The history and role of Cyprus in the Greek state

[Liberator of Makedonija]

I have read many threads throughout these forums highlighting that Greeks were essentailly created by the Patriarchate of Constantinople as a way of uniting the Christians of the Balkans against the Ottoman Empire and that at the time the predominat ethnicities of Greece were Albanian and Vlach.

I have seen no mention to Cyprus though. Cyprus has Greek as an official language with the majority of inhabitants describing themselves as 'Greek Cypriots' and prior to the 1980's, the majority of inhabitants supported 'Enosis' (Unity with Greece). I was wondering what peoples theories on how a Greek identity developed in Cyprus? I have read that the Cypriot "dialect" of Greek is actually unintelligable with standard Greek which is true for many Greek "dialects".

[Risto the Great]

I am not so sure you got the notion that Greeks were created by the Patriarchate of Constantinople from this forum. Can you give examples?

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Originally Posted by Risto the Great

I am not so sure you got the notion that Greeks were created by the Patriarchate of Constantinople from this forum. Can you give examples?

I can't remember all the specific threads but defiantly saw many members of the forum claming and referencing text that basically said that the Greek nation was formed by ethnically diverse Christians

[Carlin]

Modern Greek identity in Cyprus developed and was created in the same way and manner it developed in mainland Greece or Crete. As I have posted elsewhere on this forum, nations are socially constructed communities imagined by the people who perceive themselves as part of those groups. In Benedict Anderson's book, Imagined Communities, the concept is explained in depth. (See http://www.freeinquiry.gr for more info.)

In terms of your question about the Cypriot "dialect" of Greek - may I share with you the following (also posted elsewhere on this forum, and taken from freeinquiry.gr as well):

Yet, until now we thought that the population of the islands has never changed since ancient times and that even the dialects are directly related to ancient dialects.

But historical data can’t be denied that although the islanders boast that they are purebred descendants of the ancient Greeks (though in ancient times the intermarriage was not something unknown), the island populations have undergone significant racial changes even a few centuries ago.


May I suggest the following threads:

The Real Ethnic Composition of Modern Greece
http://www.macedoniantruth.org/forum...p?t=17&page=36

Concerning the non-Greek origin and history of Asia Minor
http://www.macedoniantruth.org/forum...ead.php?t=6955


Here are some additional specific literary historical testimonies and sources which certify us of the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual character of Cyprus through the centuries.

0) The Jews lived well in Cyprus during the Roman rule. During this period, Christianity was preached in Cyprus among the Jews at an early date, St Paul being the first, and Barnabas, a native of Cyprus, the second. They attempted to convert the Jews to Christianity under the ideas of Jesus. Under the leadership of Artemion, the Cypriot Jews participated in the great rebellion against the Romans ruled by Trajan in 117 AD. and they are reported by Dio Cassius to have massacred 240,000 Greeks.

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/4825-cyprus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor...Jews_in_Cyprus

1) In 578 AD, 10000 Armenians moved to Cyprus for colonization purposes, given that the island was almost deserted at this time. ("History of the Greek nation," ed "Publishing Athens", Vol. H, pp. 183-4).

"Thus", says Evagrius, "land, which had been previously untilled, was everywhere restored to cultivation. Numerous armies also were raised from among them that fought resolutely and courageously against the other nations. At the same time every household was completely furnished with domestics, on account of the easy rate at which slaves were procured". (Quote from P. Charanis)

2) A History of Cyprus, Volume 1 By George Hill. Page 261: "...certainly there was a coast-guard of Albanians in Cyprus under Venetian rule.." --> In the footnote of the same page, we read the following: "The Albanians formed a race apart, until they disappeared in the sixteenth century".

3) The Quarterly Review By John Murray.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=uer...page&q&f=false

Page 429:

"...in the plains and the cities the present people of Cyprus are a race so mixed of Italian, Tatar, Syrian, and even Negro elements, as to have become a caput mortuum, whence no facts of ethnological value can be extracted." We also read on the same page: "In the Carpasian promontory of the north-east dwells a race fairer and stronger than the mass of the Cyprians, a race supposed to be of Teutonic blood."




4) More Armenians arrived during the reign of Armenian-descended Emperor Heraclius (610-641). Source: The Armenians of Cyprus book, page 10.

Link:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=6jH...Cyprus&f=false

Page 11 of the same book: "Emperor John II Comnenus moved the entire population of the Armenian city of Tell Hamdun to Cyprus. When Isaac Comnenus was self-declared 'Emperor of Cyprus' in 1185 and married the daughter of the Armenian prince Thoros II, he brought with him Armenian nobles and warriors...".

