Jump to content

Greece: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
Zip Zop
{{otheruses}}
{{Greece infobox}}
'''Greece''', formally called the '''Hellenic Republic''' (in [[Greek language|Greek]]: Ελληνική Δημοκρατία, ''Helleniké Demokratía''), is a country in the southeast of [[Europe]] on the southern tip of the [[Balkan peninsula]]. It is bounded on land by [[Bulgaria]], the [[Republic of Macedonia|Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]] and [[Albania]] to the north, to the east by [[Turkey]] and the waters of the [[Aegean Sea]] and to the west and south by the [[Ionian Sea|Ionian]] and [[Mediterranean Sea]]s. Regarded by many as ''the cradle of Western civilization'', Greece has a long and rich history during which it spread its influence over three continents.


Zoogity
==Name==


Fwoop Fwop!
Greeks call their country '''Hellas''', which in modern Greek is pronounced ''Ellás''. In everyday speech the form ''Elláda'' is used. Greeks frequently call themselves Hellenes (in [[Greek language|Greek]]: Έλληνες) (''Héllenes'') even in English.

The English name "Greece" derives from a Latin name, ''Graecia'', originally used for the [[Magna Graecia]] region.

== History ==

[[Image:athenssunset.jpg|thumbnail|left|The Parthenon in the Greek capital, Athens.]]

''Main article: [[History of Greece]]''

The shores of the [[Aegean Sea]] saw the emergence of the first civilizations in Europe, namely the [[Minoan]] and [[Mycenae|Mycenaean civilisations]]. After these subsided a Dark Age followed until around [[800 BC]] a new era of Greek civilization emerged. It was this Greece of [[polis|city-states]] that established colonies along the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]], resisted [[Persia]]n invasions and whose culture would be the basis of [[History of Hellenistic Greece|Hellenistic civilisation]] that followed the empire of [[Macedonia|Macedonian]] King [[Alexander the Great]].

Militarily Greece itself declined until it was conquered by the [[Roman Republic|Romans]] from [[168 BC]] onwards, though Greek culture would in turn conquer Roman life. Greece became a province of the [[Roman Empire]], but Greek culture would continue to dominate the eastern Mediterranean and when the Empire finally split in two the Eastern or [[Byzantine Empire]], centred on [[Constantinople]], would remain Greek in nature, as well as encompassing Greece itself. From the [[4th century]] to the [[15th century]] the [[Eastern Roman Empire]] survived eleven centuries of attacks from the west and east until Constantinople [[Fall of Constantinople|fell]] on [[May 29]], [[1453]] to the [[Ottoman Empire]]. Greece had gradually been conquered by the Ottomans during the [[15th century]].

[[Image:ac.sounion.JPG|thumb||left|[[Cape Sounion]] in Attica, looking out to the Aegean islands]]

The Ottomans ruled Greece until the early [[19th century]]. In [[1821]] the Greeks rebelled and declared their independence, but did not succeed in winning it until [[1829]]. The war of the Greek independence, with news of Turkish attrocities, was seen romantically by the elites of powerful European nations (see, for example, the [[1824]] painting ''Massacre of [[Chios]]'' by [[Eugene Delacroix]]), scores of whom volunteered to actually fight - e.g. [[Lord Byron]], and indeed at times the Greek revolution was almost entirely suppressed but for the direct militarily intervention of France, England or Russia. The Russian minister for foreign affairs was in fact a Greek, [[Ioannis Kapodistrias]] who, following Greek independence, returned home as President of the new Republic. That republic was abolished when a few years later Western powers helped turn Greece into a Monarchy, the first Monarch being Danish and the second from Bavaria. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, in a series of wars with the Ottomans, Greece sought to enlarge its boundaries to include the Greek-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire, slowly growing in territory and population until it reached its present configuration in [[1947]]. In [[World War I]] Greece sided with the [[entente]] powers against a pro-German [[Ottoman Empire|Turkey]].In the war's aftermath parts of [[Asia Minor]] were given to Greece under [[international law]], including the city of [[Smyrna]] which had a large Greek population. At that time, however, the Turkish nationalists led by [[Mustafa Kemal Ataturk]], overthrew the Ottoman government, organised a military assault on the Greek troops, defeated them and virtually destroyed the Greek community, thousands of whom died and millions fled to mainland Greece (see [[Genocide]]). Immediately afterwards, hundreds of thousands of Turks who were living in mainland Greek territory left for Turkey.

