Cyprus

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Republic of Cyprus Cyprus is a sovereign island nation situated in the Eastern Mediterranean, boasting the distinction of being the third largest and third most populous island in this vast sea. Geographically, Cyprus lies south of Turkey, west of Syria and Lebanon, northwest of Israel, north of Egypt, and southeast of Greece. The earliest recorded human presence on the island stretches back to around 10,000 BC, with archaeological findings from this era showcasing a well-preserved Neolithic village at Khirokitia. Notably, Cyprus is home to some of the oldest functional water wells in the world. In the 2nd millennium BC, Cyprus was settled by two waves of Mycenaean Greeks, who exploited the island's strategic location in the Middle East. As a result, Cyprus was subsequently occupied by several prominent empires, including the Assyrians, Egyptians, and Persians. However, in 333 BC, Alexander the Great seized control of the island from these powers. Following this shift in power, Cyprus was subject to various forms of rule, commencing with Ptolemaic Egypt, then transitioning through the Classical and Eastern Roman Empire, Arab caliphates for a brief period, the French Lusignan dynasty, and finally the Venetians. This era of occupation was eventually succeeded by over three centuries of Ottoman rule, which lasted from 1571 to 1878 (de jure until 1914). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb2-6zemmj8