Futhermore, on page 12 of this book we read: "...about 30000 Armenian refugees found shelter in Cyprus.." and "A new wave of Armenians arrived in 1335 and 1346 to escape the Mamluk attack." Additionally, on the same page 12: "In 1403, 30000 Armenians fled to Cyprus, while in 1421 the entire population of the Sehoun region was transferred here. In 1441 the authorities of Famagusta encouraged Armenians and Syrians from Cilicia and Syria to settle here."

Still on page 12: "Armenian was one of the eleven official languages of the Kingdom of Cyprus, and one of the five official languages during the Venetian Era."

Moving to page 13: "...about 40000 Ottoman Armenian craftsmen were recruited .. , and many of the ones who survived settled in Cyprus".

5) Turkish Cypriots were the majority of the population between 1777 and 1800. In terms of numbers, in 1777 there were only 37000 Greeks and 47000 Turks. In 1800, there were 30524 Greeks and 67000 Turks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Cyprus



Sources:

[Carlin]

Were Cypriots a distinct ethnic group? Scholars have noted Skylitzes' reference to the Cypriots as the ethnos ton Kyprion.

[Amphipolis]

Originally Posted by Carlin

Well, I don't know the author or the century (19th or 20th) but some answer is provided in the non-highlighted part.

[Carlin]

Originally Posted by Amphipolis

Well, I don't know the author or the century (19th or 20th) but some answer is provided in the non-highlighted part.

It appears to have been written in 1878. The date/year is found on one of the first few pages. Actual Link:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=uer...page&q&f=false

Similar findings can be found here (also from 1878), namely on pages 84 and 85:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=bdE...Cyprus&f=false

One more source:
The Problem of Slavery in Western Culture, By David Brion Davis. PAGE 42:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=Iyo...alians&f=false

"By 1300, indeed, there were Negro slaves on Cyprus, which had become virtually a prototype for the West Indian colonies."

[Carlin]

Link to the Book:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=5UM...page&q&f=false

--> PAGE 204, Christians and Muslims in Ottoman Cyprus and the Mediterranean World, 1571-1640
By Ronald Jennings

[Carlin]

The Parliamentary Debates - Google Books

The Parliamentary Debates (Authorized Edition), Volume 248
By Great Britain. Parliament

Links:

https://books.google.ca/books?id=xPc...cyprus&f=false

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/l...n-observations


Quote:

THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY

Now, the Question is of importance, not only as touching Slavery in general, but as to the alleged fact that it is existing in Cyprus under British rule. I know perfectly well that no Slave Trade openly exists, and that no such thing as a slave market is to be found in any part of the Turkish Empire. That system has long been abolished. But the sale and purchase of slaves are still carried on extensively by private agents and in private houses; and, indeed, constituted as Turkish society is, Slavery is as necessary and indispensable to the Empire—especially among the wealthier classes—as is the Sultan himself. Now, as Cyprus was for centuries under Turkish rule, the probability is that a similar system prevails, and that it is fed by large importations of slaves from East Africa and the Red Sea—for which latter traffic Turkey is specially responsible, as it is mainly conducted at Jeddah, a port in the Red Sea belonging to the Sultan of Turkey. From all quarters there are imported, as I am informed, some 70,000 slaves every year. None are imported for prædial or agricultural purposes. The women are imported as 1398 servants for the harems, and the men for other duties, for which they are previously fitted by the most cruel and disgusting mutilations. There is also a large and equally disgusting traffic in white slaves in the very centre of Turkey itself. Circassian slavery was put down by the Russians; but the Circassians who immigrated into Turkey have maintained their old habits, and sell their sons and daughters to the highest bidders among the sensualists of Turkey. Now, this domestic Slavery may prevail in Cyprus. If Cyprus be still under Turkish law, it is highly probable—certainly possible. I trust, therefore, to learn from Her Majesty's Government whether, as Cyprus has now passed under British rule, they will not, following the precedent of the law enacted in India in 1843, decree the total and immediate abolition of Slavery, whether external or domestic.

[Carlin]

Eclipse of a language(s) can and does happen (faster than we think), and depend on social and other conditions. The principles and processes are completely deterministic.

So, what does Haiti and Haitian creole have in common with Cyprus? Not much, although there might be some similarities as the sugar economy also existed as did slavery (importation of large numbers of slaves).

Merely using this as an example to illustrate how TODAY a population of 7 million people, of African origins, developed their own French-based language - and in the process the African languages and dialects they spoke were completely eclipsed. As per the author's conjecture, the Haitian creole was formed between 1765 and 1815.