[[Image:81fv8033.jpg|thumbnail|Greece has first class sports infrastucture]]

At the start of [[World War II]] Greece sided with the Allies and refused to give in to Italian demands. [[Italy]], invaded Greece on [[28 October]] [[1941]] but, after a bitter war, was repelled. [[Germany]] then invaded Greece succesfully. Millions of Greeks died in direct combat, in concentration camps or of starvation during the [[Nazi]] occupation. The greatest part of the [[Jewish]] community were murdered. The economy was in tatters. After liberation Greece experienced an equally bitter[[Hellenic Civil War|civil war]] between [[communists]] and royalists that lasted until [[1949]]. In the fifties and sixties Greece coninued to develop slowly and with the help of the U.S.A [[Marshall]] programme. In [[1967]] the military seized power in a [[coup d'état]], overthrew the social-democrat government of [[George Papandreou, senior]] and established what became known as the ''Régime of the Colonels'' that was supported by the [[U.S.A]]. In [[1973]] the régime abolished the [[Kings of Greece|Greek monarchy]]. In [[1974]], dictator Papadopoulos denied help to the USA and as a result the (US/Kissinger) "appointed" a new dictator named Ioannidis. The latter is held widely responsible for the coup against President [[Makarios]] of [[Cyprus]] which legitimated the first wave of the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]] in [[1974]].

The Cyprus events and the outcry following a bloody suppression of [[Greek student uprisings]] in [[Athens]] led to the implosion of the military regime. A charismatic, exiled politician, [[Konstantinos Karamanlis]], returned from [[Paris]] as interim prime minister and later was re-elected for two more periods heading the [[conservative]] [[NEA DIMOKRATIA]] party. In [[1975]], following a referendum to confirm the deposition of [[Constantine II of Greece|Constantine II]], a democratic republic was established. Another previously exiled politician, [[Andreas Papandreou]] also returned and founded the [[socialist]] [[PASOK]] party which won the elections in [[1981]] and dominated the country's political fortunes for almost two decades. Since the restoration of democracy the stability and economic prosperity of Greece have grown. Greece joined the [[European Union]] in [[1981]] and adopted the [[Euro]] as its currency in [[2001]]. New infrastructure, funds from the EU and growing revenues from tourism, shipping, services, light industry and telecommunication industry have brought Greeks an unprecedented standard of living. Tensions continue to exist between Greece and [[Turkey]] over [[Cyprus]] and the delimitation of borders in the [[Aegean Sea]] but relations have considerably thawed following successive earthquakes in, first, Turkey and, then, Greece and an outpouring of sympathy and generous assistance by ordinary Greeks and Turks. Greece is actually a proponent of Turkish entry into the [[EU]]. The [[2004 Summer Olympics]] were held in the country of their foundation to general satisfaction.

== Politics ==

''Main article: [[Politics of Greece]]''
[[Image:hellenicparliament.jpg|thumb|left|The Parliament in Athens, Greece]]

The [[1975]] [[constitution]] includes extensive specific guarantees of civil liberties and vests the powers of the [[head of state]] in an indirectly elected president, who is advised by the Council of the Republic. The [[prime minister]] and [[cabinet (government)|cabinet]] play the central role in the political process, while the president performs some governmental functions in addition to ceremonial duties. The president is elected by parliament to a five-year term and can be re-elected once.

Members of Greece's [[unicameral]] parliament (the ''Vouli ton Ellinon'') are elected by secret ballot for a maximum of four years, but elections can be called earlier. Greece uses a complex reinforced [[proportional representation]] electoral system which discourages splinter parties and ensures that the party which leads in the national vote will win a majority of seats. A party must receive 3% of the total national vote to gain representation.

For a list of Greek political parties, see [[List of political parties in Greece]].

== Local government ==
''Main articles: [[Peripheries of Greece]]''
[[Image:meteora.jpg|thumb|The Meteora region in Central Greece]]

[[Image:Gr-map.png|thumb|right|Map of Greece]]


Greece consists of 13 administrative regions known as peripheries, which are further subdivided into 51 [[Prefectures of Greece|prefecture]]s (''nomoi'', singular - ''[[nomos]]''):

<table><tr valign=top><td>
*[[Attica (periphery)|Attica]]:
**[[Attica, Greece|Attica]]

*[[Central Greece]]:
**[[Euboea]]
**[[Evritania]]
**[[Fokis]]
**[[Fthiotis]]
**[[Viotia]]

*[[Central Macedonia]]
**[[Chalcidice|Khalkidhiki]]
**[[Imathia]]
**[[Kilkis]]
**[[Pella]]
**[[Pieria]]
**[[Serres]]
**[[Thessaloniki]]
</td><td>
*[[Crete]]
**[[Chania]]
**[[Heraklion]]
**[[Lasithi]]
**[[Rethymno]]

