The History of Cyprus:
Tuesday 5th October 2021
Phase 1 - Starting Point 4
The Cyprus Invasion — 1974
I have chosen my final starting point to be The History of Cyprus and loosely base this around my heritage. The history of Cyprus is very important to myself and my family and I'd love to understand the modern conflict in more detail and be able to reflect back on this story.
WHERE DO I BEGIN?
I'll begin my research by reading about the Invasion of Cyprus and understanding the conflict between both Turkish and Greek Cypriots. During my research I will also be speaking to my family members in order to gather personal stories and information regarding the Invasion and what life was like before and after this devastating event.
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MY QUESTIONS
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1. What was life like growing up In Cyprus before the Invasion?
2. Why was Cyprus invaded?
3. The modern conflict?
4. Family stories?
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NEXT STEPS:
I will begin my research into this topic by understanding the history of the invasion. I have found multiple sources and also a documentary which I think will be most reliable. From this I can then talk to my family members regarding this subject and find out additional information to support this.
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RESEARCH: ”Brief History of Cyprus”
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Brief Notes -
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First people in Cyprus were stone age farmers
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By 4,000 BC they were making pottery and copper tools
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After 1,600 BC a form of writing was invented
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The king of Cyprus married a Venetian woman, once the King died, the Queen was the ‘sole ruler’ of Cyprus.
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By 1489 she was persuaded to abdicate and Cyprus “came under direct Venetian rule".
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The Ottoman Turkish Empire were the rising power in the Mediterranean. In 1571 they conquered Cyprus.
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Most Cypriots welcomed the Turkish rule preferring it to the Venetian rule.
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In 1875 the Suez Canal opened, and Britain was keen to protect the route to India.
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In 1878 the British were allowed to occupy and administer Cyprus.
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1914 the Turks joined Germany’s side in World War 1 and Britain formally annexed Cyprus.
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Cyprus was made a British Crown Colony in 1925.
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Greek Orthodox Cypriots now demanded enosis (union with Greece)
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1931 riots took place
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During WW2, many Cypriots fought for the British.
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When Cypriots demanded union with Greece again, Turkish Cypriots wanted British rule to continue.
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Turkish Cypriots wanted to claim the Island (ownership)
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Argument based on who the island belonged to Turks with the help of the Americans.
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RESEARCH LINK:
REFLECTION
This brief summary didn't exactly explain what I wanted to know/learn, therefore I will continue to read up on the Invasion and find more detail into this subject from other sources.
RESEARCH: The Turkish Invasion of Cyprus
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WHEN DID IT TAKE PLACE?
​20th July - 18th August 1974
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LOCATION:
Cyprus
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RESULT:
Turkish Victory
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RESEARCH LINK:
The Divide
(how Cyprus is today)
RESEARCH:
WHAT HAPPENED?
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"Returning to a War-Torn Ghost Town Sealed for 50 years" - Johnny Harris
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A 2 part documentary based on the Invasion of Cyprus. Johnny Harris talks about the history before and after the invasion and speaks to previous residents to hear what they have to say about it.
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RESEARCH LINK:
Notes taken from the Documentary:
WHAT HAPPENED? My reflection
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Cyprus today is split into two - The Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
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Many years ago, Cyprus was combination of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots and were conquered and ruled by one empire after another.
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The people of Cyprus were fed up with being conquered by different empires, so eventually decided to take part in a political movement called Enosis. Turkish Cypriots disagreed with the idea of this and demanded to divide the country into two.
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Britain came up with a solution to settle this conflict: The Cyprus Constitution.
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This plan was to decide how Cyprus was going to be run and essentially make everyone happy.
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Time past and tensions heated, the constitution didn't go to plan!
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In 1974, Turkey claimed to restore peace in Cyprus and began to take over the North.
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It took them 3 days to invade and declare Northern Cyprus as a new country.
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Tourist resort 'Famagusta' was left completely abandoned and hundreds of family homes and businesses were destroyed.
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MOOD-BOARDS: Famagusta Before and After
(Images from Google Images)
Famagusta After the Invasion
(Images from Google Images)
Famagusta After the Invasion
(Images from Google Images)
Famagusta​
How is it known now?
