Yes, Cyprus was a British colony from 1878 until it gained independence in 1960.
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Yes, Cyprus was a British colony from 1878 until it gained independence in 1960. During this period, Cyprus was under British administration that brought significant changes to the island nation.
One interesting fact is that Cyprus became a British colony during the time of the Ottoman Empire. In 1878, the Ottoman Empire handed over the administration of Cyprus to the British Empire in exchange for their military support during the Russo-Turkish War.
Under British rule, Cyprus underwent major economic development, including the establishment of a railroad network and a modernized agricultural industry. The British also brought about social and political changes, such as the establishment of a legal system and democratic institutions.
However, British rule also came with controversy. The British government’s policy of “divide and rule” caused tensions between the Greek and Turkish communities on the island. The enosis movement, which aimed to unite Cyprus with Greece, gained traction among the Greek Cypriots, leading to tension and violent protests.
Overall, the British rule in Cyprus was a complex period in the island’s history, with both positive and negative impacts on the nation’s development.
As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” The period of British rule in Cyprus was a part of the nation’s journey towards independence, and the ability to make mistakes was a crucial part of their progress.
Table:
| Period | Details |
|---|---|
| 1878-1960 | Cyprus was a British colony, under British administration |
| 1878 | Ottoman Empire handed over the administration of Cyprus to the British Empire in exchange for military support during the Russo-Turkish War |
| Economic development | Establishment of a railroad network and a modernized agricultural industry |
| Social and political | Establishment of a legal system and democratic institutions |
| Tensions | Enosis movement aimed to unite Cyprus with Greece, leading to tension and violent protests |
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Cyprus became divided after tensions rose between the Greek and Turkish populations following the country’s independence from Britain, leading to a Greek-backed coup in 1974. Turkey intervened unilaterally to protect the Turkish minority, which embarrassed the military government in Greece and led to international condemnation when Turkey continued to push further across the island. The Turkish Cypriot administration was created, and many people were forced out of their homes and cleared from the north. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot government declared independence, which was only supported by Turkey, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Despite international condemnation, the island remains divided today.
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Cyprus gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1960, after 82 years of British control. The two countries now enjoy warm relations; however, the continuing British sovereignty of the Akrotiri and Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areas has continued to divide Cypriots.
Cyprus was placed under the United Kingdom ‘s administration based on the Cyprus Convention in 1878 and was formally annexed by the UK in 1914.
Cyprus was then proclaimed a British protectorate and was informally integrated into the British Empire.
Some key dates in the history of Cyprus: 1914 – Cyprus annexed by Britain, after more than 300 years of Ottoman rule. Britain had occupied the island in 1878, although it remained nominally under Ottoman sovereignty.
On 5 November 1914, in response to the Ottoman Empire’s entry into the First World War on the side of the Central Powers, the United Kingdom formally declared Cyprus (together with Egypt and Sudan) a protectorate of the British Empire and later a Crown colony, known as British Cyprus.
Cyprus was part of the British Empire, under military occupation from 1914 to 1925, and a Crown colony from 1925 to 1960. Cyprus became an independent nation in 1960.
In 1878 the island of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, came under British control. Its population is made up of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The Greek Cypriot majority desired the removal of British rule and union with Greece, known as Enosis.