History and culture of the country. Greece. History and culture of the country History of Greece since ancient times

About 10,000 years have passed since the Mesolithic people - no doubt natives of Asia Minor - set sail on the Aegean. In those days, it was much easier to travel by water than by land.

Starting from 3200 BC. Cycladic civilization developed on the islands, represented by marble statues found in necropolises. In addition to cattle breeding, the inhabitants of the Cyclades were engaged in the cultivation of wheat, grapes and the collection of olives. The heyday of this civilization falls on the III millennium BC, the Bronze Age, when cities are strengthened and trade relations are established with Egyptian and Phoenician ports.

About the Minoan Civilization

In the last third of the III millennium BC. The Minoan civilization in Crete is experiencing an unprecedented flourishing. The fertile lands of the island and its isolation contribute to the formation of a hierarchical society, concentrated in large cities, famous for their "bohemian" way of life. There is trade with Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, the Middle East and Asia Minor. Information about these transactions has come down to us thanks to clay tablets covered with hieroglyphs (Linear A), which have not yet been fully deciphered.

Over time, new colonies arose in southern Greece and the islands of the Aegean Sea. Thus, a new culture was born, combining the achievements of the Cyclades and Crete. Around 1700 B.C. the palaces were destroyed by a violent earthquake; their restoration marked the beginning of the brief golden age of Minoan culture. Later, by 1450 BC, it loses its significance. For a long time, there was an opinion among scientists that the cause was a volcanic eruption that destroyed all life on Santorini.

Even though it is not possible to say with certainty whether the tsunami caused by the volcanic eruption really destroyed the Cretan cities, it is likely that it caused irreparable damage to maritime trade and caused irreversible climatic changes that contributed to the decline of the Minoan civilization. It is also possible that she became a victim of a foreign invasion: the island, left without fortifications, could not defend itself from enemies.

Mycenaean civilization

While the Cyclades and Crete were enjoying their golden age of urban flourishing, mainland Greece was filled with waves of migration from Central Europe: Achaeans, Ionians, and Aeolians. As a result of the assimilation of these first Greeks (proto-Greeks) with the local population, starting from 1650 BC. one of the most outstanding civilizations in the history of mankind is born - Mycenaean. Fortified citadels are built in Argolis (Peloponnese). War remains the main occupation. Far from the eyes and ears of the people, as the tragedies tell, court intrigues and a struggle for power are being waged, resulting in bloody feuds and fratricide. Despite the fragmentation, by 1400 BC. Mycenae become an undeniable force in Mediterranean Greece and the Aegean - and take part in the Trojan War. Their triumph, however, did not last long. By the XII century BC. they were presumably absorbed by another people who flooded Greece from the north, the Dorians. Perhaps the reason for this was social upheaval.

Greek Middle Ages

This little-known period, often referred to as the Dark Ages, lasted until the end of the 9th century BC. Among the few objects of this era found during excavations, there are often vases painted with concentric lines. For this reason, that time is sometimes called geometric.

Later, gigantic migrations of the population from one coast of the Aegean to the other take place. The invaders push back the Ionians to the borders of Asia Minor, where, under the auspices of the tyrants, the first city-states arise: Miletus, Ephesus and Phoenicia. Ionia, the birthplace of the first Greek scientists, poets and philosophers, will soon give the world Homer and his famous epic poems (the creation of the Iliad and the Odyssey date back to the 8th century BC), large marble statues of kouros (boys) and kors (girls).

City-state rule

The formation of Greek civilization begins after the first Olympic Games (776 BC), along with the strengthening of maritime trade and colonial expansion. The first settlers, presumably, were Ionians from Miletus, who in 756 BC. they found Cyzicus in the Sea of Marmara, a little later the Euboeans settled in southern Italy. Very soon the Greeks establish control over all the surrounding territories. From the 7th century BC Miletus owns four ports, 200 ships and 24 colonies stretching from the Black Sea coast to Egypt. The Phoenicians found Marseille, conquer Etruria, Sardinia, Corsica and the Iberian coast. The Corinthians and Athenians do not lag behind, as, indeed, other peoples of archaic Greece that began to change rapidly. Incomes are so high that the region of Caria becomes home to two fabulous fortunes: Midas, king of Phrygia, and Croesus, king of Lydia. During the 7th century BC. sanctuaries are being built at Delphi and on the island of Delos.

Golden Age of Athens

Gradually, the center of Greece is transferred to the mainland, where large cities that are completely different from each other develop: warlike Sparta, commercial Corinth, intellectual Athens. In political terms, the kingdoms here give way to a regime of military oligarchy, then tyranny, and finally to a democratic system established in Athens by the local legislator Solon in the 6th century BC.

