58 BC - 2021 AD:

Until modern times Cyprus continued to be ruled by more powerful neighbours: after the Persians in the Classical Period, and Ptolomaic Egypt in the Hellenistic period, they were ruled successively by the Romans, the Byzantines (including briefly Arab/ Bizantine co-rule) and later still crusader Franks (Lusignans), Venetians, Turks and finally the British. They finally became independent in 1960, but Partition into a Turkish North and Greek South followed the Turkish invasion of north Cyprus in 1974.