Greek History The history of Greece starts with the appearance of the first Greek- speaking tribes in the Greek mainland in the 3 rd millennium BC. It can be divided into the following periods: 1. Minoan Civilization (from about 2700 BC to 1450 BC) 2. Aegean Civilization (from about 2100 BC to 1100 BC) 3. Geometric period (from 1100 BC to 800 BC) 4. Archaic Greece (from 800 BC to 500 BC) 5. Classical Greece (from 500 BC to 323 BC) 6. Hellenistic Greece (from 323 BC to 146 BC) 7. Roman Rule (from 146 BC to 330 AD) 8. Byzantine Empire (from 330 AD to 1453 AD) 9. Ottoman Rule (from 1453 AD to 1821 AD) 10. History of Modern Greece (which begins with the Greek revolution in 1821 and the creation of the independent Greek state in 1832)

Greek territories and colonies during the Archaic period.

Greek language Greek belongs to the Indo-European family of languages. It has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Written records include prominent works like the epic poems “Iliad” and “Odyssey”, the Platonic dialogues, as well as the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Ancient Greek was the most widely spoken language in the Mediterranean world during classical antiquity. Modern Greek is now spoken in Greece and in Cyprus.

Early Greek alphabet on pottery in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Greek landscape About four-fifths of Greece is mountainous, including most of the islands. The highest mountain is Mt. Olympus (2,917 m). There are a lot of peninsulas and numerous islands in the Aegean and the Ionian Sea, making up a long coastline of 13,676km. Beautiful beaches can be found along the coast. The image of the mountain and the sea is very familiar to us and the Greek landscape is part of our identity.

About four-fifths of Greece is mountainous, including most of the islands.

Maritime tradition Greece has been a maritime nation since ancient times. Our country is surrounded by water and it has dozens of islands and an extended coastline, which led people to get involved in sea trade. Using a large fleet, made up of the old bireme and trireme ships, ancient Greeks were able to expand their maritime trade along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. Greece has remained at the top of global maritime economy throughout history. Even now, 20 % of the total sea trade worldwide is carried out by Greek shipping companies.

Model of a Greek trireme

An ancient trireme in the Mediterranean Sea

Christian religion In ancient Greece people worshipped the 12 Olympian Gods. They built temples and made sculptures devoted to the Gods, and they performed rituals to honour them. The ancient Greek religion also had an extensive mythology, consisting of numerous stories of the Gods. After Christ’s death, Christianity spread to Greece and it became the dominant religion. During Byzantine times churches and monasteries were built, and icon-painting developed. The majority of Greeks are now Orthodox Christians (97%).

13 th century icon of Christ 16 th century icon of Virgin Mary

Important institutions-Democracy and the Olympic Games Greece is the birthplace of democracy. In the 5th century BC democracy developed in Athens as a new form of government in which all eligible citizens had the right to vote and they participated equally in the proposal and establishment of laws. The Greek term δημοκρατία (demokratía) comes from δήμος (demos) "people" and κράτος (kratos) "power" and it literally means "rule of the people". The Olympic Games began in 776 BC in Olympia, in Greece,and they were a series of athletic competitions among representatives of Greek city-states. During the celebration of the games, wars stopped so that athletes could travel from their countries to the games in safety. The prizes for the victors were olive wreaths or crowns.

Athens is regarded as the birthplace of democracy

The prize for the winner at the Ancient Olympic Games

Philosophy Philosophy arose in Greece in the 6 th century BC. The beginning of philosophical thought in ancient Greece was a turning point in the history of philosophy. Ancient Greek philosophers dealt with a variety of subjects, including ethics, politics and rhetoric. Some of the most prominent ancient Greek philosophers were: 1. Socrates, known for his dialectical method. 2. Epicurus, who emphasized friendship as an important ingredient of happiness. 3. The sophists, who emphasized the importance of education.

Socrates

Theatre The city-state of Athens is where theatre originated. In Athens, during a festival in honour of the god Dionysus, a chorus of men used to perform songs or tell stories to welcome the god. Plays were regularly presented as part of this festival. During the classical period theatre acquired 3 main forms - tragedy, comedy, and the satyr play. Competitions were organized in Athens and theatre became a means of social and political satire. The actors wore masks. They were only men and they also played the role of women.

The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus

Customs and Traditions Greece has a rich culture, with plenty of national and local customs, festivals and celebrations, and plenty of traditional arts and crafts. Since ancient times Greeks have developed their own artistic styles, for example their special styles of architecture. One of the most popular traditional dances is Syrtos, while popular customs include: The throwing of a cross into the sea on January 6 (Epiphany) The exchange of dowry before a wedding Flying a kite on Clean Monday (first day of Lent)

Cycladic architecture at Amorgos island

Dancers of traditional music

Gastronomy in Greece Greek cuisine has a tradition of 4000 years and it is an important part of the culture of Greece. Greek people traditionally use a great deal of healthy ingredients in their dishes. The most characteristic and ancient element of Greek cuisine is olive oil. Also important are bread, vegetables, fish, cheese (such as Greek feta), yogurt and wine. Some of the most popular Greek dishes are: Greek salad Bean soup Tzatziki (yogurt with cucumber and garlic) Tomatoes stuffed with rice and meat Mousaka

Greek feta, tomatoes and wine