At the very beginning of the 5th century BC. Greek cities located in Asia Minor become part of the Median state. Athens sends a fleet in support of the Milesian uprising, unleashing the first Median War. In 490, the conquerors landed in Marathon, but the local troops managed to repulse the attack. Ten years later, the second Median war begins. Greece is invaded by the Persian army, which, according to Herodotus, has up to two million soldiers and 1200 ships. Athens is sacked, but thanks to an alliance with other cities, they again manage to defeat the enemy. Since then, Athens has continued to play a dominant role in the life of the country.

The "age of Pericles" becomes an era of unprecedented flourishing of art, architecture, science and philosophy. In 477 B.C. the city prudently forms the League (confederation) of Delos, a long-term military and political alliance with the Ionian cities and islands of the Aegean. Third Median War ends in 449 full release Asia Minor cities. But inside Greece itself, the flames of a new conflict are already flaring up: the confederation becomes an instrument of influence for Athens, the city imposes tribute on its allies ... In 446 BC. the Greek world is divided into spheres of influence: the eternal rival Sparta gains power over land, and Athens - dominion at sea. But this cannot change anything: Sparta will win two Peloponnesian wars, and in 404 BC. Athens will fall.

Alexander the Great

Weakened by endless wars, in the 4th century BC. Greece is surrendering to the conquest ambitions of one of history's greatest strategists, Philip II of Macedon, king of a small province in the north of the country. A staunch Hellenist, Philip plans to unite Greece and go to war against Persia. After his assassination in 336, his twenty-year-old son Alexander followed in his footsteps. During his reign, an era of unprecedented conquests begins for Greece, which brought its soldiers to the borders of India. After Alexander's death in Babylon in 323, his empire was divided into three kingdoms: Macedonia, Syria, and Egypt.

The Roman Empire

As the rebellion against the Macedonians matures, the Greeks are enslaved by a new conqueror - Rome. In 146 BC. Legionnaires capture Corinth and establish Roman rule over Greece. After 60 years, Sulla plunders rebellious Athens and sends to Rome a huge amount of valuable works of art. The Mediterranean of Alexander's descendants becomes Mare Nostrum ("our sea", lat.). In 130, under the auspices of the emperor Hadrian, Athens, once again prospering thanks to the "Roman Peace", undergoes a grandiose reconstruction for the last time. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 4th century, the Mediterranean loses its unity.

Byzantine Empire

Christianity gradually spreads in the region, especially after the coming to power of Emperor Constantine, who renames the city of Byzantium to Constantinople and in 330 makes it the capital. The rightful successor of the Roman Empire in the East, the Byzantine Empire returns to Greece its unity based on Christianity and the Greek language, but its opponents are pushing it from all sides. Later, enmity brews between Christians and Muslims. The raids of the Arabs who dominate the Eastern Mediterranean are becoming more frequent. The coast and islands are devastated by pirates. Two centuries later, in 1054, the Christian Church split into Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholic. After this separation, the powerful Western European maritime powers head for the Greek lands. The Normans, who came from Sicily in the middle of the XII century, the Venetians and the Franks capture the country. Three years after the capture of Constantinople by the crusaders (1207), Greece is divided among the allies: Venice takes the lion's share - the Ionian Islands, part of the Cyclades, Crete, Euboea. The Genoese settle on the islands of Lesbos and Chios, while the Peloponnese (renamed Morea) and the islands of the Saronic Gulf go to the Franks. In 1306, the Order of the Knights of St. John captures Rhodes. The network of military fortresses is designed to support the territorial ambitions of the "guardian of Christianity" against the Ottoman Empire.

Turkish rule

In 1453, the Turks captured Constantinople, putting an end to the second Byzantine Empire, established at the beginning of the 13th century. Three years later, Athens suffers the same fate, and then comes the turn of the Greek islands. Venetian Crete resists until 1669, and the island of Tinos (Cyclades) until 1714. The European fleets at that time were heading west: their attention was captured by America. Greece is forgotten, which is only partly compensated by the development of trade with the Ottoman Empire. The Turks did not oppress the locals, but demanded from the Greek peasants a soul tax - a fifth of the harvest. In the 18th century, a resistance movement gradually emerged.