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Occupied side
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Abandoned
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Empty
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Destroyed
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Ghost-Town
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Deserted
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Inaccessible military zone
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Houses and Hotels collapsing
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IMAGES
My brothers photography from the observatory in Cyprus which overlooks the occupied North.
MODERN DAY CONFLICT: My reflection
The Modern Day conflict of today is who is in the wrong?
Greek Narrative or Turkish Narrative?
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Greek Narrative
An invasion of Greek property.
The Turkish took over what was rightfully theirs.
No compensation for their homes or businesses.
Wanted Enosis (join Greece, create peace)
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Turkish Narrative
Do not label it as an invasion.
"Salvation for Turkish Cypriots"
Suffered violence as a minority in Cyprus.
"Peace Operation"
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MY OPINION:
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The Turkish Narrative is based on restoring peace and did this by taking over the North of Cyprus, by destroying homes of relatives, leaving towns abandoned. Their objective was to divide the country into two and they did just that, however I don't believe this should be called a peace operation as it was the complete opposite. Greek Cypriots did not agree to the division of Cyprus and were happy to keep the peace between them, however instead they had to flee their homes and leave all of their belongings behind. To this day the North of Cyprus remains abandoned and thousands of homes have been destroyed.
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CYPRUS - BEFORE 1974 & AFTER​
Northern Cyprus is now known as the occupied side, and the closest people can get to their homes is by looking at them from a far. The tourist resort of the island (major port) is now known as the Ghost-Town where everything has been deserted, homes have been emptied and places of worship have been destroyed.
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Before the Invasion, the Economy was strong. Culturally and educationally "it was a wonderful place". Homes were lost due to power conflicts but most importantly, memories were destroyed.
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Both sides suffered immense losses but the modern day conflict still remains.
REFLECTION
Overall it was quite devastating to read about the tragic event that occured in Cyprus and understanding the deeper meaning behind the conflict. I have a clearer understanding of the Invasion and now I am eager to hear it from my relatives point of view and truly understand it from the perspective of a resident during the 3 days of the Invasion.
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Next...
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I'll be speaking with both my mother and grandparents to gather stories and create visuals of what happened during this time.
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I'd love to know more about my grandparents history and what life was like growing up in Cyprus.
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RESEARCH: Interviewing family members
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I will be speaking with my mother and grandparents to gather personal stories regarding the invasion and what life was like before it happened.
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QUESTIONS FOR MY GRANDPARENTS:
1. When did you first move to England?
2. What was it like living in Cyprus before the Invasion?
3. When were you first aware of the conflict?
4. What was it like being present during the Invasion?
5. What happened once you received the news regarding the Invasion? (Having to flee and move country)
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QUESTIONS FOR MY MUM:
1. When did you move to Cyprus?
2. What was life like in Cyprus as a child/going to school/making friends?
3. When were you first made aware regarding the conflict?
4. What was it like being present during the Invasion?
5. How did you feel about returning back to England?
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Speaking with my mother, grandmother and grandfather.
CONVERSATION 1: My grandparents
16.10.21
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NOTES
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Grandma moved here when she was 9 1/2 . Didn’t know the language, took a week to travel by the boat to England. Didn’t have any friends, people would take the mic. Went to school in Hampstead. Although was 9 and ½, went into class with 4 and 5 year olds to learn alphabet and start from the beginning. Grandma eventually picked up the language. Saw snow for the first time. Learned to read but had no idea what it meant.
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Grandpa went to English school in Cyprus, travelled when he was 18. Went to college to study telecommunications and then got a job with BT for 30 years.
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Grandma was a dress designer – college for 2 and a half years, got a job and enjoyed making her own dresses.
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Went for a new life when she was 34 and grandad 36 - 2 children 10 and 6 year olds
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5 weeks after all plans to build house and settle were cancelled because of the invasion. Grandma wanted to stay longer; grandpa heard news that they needed to leave. Left on C130 Hercules. (July 20th 1974)
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1 week before invasion, government was overthrown
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Look out the balcony, could see the aeroplanes dropping bombs onto hotels and sometimes houses. They could feel the ground shake.
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Invasion was an excuse to restore democracy in Cyprus, divided the island into two, sent all the Greeks to the south and took over the north.