*[[East Macedonia and Thrace]]
**[[Drama, Greece|Drama]]
**[[Evros, Greece|Evros]]
**[[Kavala]]
**[[Rodhopi]]
**[[Xanthi]]

*[[Epirus]]
**[[Arta]]
**[[Ioannina]]
**[[Preveza]]
**[[Thesprotia]]
</td><td>
*[[Ionian Islands]]
**[[Corfu]]
**[[Kefallinia]]
**[[Levkas]]
**[[Zakinthos]]

*[[North Aegean]]
**[[Chios]]
**[[Lesbos]]
**[[Samos]]

*[[Peloponnesos]]
**[[Arcadia]]
**[[Argolis]]
**[[Corinth, Greece|Corinth]]
**[[Laconia]]
**[[Messinia]]
</td><td>
*[[South Aegean]]
**[[Cyclades]]
**[[Dodecanese]]

*[[Thessaly]]
**[[Kardhitsa]]
**[[Larisa]]
**[[Magnesia]]
**[[Trikala]]

*[[West Greece]]
**[[Achaea]]
**[[Aitolia-Acarnania]]
**[[Prefecture of Elia|Ilia]]

*[[West Macedonia]]
**[[Florina]]
**[[Grevena]]
**[[Kastoria]]
**[[Kozani]]
</td></tr>
</table>

Beyond these one autonomous region exists: [[Mount Athos]] (''Ayion Oros'' - Holy Mountain), a monastic state under Greek sovereignty.

The ''nomoi'' are divided into 147 ''eparchies'' (singular ''eparchia''), which are divided into 1,033 municipalities: 900 urban municipalities (''demoi'') and 133 rural communities (''koinotetes''). Before 1999, there were 5,775 local authorities: 457 ''demoi'', 5,318 ''koinotetes'', subdivided into 12,817 localities (''oikosmoi'').

== Geography ==
''Main article: [[Geography of Greece]]''

[[Image:greece.jpg|thumb|left|Greece from orbit]]
[[Image:islands.jpg|thumb|right|Greece has thousands of islands]]
[[Image:Olympus.jpeg|thumb|right|Greece has many mountains, of which [[Olympus]] is the most famous]]

The country consists of a large mainland at the southern end of the [[Balkans]]; the [[Peloponnesus]] peninsula, which is separated from the mainland by the canal of the [[Isthmus of Corinth]]; and [[Greek islands|numerous islands]], including [[Crete]], [[Rhodes]], [[Euboea]] and the [[Dodecanese]] and [[Cyclades|Cycladic]] groups of the [[Aegean Sea]]. Greece has more than 14,880 kilometres of coastline and a land boundary of 1,160 kilometres.

About 80% of Greece is mountainous or hilly. Much of the country is dry and rocky; only 28% of the land is arable. Western Greece contains lakes and wetlands. [[Pindus]], the central mountain range, has an average elevation of 2,650 m. [[Mount Olympus]] forms the highest point in Greece at 2,911 m above sea level.

Greece's [[climate]] features mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Temperatures rarely reach extremes, although snowfalls do occur in the mountains and occasionally even in [[Athens]] in the winter.

[[Pinniped|Seals]], [[sea turtle]]s and other rare marine life can be seen in Greek seas, while Greece's forests provide a home to Western Europe's last [[brown bear]]s and [[lynx]].

<br clear=all>

== Economy ==
''Main article: [[Economy of Greece]]''

[[Image:ships.jpg|thumb|left|The Greek owned merchant fleet is one of the world's largest]]

Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about half of [[Gross Domestic Product|GDP]]. [[Tourism]] is a key industry, providing a large portion of GDP and foreign exchange earnings. Greece also counts as a world leader in terms of the size of her commercial fleet. Greece is a major beneficiary of [[EU]] aid, equal to about 2.4% of GNP. The export of manufactured goods, including telecommunications harware and software, foodstuffs and fuels accounts for the reats of Greek income.

The economy has improved steadily over the last few years, as the government tightened policy in the run-up to Greece's entry into the EU's single currency, the [[euro]], on [[January 1]], [[2001]]. Average per capita [[GDP]] in 2003 was $20,000[http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2004.html]. Greece has an expanding services sector and telecommunications industry and is one of the biggest investors in her region. Moreover, Greece, is now a net importer of labour and foreign workers (mainly from the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Pakistan) now acount for 10% of the total population.