Path to Independence

The decline of the Ottoman Empire contributes to the strengthening of nationalist sentiments. In 1821 an uprising broke out. European volunteers from among the philhellenes in love with classical Greece, who went in search of their roots, join the fighting following the example of Lord Byron. The great Greek armorers, who became rich at the end of the 18th century, donate their ships to the liberation movement. But the uprising is in danger of defeat, and the intervention of France, England and Russia is required. In 1832, the tiny Kingdom of Greece, having lost the lion's share of its historical territories, finally received the right to exist. Two years later, Athens becomes the capital of the new state. One of the sons of Louis I of Bavaria takes the throne under the name of Otto I of Greece. The Greeks, removed from power, unite against him, and in 1862 seek his removal. He is succeeded by George I, who was imposed on the country by the British. During his reign in 1896 Athens hosted the first modern history of the Olympic Games. In 1912, Crete returned to the national bosom, and after the end of the First World War, Macedonia, Thrace and the islands of the northern Aegean Sea.

Modern era

The dream of restoring Great Greece (Enosis) was already realized in the 20th century. In 1923, the country, destroyed by the Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, is forced to agree to a population exchange: one and a half million Orthodox Greeks emigrate from Asia Minor to Greece, while 400,000 Muslim Turks make their way in the opposite direction. The population of Athens is growing exponentially. Nevertheless, this exchange contributes to the formation of a new nation, rare in its homogeneity, both culturally and geographically. In 1924, the Hellenic Republic was proclaimed. The country goes through a period of destabilization, characterized by numerous coups d'état until it is occupied by Italian troops in 1940 and then a year later by the Wehrmacht. There are bloody battles. At the end of the war, a kingdom is formed. But soon flashes Civil War(1947-1949), ending with the defeat of the communist rebels. In 1967, a military coup sends King Constantine into exile, the junta establishes a "regime of colonels". Democracy is restored in 1974, and in 1981 Greece joins the EEC. In January 2002, it will be among the first countries to adopt the euro.

Not only professional historians and students of historical faculties are fascinated by ancient Greece. It is a subject of admiration and interest of researchers from related fields of science, tourists and travelers who want to know everything about Ancient Greece. This applies to both historical events and everyday life, culture, philosophy, scientific knowledge, philosophy, mythology.

Ancient Greece is commonly understood as a period in world history that began in 3000 BC and lasted until the middle of the 1st century AD.

periodization

Depending on what criteria scientists lay down in the division of ancient Greek history, this can be periodization. There are two most common and accepted classifications in science. The first of them involves the division into three large periods:

Preclassical, which began in the 3rd c. BC. and continued until the 4th c. BC.;
Classical, covering the 5th-4th centuries. BC.;
Hellenistic, dating from the second half of the 4th c. - the middle of the 1st c. AD

Archaeologists, however, insist that the preclassical period should be further divided into three stages - the Cretan-Mycenaean, Homeric and archaic. At the turn of 3-2 thousand BC on the island of Crete, the first civilization arose, which was separated from other periods, thanks to various artifacts. The culture of the Crete-Mycenaean period is not as rich as other eras of Ancient Greece, but it suggests that this civilization requires special attention of researchers.

The Homeric period has been little studied by historians; basic information about it has been preserved in the works of Homer. Chronologically covered the period from the 11th to the 9th centuries. BC.

After it, an archaic stage followed, in which the foundations of the statehood of the Greeks, mentality, culture, and mythology began to take shape. The period began in the 8th century. BC. and ended at the border of the 5th-4th centuries. BC.

Settlement of Hellas

People began to appear on the southern outskirts of the Balkan Peninsula during the Middle Paleolithic. Traces of primitive man have been found from Macedonia to Elis. In the Neolithic, people were already engaged in agriculture, raised cattle, began to build houses, a tribal system was taking shape, which in 3-2 thousand BC. evolved into an early class society.

During the Aegean period, the settlement of mainland and island Greece took place. In particular, the Minoan culture developed on Crete, the Helladic culture on the mainland, and the Cycladic culture on the islands.

In the Bronze Age, civilization actively developed on the Greek islands. This period was characterized by the following features and achievements:

The extraction of ores, including copper, began;
People began to actively use silver and lead;
Weapons, decorations, tools, cult items were made of metal;
Ceramic and pottery products were created;
Construction and crafts associated with it developed. This allowed the development of shipping. The construction of ships contributed to the gradual development of the islands neighboring Greece. As a result, the ancient Greeks established dominance over the coast of the entire Aegean Sea;
Large cities arose, which were the centers of certain tribes. The inhabitants were located on the hills, which indicates the beginning of the differentiation of society. There were rulers who sought to rise above other people. This provoked the first tribal wars in Ancient Greece.

