ABSTRACT
Covering an area of 9,251 km2, Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, its most prominent topographical features being (a) the Troodos mountain massif in the central-western region, (b) the fertile Mesaoria plain lying to its north-east, and (c) the Kyrenia mountain range which dominates the island’s northern littoral. Well located within the ancient international trading network which linked Egypt and the Aegean and Near Eastern worlds, Cyprus through much of its history enjoyed close cultural and commercial ties with the civilizations of these worlds, from the late Middle Bronze Age onwards. is is well illustrated by the large deposits of Cypriot goods discovered in numerous overseas sites, and by the many imported products found in Cyprus. e
island was noted for its substantial deposits of copper ore, a principal component of the cargoes of Late Bronze Age merchant-vessels which plied their trade through the ports of the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean lands. Timber also played an important role in the island’s economy, both for local building activities as well as for export.
