Posted by gertrude on May 27, 2002 at 13:51:06:
In Reply to: Re: what about the influence of the franks/venetians on the islands? posted by patriwths on May 27, 2002 at 13:07:19:
good points there. numbers make sense.
however the franks+venetians were in cyprus for over 500 years (give or take 50)-the komnenoi only ruled cyprus for a small part of the crusades period leading the island to be sold to the english. and more settled there after the holy lands were lost. it was well noted amongst venetian annals that the population has mixed in nicosia producing i think 'the cunningness of the greeks, the arrogance of the french...' (this is off top of head).
it's just noted by cypriot and later on british historians that the places where the franks settled there is a much higher incidence of blondism and blue/green eyes. the locals there are noted for looking more german/north italian than anything else (makes sense thus). plus certain villages (in karpasia area) have been found with a 'faulty' gene which was only really found in germany.
same settlement pattern v's skin pigmentation goes for where the turks settled in numbers in cyprus (mostly the paphos area).
that's all really.
as for the arab admixture most historian claim it hasn't really been considerable (based yes on lack of evidence as opposed to anything in the contrary).