In the Bronze Age, Crete was the center of social and economic development, on which several states developed. These include Festus, Mallia, Knossos. By their nature, these were early slave-owning states, which had their own written language (hieroglyphic). At the very end of the Bronze Age, a new palace period began in Crete, during which new palaces were created and old ones were renovated. The Cretan-Mycenaean civilization was one of the most developed in Ancient Greece, during which communications with the outside world, maritime dominance were significantly expanded, and cities were strengthened. In 1470 BC An earthquake occurred on the island of Thera, which reached Crete. Cities, palaces, and fleets were instantly destroyed. The entire population of the island also died, after which its territory began to fall into disrepair. A hundred years later, the Palace of Knossos was restored, but this state has not reached its former power.

On the mainland, other centers of slavery arose, which became separate city-states. It was Pylos, Tiryns and Mycenae who created the Achaean tribes. They built not only warships, but also large merchant ships, which made it possible to establish dominance over the existing trade routes of that time. The products of the Achaeans were sold to such countries of the East as Phoenicia, Syria, and Egypt. There are products of the ancient Greeks both in Asia Minor and in Italy. The Achaeans invented their own script, which, unlike the Cretan one, was not hieroglyphic, but syllabic.

Features of the Homeric period

The Achaean civilization fell under the onslaught of new tribes - the Dorian ones, who captured the states in the middle and southern regions. Athens survived, where the Achaeans from the Peloponnese moved. Here it was possible to maintain a high culture and develop further, while the rest of Greece was thrown back in development.

This is due to the fact that the Dorian tribes were in the conditions of the formation of the tribal system. Therefore, production, cities and political systems began to change rapidly. Tribal relations again came to the fore, which is why tools and weapons made of iron began to spread in ancient Greek society. Metal and iron products caused the formation of a special class of society - artisans, due to which at the end of the 9th century. BC. handicraft finally separated from agriculture and cattle breeding. This is how the market began to form, individual cities began to specialize in the production of only one type of iron products.

Independent communities began to take shape, headed by basiles. Their power was supported by the tribal nobility, which strengthened its influence through land holdings. The population living in such territories fell into slavery. People fell into dependence on the rich in different ways:

In Sparta, the dependent categories of the population included the perieks, which form the basis of the indigenous population of the state; as well as helots - farmers from Messenia. Perieki had little self-government, continuing to engage in trade and various crafts. Helots, on the other hand, were state property, were attached to plots of land of the Spartans - representatives of the local nobility;
In Thessaly, the subjugated population was called penesti;
In Crete, they were clarotes.

Slavery in the Homeric period also existed in Athens, but people who did not pay their debts became slaves.

Greece in the archaic period

The increase in the number of cities and the complication of the social system caused the active development of trade. Residents of settlements demanded constant raw materials for work and food. The situation was worsened by the fact that the cities became a haven for peasants who were deprived of their land. The number of representatives of the nobility, which constantly needed slaves, also increased. They were used for the construction of palaces, for cultivating fields, for domestic work.

All this created the prerequisites for the start of a new stage in the history of Ancient Greece - the colonial one. The impetus for the beginning of the creation of colony cities was the aggravation of the social struggle within Greek society. During the 8th-6th centuries. BC, colonies were bred on the islands of Sicily and Euboea, the coast of the Gulf of Tarentum, the Black Sea, along the Aegean coast.

The presence of a large number of colonies brought the Greek trade to a new level of development - international. The consequences of the creation of colonies include:

Growing demand for Greek goods;
Slaves constantly entered the metropolis;
The nobility received wealth and luxury items;
Coins borrowed from other peoples began to be used in trade;
The position of many landowners and tribal nobility strengthened;
Separate cities of Greece became common religious centers.

The archaic period was characterized by a constant struggle between the demos and the aristocracy. The population of cities sought to get rid of slavery, and this was done in a number of cities in Hellas.

Resistance was provided by the tribal nobility, which they managed to humble through the establishment of a tyranny regime.

During the 8th-6th centuries. BC. formed and special form political, social and economic structure of the Greek city. It was a policy - a free settlement in which only free citizens lived. If people belonged to the policy, then this provided them with rights, including slaves and land.

Policies were divided into two groups:

Oligarchic (Sparta and Crete);
Democratic (Athens).

In the city-states, slavery and elements of the tribal system simultaneously existed. In the south of mainland Greece, agricultural communities continued to develop, which belonged to individual tribes.

Hellas in the classical period of development

Greece reached its peak of development in the 5th-4th centuries. BC. Historians believe that this was the heyday of the economy, culture, politics, trade, sciences and arts. Trade and craft policies continued to use slaves - in craft workshops, in mines, in the fields, on the farm.

Small peasant farms and handicrafts became widespread.

In the classical period, the center of political life was Athens, which was famous for its democratic traditions. This allowed them to win a series of Greco-Persian wars, create the Delian League to fight against the Persians.

