This short history of modern Cyprus is aimed at readers interested in the history of Cyprus who want to know more than what is found in travel guides or newspapers, but do not have the time to delve deeply into the island's history. It is a summary of my four-volume history of the island of Cyprus, which totals 2,667 pages and was written over approximately seven years. It covers the period from 1878, when Cyprus became British, to 1977, when Makarios signed the so-called High Level Agreement and shortly thereafter passed away. For a better understanding of the developments up to the present, this short history also includes a brief overview of the developments from 1977 to 2009. In the presentation, the facts have been reduced to the necessary minimum, while the interpretations have largely been retained.