protection of the Turkish boarders on the Balkan against Russia. Britains strategic interest in Cyprus was high as a base in the East-Mediterranean and as a stop-over on the sea-route to India until the Suez Canal was completed. Cyprus remains formally part of the Ottoman Empire until Turkey enters the First World War on the side of Germany and Britain in consequence annexes Cyprus in 1914. In 1923 under the Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey relinquishes all rights to Cyprus and Cyprus is declared a crown colony in 1925. In 1940 Cypriot volunteers serve in the British Armed Forces throughout the Second World War. Hopes for self-determination being granted to other countries in the post-war period are shattered by the British who consider the island vitally strategic. After numerous fruitless attempts to achieve the peacefull unification with Greece, a national liberation struggle is launched in 1955 by EOKA (revolutionary organisation for the struggle in Cyprus) which lasts until 1959.

1960 - Today Independent Republic of Cyprus
On the 16th August 1960, Cyprus becomes an independent republic on the condition that Britain is allowed to maintain two military bases on the island. It is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Archbishop Makarios is elected as president and the position of the vice-president is occupied by a Turkish representative. The parliament consists of 35 Greek and 15 Turkish Cypriots. The conflicts between the two communities continue. In 1963, the President of the Republic proposes some amendments on the Constitution of the Cyprus Republic which result in new, serious clashes among the Cypriots.
A coup of July 1974, instigated against the Cyprus Government by the military Junta, then in power in Athens, provides Turkey with the official excuse for the invasion of Turkish troups on the island on the 20th July, 1974, occupying until mid August 1974 37% of the island. Makarios, who fled to London during the coup returns to Cyprus end of 1974 but the island remains occupied and in 1975 a separate Turkish-Cypriot state is announced by the Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.
Makarios dies in 1977. His political successor is Spyros Kyprianou and Bishop Chrysostomos becomes Archbishop.
Rauf Denktash proclaims in 1983 the "Turkish Republic of North Cyprus" which is only acknowledged by Turkey.
In 1988, Georgios Vasiliou is elected as President of Cyprus and succeeded in 1993 by the conservative Glafkos Klerides.