In Greece, unity between the policies never existed, and the struggle for dominance escalated precisely in the classical period. The peak of the confrontation was the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens, which ended in the loss of the last policy. Defeat and losses were suffered by the Greek cities that supported Athens. But the war caused the rise of Sparta and its supporters.

But this was not the last war in Hellas of that period. Another one flared up in 395-387. BC, and was called the Corinthian. It ended with the defeat of Sparta, and the fall of part of the Greek policies under the rule of Persia.

In the middle of the 4th c. BC. in the northern Greek regions, a new political force was formed, headed by the city-polis of Macedonia. Its king, Philip II, gradually captured the coast of Thrace, Thessaly, Hakidiki and Phocis. The influence of Macedonia was so strong that pro-Macedonian parties appeared in other policies.

In 338-337 years. BC, Philip II convened the Corinthian Congress, which formalized the dominance of Macedonia on the island and mainland Greece. He also created a union of policies, in which the regime of government was proclaimed oligarchic. Order among the population and in the authorities was maintained by the efforts of the Macedonian army.

Decline of Ancient Greece

At the end of the 4th c. BC Hellas entered a new period of development, which in historiography is called Hellenistic. It was associated with the name of Alexander the Great, son of Philip II. His conquests qualitatively changed all spheres of life in Greece, formed many other states, enriched Greek culture. Alexander the Great managed to create a huge empire, which ceased to exist immediately after his death in 323 BC.

The Hellenistic period in Greece was characterized by the following events:

Creation of permanent unions of cities, policies. Such formations were of a military nature, and were aimed at challenging the dominance of Macedonia, Sparta or Athens in Greece;
Policies were headed by oligarchs or kings who constantly fought among themselves;
Macedonia won the fight against Athens, which put an end to the famous Athenian democracy;
Macedonia lost power over the Balkans, as the Achaean and Aetolian military alliances constantly fought against it;
The death of Alexander the Great unleashed a struggle between his successors, as a result of which cities were destroyed, people died, the sale of people into slavery intensified, and new colonies were created. Pirates also began to attack Greece, especially island and coastal policies suffered from this;
In the policies, the social struggle intensified, which depended on what political force interfered in the internal affairs of Greece. They were both Romans and Persians.

In 196 BC. the Isthmian Games took place, at which the commander Flamininus announced that the Greeks had freedom. This increased the popularity of Rome in Greece, which actually became the property of the republic. In 27 BC Hellas became one of the Roman provinces called Achaia. And so it went on for several centuries, until in the 4th c. AD barbarian raids did not destroy the Roman Empire, dividing it into Western and Eastern. On the basis of the latter, a new political force began to form on the Balkan Peninsula - the Byzantine Empire.

Religion and mythology of ancient Greece

The inhabitants of Hellas had their own original religion, which linked culture, mythology and art into a single whole. The Greeks believed that the main god is Zeus, sitting on Mount Olympus. Eleven more gods and goddesses lived there with him. Greek religion, like mythology, is interesting in that the Helladians represented their gods as people, endowed them with human traits of character and behavior. The gods had the same feelings as people, the vices and desires that were present in the ancient world.

Mythology was formed over several centuries, and reflected all the problems that the Greeks faced in Everyday life. In addition to the gods, Greek mythology is rich in characters such as mortal heroes such as Achilles and Hercules, mythical creatures. These were satyrs, ora, nymphs, forest and river monsters, dragons, muses, dragons and vipers.

Art and science

The inhabitants of Ancient Hellas made a huge contribution to the development of theater, painting, and sculpture. The art of the Greeks is present in almost every corner of the globe. First of all, these are temples and architectural styles. The Greeks erected temples in honor of the gods, so that Zeus and his supporters had a place to live. But, unlike the Romans, or ancient civilizations Egypt, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, the Helladians built temples not large (relatively, judging by size), placing them in the acropolis of the city. It was the most protected part of the settlement. To make the temple visible from afar, it was erected on a mountain or hill. For construction, they tried to use two main materials - limestone and white marble. Each temple, like any Greek building, necessarily had columns, located in one or two rows. In the classical period, the art of building temples reached its peak of development. In the next era - the Hellenistic - stadiums, sports grounds, walking spaces, amphitheaters began to appear.

Simultaneously with sculpture, sculpture developed, which changed throughout the entire period of the existence of Ancient Greece. If in the archaic period the sculptures of people always had robes, then in the classical era the masters concentrated their main attention on the human body. It was customary to depict physically developed, strong, athletic people, which emphasized the inner and external beauty. In Hellenism, sculptures began to have a metaphorical character, exaggerations appeared in works of art, splendor, which had not existed before.

