BRITISH RULE
The increasing interest of Great Britain in expanding her commercial activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, coupled with political aspirations, resulted in the 1878 Cyprus Convention, under which the administration of Cyprus was handed over to the British Crown. Authority was exercised by the High Commissioner, who acted as president of both the Legislative and the Executive Councils. In 1914 the island was annexed to the British Empire and in 1925 was declared a Crown Colony; from that time the High Commissioner was referred to as the Governor of Cyprus.
During the first fifty or so years of British administration, growth was very slow as was also the improvement in the standard of living. People had to pay high taxation and under the burden of the ‘tribute’ economic problems remained unsolved. The same is true for political problems, since Britain did not satisfy either the constitutional or the national aspirations of the Greek Cypriots. However, major developments took place under British rule: the first priority of the new government was the improvement and expansion of harbour facilities and the inland communications network. Infrastructure included bridges, dams and the best road system in the Levant.
In addition, Cyprus was provided with a stable currency, a reliable administrative system and an efficient judicial system. Significant improvements also took place in health, including the establishment of hospitals. Education was reorganized.
Under British rule Cyprus remained essentially an agricultural country, with over half her population deriving their main livelihood from the land. However, agriculture developed from the archaic practices of the mass of the peasant farmers to the application of modern scientific knowledge. The move from manufactures to industries was also a slow process and, in fact, Cyprus has never become fully industrialized.
In the course of the first half of the 20th century, the economic improvement which had started in the last decades of the 19th century continued despite two world wars and brought prosperity. Entry into modernity was marked by the application of science and by the introduction of technology. Closer contact with European and other countries, the expansion of trade and the introduction of modern facilities contributed to the rise of the standard of living and the quality of life.
The development of the means of transport as well as overall progress in the main productive sectors led to the gradual movement of population towards the towns. Urbanization has been a central feature of the 20th century. A growing middle class with people involved in many new occupations was formed in the urban centres; here also a new upper class emerged, different from that of the past. Members of the new elite founded the first industries, promoted trade and occupied high administrative posts. They created a ‘modern’ lifestyle, lived in neoclassical houses equipped with western-style furniture, and were the first who donned ‘Frankish’ attire.
The new era left its imprint in the built environment, first of all in the towns, and was reflected in the appearance and behaviour of the inhabitants. British rule enhanced the Europeanization of Cyprus to a great degree.
The last decade of British rule was marked by the national liberation struggle of the Greek Cypriots against colonial rule and for union with Greece (1955-1959). The struggle ended in 1959 with the Zurich-London agreements. A year later, in 1960, Cyprus became an independent republic. Independence opened new horizons and accelerated progress.