Major challenges remaining include the reduction of [[unemployment]] and further restructuring of the economy, including [[privatization|privatising]] several state enterprises, undertaking social security reforms, overhauling the tax system, and minimising bureaucratic inefficiencies. Economic growth is forecast at 4 - 4.5 % in [[2004]].

The national central bank of Greece is the [[Bank of Greece]], not to be confused with the "[[National Bank of Greece]]", a commercial bank.

== Demographics ==
''Main article: [[Demographics of Greece]]''
[[Image:greeks.jpg|thumb|Students at a party in Athens. Young Greeks are now fewer than their elders]]
According to the [[2001]] census, Greece had a population of 10,964,020. Of those, 58.8% lived in urban areas, whereas only 28.4% lived in rural areas. The population of the two largest cities in Greece, [[Athens]] and [[Thessaloniki]], almost reached 4 million. Although the population of Greece continues to grow, Greece faces a serious demographic problem: [[2002]] was the first year where the number of deaths surpassed the number of births.

A large number of immigrants live in Greece today, estimated at over one million. About 65% have come from [[Albania]], and large-scale Albanian migration to Greece since the fall of Communism in Albania has become a source of conflict in Greece because the Greek-Albanian borders opened without any preparations from the Greek government in terms of immigrant facilities. The Albanians occasionally suffer from discrimination and exploitation in Greece, and formerly had a reputation as trouble-makers and criminals. Nonetheless most Greeks nowadays recognize their contribution to the Greek economy. (Several prominent Greek sportsmen are ethinc Greeks who immigrated to Greece from Albania or Georgia in the 1990s.) There are smaller numbers of immigrants from [[Bulgaria]], [[Serbia]], [[Romania]], [[Pakistan]], [[Ukraine]], [[Belarus]], [[Poland]], [[Egypt]], [[Palestine]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Bangladesh]], [[China]] and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. The exact number is not known, since the majority live illegally in Greece.

Greece has various, if not numerous, linguistic and cultural minorities. They include, but are not limited to, various [[Roma (people)|Roma]] groups, [[Turkish]] speakers, [[Slavs]], and [[Vlachs]], ([[Aromanians]] and [[Megleno-Romanians]]). Religious minorities are numerous with the largest being Muslims.

The only minority to which special rights are granted (deriving mainly from the [[Treaty of Lausanne]]) is the Muslim (mainly Turkish) minority of [[Thrace]].

=== Religion ===
The [[Constitution_of_Greece|Greek Constitution]] guarantees absolute freedom of religion. It also states that all persons living within the Greek territory shall enjoy full protection of their religious beliefs. According to the Constitution the "prevailing religion" of Greece is the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] of Christ.

The majority of Greeks (95 to 98%) are at least nominally followers of the Eastern Orthodox Church, although religious observance has declined in recent years. Greek [[Muslim]]s make up about 1.3% of the population, and are concentrated mainly in [[Thrace]]. There are also some [[Roman Catholic]]s, mainly in the [[Cyclades]] islands of [[Syros]], [[Paros]] and [[Naxos]], some [[Protestant]]s and some [[Jew]]s, mainly in [[Thessaloniki]]. Some groups in Greece are trying to reconstruct [[Hellênismos]], the old Greek [[paganism|pagan]] religion. See also: [[Greek Orthodox Church]].

== Culture ==
''Main article: [[Culture of Greece]]''

Since the dawn of her history and until today Greece has produced a number of contributors to philosophy, science and the arts. For a list of famous Greek women and men see [[List of Greeks]].

See also:
* [[Classics]]
* [[Education in Greece]]
* [[List of folk dances sorted by origin#Greece|List of Greek dances]]
* [[Holidays in Greece]]
* [[Tourism in Greece]]
* [[List of museums in Greece]]
{| align=center
|-
| [[Image:byz6a2.jpg|thumb|right|]]
| [[Image:oelytis.jpg|thumb|right|Twice the [[Nobel prize for literature]] went to Greek writers. Here [[Odysseus Elytis]] in 1979.]]
| [[Image:kallas.jpg|thumb|right|[[Maria Callas]]]]

|}

<br clear=all>

== Miscellaneous topics ==
*[[Communications in Greece]]
**[[List of Greek language television channels]]
**[[List of radio stations in Greece]]
*[[Transportation in Greece]]
**[[List of Greek roads]]
**[[Rio-Antirio bridge]]
*[[Foreign relations of Greece]]
*[[Military of Greece]]
*[[Postage stamps and postal history of Greece]]

==Sport in Greece==

* [[Summer Olympics]] of [[1896 Summer Olympics|1896]], [[1906 Summer Olympics|1906]] & [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004]]
* [[Greece national football team]] (Euro 2004 Cup Winners)