The Greeks were also distinguished by a special painting technique, samples of which have practically not been preserved to this day. But the drawings can be seen on the vases. The Greeks used two methods of painting such items as black-figure and red-figure. The first was characterized by the use of black lacquer to depict people and animals. And the red-figure implied the complete painting over of the black background, while the figures were made red, and black varnish helped to clearly draw the details.

During the celebration of the festival of winemaking, which was dedicated to the god Dionysus, the Greek theater began to take shape. With its appearance, music and literature began to actively develop. Often these directions were not separated from each other, which made both literature and theater an organic whole. In productions, it was customary to use special masks worn only by male actors. Women did not take part in the performances.

The large number of theaters and amphitheatres speaks of the special role of theater in the daily and social life of Greece. Neither festivities nor festivities were complete without performances. The theater was distinguished by a wide variety of plots and themes, genres. These were comedies, and tragedies, and satires, and ironic performances on the topic of the day.

The scientific knowledge of the Greeks developed in different areas - philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, geometry, biology, physics, chemistry, history. A special place among knowledge was occupied by philosophy, which studied the problems of the origin of the cosmos, planets, man, and the search for answers to questions related to immortality. Several philosophical schools were formed in Hellas, the prominent representatives of which were Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Thales, Herodotus, etc.

Literature, grammar, mathematics, history, astronomy, and philosophy were taught in the schools of ancient Greece. Physical education was obligatory in order for a person's personality to develop harmoniously.

The most famous heritage of the Greeks is the Olympic Games, which were created in order to praise the gods and bring them various honors. At first, these were local competitions, which eventually developed into all-Greek ones. Athletes from different cities of Hellas competed at the competitions, trying to get the status of the best athlete. The main competitions took place in such a discipline as the pentathlon, now it is also present at the Olympic Games.

Greece is of interest to almost any person. Someone is interested in the history of Ancient Hellas, someone aspires to this country, considering it the cradle of Orthodoxy, and some tourists, and they seem to be the majority, just want to relax in the beautiful Greek beach resorts. More than 15 million tourists from all over the world visit Greece every year.

In the 5th century BC, Greece was the center of the ecumene, the undisputed leader in art, architecture, science, mathematics, philosophy, theater and literature. Now Greece is famous for its amazing landscape, natural beauty, numerous historical monuments, as well as beautiful beach resorts.

Geography of Greece

Greece is located in southeastern Europe. In the east and northeast, Greece borders on Turkey, in the north - on Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania, in the south it is washed by the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the west - the Ionian, and in the east - the Aegean Sea.

The total area of Greece is almost 132 thousand square kilometers, including islands (about 20% of the territory of Greece are islands), and the total length of the state border is 1,228 km.

A significant part of the territory of Greece is occupied by mountains. Moreover, the highest of them is the famous Mount Olympus in Thessaly (2,917 m).

There are about 3,053 islands in Greece. The largest Greek islands are Crete in the Mediterranean and Euboea in the Aegean.

Capital

The capital of Greece is the ancient city of Athens, which is now home to more than 5 million people. This city was founded about 3,500 years ago.

Official language of Greece

The official language of Greece is Greek, which is a branch of the Indo-European languages. The first archaeological evidence for the existence of the Greek language dates back to the 15th century BC.

Religion

About 97% of the Greek population consider themselves Orthodox Christians belonging to the Greek Catholic Church. According to a Eurostat poll, 81% of Greeks believe that "God exists".

State structure

Greece is a parliamentary republic in which the head of state is the President (he is elected by the Parliament). The current Greek Constitution was adopted relatively long ago, in 1975.

Legislative power in this country belongs to the unicameral Parliament (300 deputies).

The main political parties are the liberal New Democracy, the leftist Panhellenic Social Movement, the Coalition of the Radical Left, the People's Orthodox Appeal, and the Communist Party of Greece.

Climate and weather

In the coastal regions of Greece (Athens, Cyclades, Dodecanese, Crete, Peloponnese and part of Central Hellas), the Mediterranean climate prevails (winter is mild and humid, and summer is dry and hot).

In the mountainous regions of northwestern Greece (some parts of Epirus, Central Greece, Thessaly and Western Macedonia), as well as in the mountainous part of the Peloponnese, including Achaia, Arcadia and Laconia, the climate is alpine with heavy snowfalls.

In the interior of central Greece, in Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the climate is temperate.

In July, the average air temperature in Athens is +28.7C, on the island of Corfu - +27.8C, and on the island of Rhodes - 26.8C.

Sea in Greece

Greece is washed by the waters of the Ionian (in the west), the Mediterranean (in the south) and the Aegean (in the east) seas. The total coastline is about 17,000 km. About 85% of the population of all of Greece lives in coastal areas (up to 50 km from the coast).

