Northern Cyprus

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/northern-cyprus

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Northern Cyprus?Northern third of the island of Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean
2. What is the capital of Northern Cyprus?Nicosia (divided by UN buffer zone)
3. What is the official name?Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
4. What is the key historical event?Turkish invasion in 1974 following a Greek Cypriot coup
5. Why is Northern Cyprus only recognized by Turkey?Most of the world, including the United Nations and the European Union, consider it part of the Republic of Cyprus. Because of that, only Turkey officially recognizes it as a separate country.
6. How did Northern Cyprus become a separate state?After Cyprus became independent in 1960, tensions grew. In 1974 Turkey intervened after a Greek coup, taking control of the north. In 1983 the north declared independence, but most countries did not recognize it.

De facto state: A political entity that exercises effective control over territory and population but lacks widespread international legal recognition.
Intercommunal violence: Conflict occurring between different ethnic or religious communities within a single country.
Enosis: The political aspiration of uniting Cyprus with Greece, historically favored by the Greek Cypriot community.
Taksim: The political aspiration for the partition of Cyprus into separate Greek and Turkish states, historically favored by the Turkish Cypriot community.