Human habitation of Cyprus dates back to the Paleolithic era. Cyprus's geographic position has caused Cyprus to be influenced by differing Eastern Mediterranean civilisations over the millennia.

Periods of Cyprus's history from 1050 BC have been named according to styles of pottery found as follows:

Cypro-Geometric I: 1050-950 BC
Cypro-Geometric II: 950-850 BC
Cypro-Geometric III: 850-700 BC
Cypro-Archaic I: 700-600 BC
Cypro-Archaic II: 600-475 BC
Cypro-Classical I: 475-400 BC
Cypro-Classical II: 400-323 BC