Sea water in Greece amazes and surprises all tourists. Her deep Blue colour explained, in part, by the reflection blue sky and the fact that it does not contain a large amount of solid matter (for example, plankton, dirt and dust).

There are about 450 species of fish and 12 species of cetaceans in the Greek seas.

There are about 3,053 islands in Greece. The largest of these are Crete in the Ionian Sea, Euboea in the Aegean Sea, and Corfu in the Ionian Sea.

Average sea temperature in Greece:

January - +15С
February - +14С
March - +14С
April - +15C
May - +18С
June - +22С
July - +24С
August - +25C
september - +23C
october - +21C
November - +19С
december - +16C

The average water temperature near Crete in May is +19C, in August - +25C, and in October - +23C.

Rivers and lakes of Greece

Despite the fact that a significant part of the territory of Greece is occupied by mountains, this country also has many rivers. In ancient times, the Greeks believed that the rivers belonged to the world of the gods, and worshiped them as separate deities.

The largest rivers in Greece are Alyakmon (297 km), Aheloos (217 km), and Mesta (230 km).

Perhaps tourists will be interested in Greek lakes, among which we single out Trichonis, Volvi, and Vegoritis.

History of Greece

Greece marked the beginning of European civilization. The Greek city-states of Athens, Corinth, and Sparta joined forces only when threatened by Persian invasion.

In the 5th century BC. Athens was the political, economic, and, of course, the cultural center of the Mediterranean. Then Sparta, led by Alexander the Great, gained a dominant role over the Greek lands. At this time, the Greeks defeated the Persians and extended their influence over vast territories, up to India.

In 146 BC. Greece was conquered by the Roman Empire. In 395 AD, after the collapse of the Roman Empire, Byzantium (officially called the Eastern Roman Empire) was formed, with Constantinople (modern Istanbul) as its capital.

In 1453, the Byzantine Empire was liquidated, and the territory of modern Greece fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. For the next 350 years, Greece was part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

As a result of the liberation war of 1821-1829, Greece finally gained independence. In 1833, Otto of Bavaria became king of Greece. The monarchy in Greece (since 1863 the Danish royal family ruled the Greeks) lasted until 1973.

After World War II, Greece plunged into civil war until the right-wing monarchists won in 1954. From 1967 to 1974, Greece was ruled by the so-called. "black colonels".

In 1981, after years of consultation, Greece became a member of the EU.

Greek culture

Greek culture begins with the Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations (this is an example of 2000 BC). After that, there was a period in the history of Greece, which historians call classical. At this time, Greek culture was formed, which began to influence neighboring peoples. In general, Greece is the birthplace of mankind, and one way or another, Greek culture has influenced a huge number of countries. The successors of Greek culture are Ancient Rome and the Byzantine Empire.

In the Middle Ages, the culture of Greece was greatly influenced by the Ottoman Empire. But this is understandable, because. For about 350 years, Greece was just one of the provinces of the Ottoman Empire.

It was in ancient Greece that science was born. Modern philosophy, mathematics and astronomy are based on the knowledge gained by the ancient Greeks.

The most famous ancient Greek philosophers are Aristotle, Plato, Diogenes, Crates of Athens, Diogenes and Socrates.

The most famous ancient Greek mathematicians are Archimedes, Pythagoras, Democritus and Euclid.

The Greeks are very superstitious, they believe not only in God, but also in supernatural powers. Until now, the Greeks take the myths of ancient Greece seriously. Moreover, in every region of Greece, in every village, on every island, there are their own superstitions and traditions.

The Greeks will never personally hand over a knife to a person who asks them to, but simply put it, for example, on the table. It is believed that if you give someone a knife, then this person will have to fight.

The most popular Greek folk (and very often religious) holidays are Theophany, Gynecocracy, Tsiknopempti (Meat Thursday), Maundy Monday, Annunciation, Good Friday, Easter, Pontic Genocide Remembrance Day, Trinity, Polytechnic and Christmas.

If two Greeks say the same words at the same time, they will definitely touch some red object, otherwise, it is believed that they will fight and become enemies. Where this superstition came from - history is silent.

Greek Cuisine

We definitely advise tourists in Greece to visit local restaurants and enjoy Greek cuisine. The variety of dishes, as well as their taste, make Greek cuisine unique. Feature Greek cuisine - the use of olive oil in absolutely every dish.

Also, the Greeks usually use a lot of vegetables and spices when cooking. However, the spices are quite mild, and there is no need to be afraid of strong spiciness.