{| align=center
|-
| [[Image:ceremony4.jpg|thumb|left|Greece hosted the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]]]
| [[Image:GreeceEuro.jpg|thumb|left|Greece won [[Euro 2004]]]]
| [[Image:velodrome.jpg|thumb|right|Greece has world class sport infrastructure. Here the Athens velodrome]]
|}
<br clear=all>

== See also ==

*[[Hellenic National Intelligence Service]]
*[[National Statistical Service of Greece]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.hri.org HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network)] is a comprehensive, non-commercial web site covering Greek news, radio links, Greek language instruction and an [http://www.hri.org/nodes/greece.html enormous categorized list] of sites related to Greece.
*[http://www.justgreece.org Greece travel guide] Greece for travellers

===Greek Ministries===

*[http://www.ypes.gr/ Ministry of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation]
*[http://www.ypepth.gr Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs]
*[http://www.mfa.gr Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
*[http://www.ypan.gr/ Ministry of Development]
*[http://www.ydt.gr/ Ministry of Public Order]
*[http://egov.yen.gr/ Ministry of Mercantile Marine]
*[http://www.ypai.gr Ministry of the Aegean and insular policy]
*[http://www.ministryofjustice.gr/ Ministry of Justice]
*[http://www.culture.gr/ Ministry of Culture]
** online resource center with extensive information about the culture of Greece, its history, archaeological sites, etc.
*[http://www.minagric.gr/ Ministry of Agriculture]
*[http://www.labor-ministry.gr/ Ministry of Employment and Social Protection]
*[http://www.mod.gr/ Ministry of National Defence]
*[http://www.mnec.gr/ Ministry of National Economy and Economics]
*[http://www.ypyp.gr/ Ministry of Health and Welfare]
*[http://www.yme.gr/ Ministry of Transportation and Communications]
*[http://www.minpress.gr/ Ministry of Press]
*[http://www.mathra.gr/ Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace]

===Other official sites===

*[http://www.greece.gr/index.htm Greece Now Government sponsored e-zine on Greek life]
*[http://www.primeminister.gr/ Official site of the Prime Minister of Greece]
*[http://www.parliament.gr/ Hellenic Parliament Official parliamentary site]
{{EU_countries}}
{{NATO}}
{{Europe}}

[[Category:Greece]]

[[ar:&#1610;&#1608;&#1606;&#1575;&#1606;]]
[[bg:&#1043;&#1098;&#1088;&#1094;&#1080;&#1103;]]
[[be:&#1043;&#1088;&#1101;&#1094;&#1099;&#1103;]]
[[ca:Grècia]]
[[cs:&#344;ecko]]
[[cy:Gwlad Groeg]]
[[da:Grækenland]]
[[de:Griechenland]]
[[el:&#917;&#955;&#955;&#940;&#948;&#945;]]
[[eo:Grekio]]
[[es:Grecia]]
[[et:Kreeka]]
[[fi:Kreikka]]
[[fr:Grèce]]
[[gd:A' Ghrèig]]
[[he:&#1497;&#1493;&#1493;&#1503;]]
[[id:Yunani]]
[[ia:Grecia]]
[[is:Grikkland]]
[[it:Grecia]]
[[ja:&#12462;&#12522;&#12471;&#12515;]]
[[ko:&#44536;&#47532;&#49828;]]
[[la:Graecia]]
[[lt:Graikija]]
[[lb:Griicheland]]
[[ms:Yunani]]
[[nds:Grekenland]]
[[nl:Griekenland]]
[[no:Hellas]]
[[pl:Grecja]]
[[pt:Grécia]]
[[ro:Grecia]]
[[roa-rup:Gârtsii]]
[[ru:&#1043;&#1088;&#1077;&#1094;&#1080;&#1103;]]
[[simple:Greece]]
[[sl:Gr&#269;ija]]
[[sr:&#1043;&#1088;&#1095;&#1082;&#1072;]]
[[sv:Grekland]]
[[th:&#3611;&#3619;&#3632;&#3648;&#3607;&#3624;&#3585;&#3619;&#3637;&#3595;]]
[[tokipona:ma Elena]]
[[tpi:Gris]]
[[uk:&#1043;&#1088;&#1077;&#1094;&#1110;&#1103;]]
[[zh-cn:&#24076;&#33098;]]
[[zh-min-nan:Hi-lia&#781;p]]

Revision as of 21:48, 1 December 2004

Zip Zop

Zoogity

Fwoop Fwop!

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greece&oldid=8030501"