Part 3/9:
By the fourth to mid-third millennium BC, the populace of Cyprus began to grow, particularly with the advent of farming and copper working. The island became known for its abundant copper ore, vital in the making of bronze—a highly sought-after material in the flourishing Bronze Age. The presence of Minoan merchants from Crete significantly impacted the local economy as they sought copper for trade, leading to a population boom on the island. Scholars continue to debate whether this growth was due to colonization or simply a natural consequence of the trading boom.