c. 6000 BC		Neolithic settlers first arrive.
2500 BC		First evidence of copper mining.
1500 BC		Colonisation by the Greeks. Later ruled by the Egyptian, Assyrian, Persian, Roman and Byzantine Empires.
1191 AD		Conquered by Richard the Lionheart of England.
1192		Sold to the Frankish ruler of Jerusalem - becomes the independent Kingdom of Cyprus.
1489		Annexed by Venice.
1571		Occupied by the Ottoman Empire. Settled by ancestors of present day Turkish Cypriots.
1878		Leased to Britain by the Ottoman Sultan.
1900		Start of political campaign for Enosis (union with Greece).
2 Nov 1914		Annexed by Britain at start of war with Ottoman Empire.
1915		Cyprus offered to Greece in return for Greece entering WW1 on the side of the Allies. Offer declined.
1920		Increased public calls for Enosis after 1915 offer raises expectations.
1925		The island becomes a British Crown Colony.
1931		Riots in Nicosia by Enosis supporters.
1940		Cypriots firmly support the Allies in WW2.
1951		Referendum by Greek Orthodox church shows 97% of Greek Cypriots want Enosis. Turkish Cypriots prefer partition of the island and union with the respective mother countries (Taksim policy).
1955		EOKA (National Organisation for Cypriot Combatants) guerrilla group formed to achieve Enosis by force.
1955		Guerrilla warfare led by EOKA against Turks and Britons.
26 Nov 1955		State of Emergency declared in Cyprus.
1959		Greece and Turkey reach comprise over the future government of Cyprus.
16 Aug 1960		Cyprus becomes an independent republic within the Commonwealth - with Greek Archbishop Makarios as President and Turkish Fazil Kücük as Vice President.
1963		Turkish Cypriots abandon coalition government after President proposes constitutional changes giving more power to the Greek Cypriots.
Dec 1963		Inter-communal violence erupts.
1964		UN peacekeeping mission established to restore order.
1970		EOKA B terrorist group begins campaign of violence against moderate Greek Cypriots.
15 July 1974		President Makarios is deposed by pro-Enosis military coup.
20 July 1974		Turkey invades Cyprus to protect Turkish Cypriots.
August 1974		Cyprus effectively partitioned into Turkish and Greek areas of the island.
7 Dec 1974		Makarios is restored as President of the Greek speaking region of the island.
8 June 1975		Turkish Cypriots vote to form a separate Turkish Cypriot state.
1977		Turkish Federated State of Cyprus declared.
15 Nov 1983		Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared as an independent state - only recognised by Turkey.
1998		Talks on EU membership for Cyprus start. Partition issue must be resolved before entry is accepted.
2002		United Nations plan to resolve partition issue proposed.
2003		Turkish Cypriot elections indecisive regarding UN plan.