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Left everything behind, brought a few belongings with them (small suitcase) Everything owned was in Cyprus
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Let the house long-term, agent was taking care of the house – couldn’t get back into the house so they took tenants to court.
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Stayed in grandmas mothers house, slept on the floor. July – November - 1974
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Cyprus got independence: October
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Cyprus farming, always under occupation (including British) Farmed wheat and barley to make bread, harvested, ground flour, old fashioned methods using stone.
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Great grandmother said they didn’t have any freedom, girls were kept wrapped up indoors, wanted to keep up religion and their language but had to do this in secret.
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CONVERSATION 2: My mum
16.10.21
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NOTES
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Around May, Mum said goodbye to all her school friends at 9 years old.
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Immediately landed in Cyprus to live with her grandmother.
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Plans to have their house built on their owned land
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Mum and her brother walked to primary school; my uncle hid his books because he didn’t want to go
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Went to greekschool so knew the language well
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7:30am walked to school, an inspection at school to make sure their nails weren’t too long and that they had a clean handkerchief.
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Every break time they would be served warm bread, 2 grosia (currency at the time)
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By 12:30 school was finished because temperature was too hot
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Mum became aware of a problem during school holidays, one of the neighbours stopped them in the car. Grandad tuned into radio – political
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Returned home and everyone was glued to their tv’s listening to news
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A few days later Turkish Cypriots flew over North Cyprus and began to drop bombs
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She remembers going up on the balcony and seeing an aeroplane drop bombs as she felt the ground shake
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Occasionally there’d be a cease fire
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For 3 nights my mums family stayed in one of the sturdier houses and kept the lights off to avoid attracting any attention to themselves
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One of her uncles got called to fight in the army
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Third morning, uncle suggested travelling to England to start a new life
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Mum tried to bring her favourite toy with her to England but they wouldn’t let her
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Got into a mini buses, drove to the British bases of Dhekelia – spent one night sleeping in the army barracks with other refugees and the following morning flew in a C130 Hercules plane. They sat back to back, given a box with a hard boiled egg and orange juice for the journey.
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7 and a half hours later, landed In an airfield in Wiltshire where the Red Cross were waiting to hand out warm clothes.
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Grouped refugees according to where they needed to go, minibuses took my mum and her family to her grand-parents’ house.
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September mum re-joined her class which she previously left and here she is now.
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MOOD-BOARD:
I have put together a mood-board to visualise the information my mother has kindly shared
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RESEARCH: Poem
At just 9 years old, when my mum returned back to England she wrote a poem about the tragic event in Cyprus. This poem then got shared in their local newspaper:
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"Through the eyes of a 9 year old girl"
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I went to live in Cyprus, my family and me
Under the lovely blue sky by the beautiful blue sea
I even went to Greek school to learn to read and write
And everything was wonderful no trouble was in sight
Life was great until that Saturday morning
When the Turks invaded Cyprus without any warning
Can God hear us we wondered, from under the stairs
When we were clutching our crosses and saying our prayers
But that was not to be
Famagusta was left behind
And we returned to England
With the golden sand still on my mind
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VISUALS: "Drone over Famagusta"
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RESEARCH LINK:
This is a video taken by a Drone as it flew through Varosha, Famagusta. It captures the sad state of the country now - the abandoned buildings, destroyed land and isolated town.
SUMMARY OF RESEARCH:
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What have I learned?
I have learned about the Cyprus Invasion and the history behind this event. This research allowed me to put the pieces together and visualise parts of it that I wasn't aware of before. I have also learned more about the outcome of the event, through drone videos and images of how it is now. This could be an interesting way to think about a potential game world.
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What do I find interesting?
It was really interesting to learn more about my own heritage and the history of Cyprus. I also enjoyed gathering stories from my relatives because it opened up a part of my family that I didn't know about before.
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What would I take further if I choose this as my starting point?
In all honesty, I think I would struggle taking this topic any further. It was great to learn about personal stories and familiarise myself with the history, however, I am unsure as to where I could take this. Although, the abandoned town could inspire me to dive more into this area, because I like the eerie and mysterious feel about it. It could lead me into discovering other abandoned areas and maybe influence the design of a game world or even mechanic - this could be very interesting.