We all know "Greek salad" and moussaka. However, these dishes are only a prelude to real Greek cuisine. Each region of Greece, each island has its own dishes and methods of their preparation. Therefore, the taste of moussaka on the island of Corfu will not be the same as that of moussaka on the Dedecanes Islands.

We definitely advise tourists in Greece to try Fasolada bean soup, shrimp fried in butter, souvlaki (kebabs on wooden sticks), Greek-style fish fillet, gyro meat, potato and tomato flatbread, vegetable frit with tzazyki sauce, and kakavia fish soup.

The ancient Greeks considered wine to be the drink of the gods, and in modern Greece this alcoholic drink is very popular. True, the ancient Greeks diluted wine with spring water, and modern Greeks for some reason forgot this, in general, very useful tradition.

The most famous Greek spirits are tsipouro (also called tsikudya or crayfish), 38-47% alcohol, ouzo (anise vodka, 40% alcohol), and Metaxa brandy.

Sights of Greece

Greece ranks 1st in the world in terms of the number of attractions (in second and third places are Italy and Bulgaria, respectively). Therefore, we will highlight, in our opinion, the ten best attractions in Greece, although in fact there are many more.

Top 10 best attractions in Greece:

Cities and resorts

The largest Greek cities are Athens, Piraeus, Patras, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion.

The coastline in Greece is 13,676 kilometers, which means that there are a huge number of beautiful beaches with crystal clear clean water which are surrounded by rocks with pines and palm trees.

The most popular beach resorts in Greece are Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Rhodes, island of Kos, Chania and Halkidiki.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Greek shoes (in particular, handmade sandals).
Gold jewelry.
Folk talismans that "drive away the evil eye."
Bouzouki (baglama) is a small stringed musical instrument.
CDs with Greek folk music.
Olives, olive oil.
Greek cheese.
Kitchen utensils.
Alcoholic drinks - ouzo, tsipuro (tsikudya or raki) and Metaxa brandy.

Office Hours

Bank opening hours:

Mon-Thu: 08:30-14.30
Fri: 08:30-14.00

Banks on the larger islands tend to be open in the afternoon to cater to tourists.

Shops in Greece are open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am (from 8:30 am in summer)

Visa

The history of the development of Greece begins with the deepest antiquity, when the Neolithic era can be considered the starting point in time. It should be noted that the entire ancient Greek history is closely connected with the sea. In 1500 BC there was a very strong earthquake in the area of the island of Santorini, which caused the first cultural decline.

A little later, the Achaeans came to the territory of Greece, since that time the beginning of a new cultural era of ancient Greece has been marked. Mycenae and Achaeans firmly established themselves on the world stage, everyone knows such signs of this period as Homer, the heroes Jason, Hercules, Theseus. logical conclusion of this era was the Trojan War, as a result of which the power of the Mycenae was shaken, the wild tribes of the northern Dorians invaded the territory of the state. During this period, Greece slowly degraded, the only cultural outburst was the formation of a clear, true Greek language, in which myths began to be composed.

In the era of ancient Greece, the Penelopean Union was created, which regulates relations with Sparta. These years are characterized by the growth and prosperity of the economy, the rapid pace of cultural development. The prerequisites for this were the foundations of Spartan education, which spread a commitment to rigor and simplicity of life. The laws of Solomon and the reign of Cleisthenes also had a positive effect. In 500 B.C. the period of ancient Greece ends, when the war with the Persians was over. There is a flourishing of Athenian rule, which causes discontent of the Spartans.

In 337 B.C. Alexander the Great united the country, created the conditions for the successful development of the economy, technology, and military training. After the death of the great ruler, Greece falls apart, in the Hellenistic period the empire was divided into autonomous states, art was replaced by entrepreneurship and commerce. The Romans subsequently became the carriers of Greek culture, who brought it to our days. There is a close relationship between Greek and Roman architecture.

Byzantine influence also played a significant role in Greek cultural development. At this time, art flourished and exalted, many laws were passed to protect women and children. But in 1453 the Byzantine Empire fell, the Turkish tribes began to rule, this time can be considered a black chapter in the entire history of the country. The country resisted the imposed power, tried to prove the right to its own religion.

With consent Orthodox Church in 1821 there was a revolution. After her, the country was mired in civil wars. The government managed to return the Ionian Islands and part of Epirus to Greece, later it completely passed the country, along with Thrace and Izmir.

The state in its modern form was developed after the end of the war. At this time, the country regained Rhodes and liberated the entire mainland territory of the state. The year 1974 marked the start of a new free European period in Greek history, since at that time an agreement was concluded that secured the cessation of all military actions against Turkey due to a territorial war.

Since 1991, Greece has been recognized as a modern free state, an equal member of the EEC.

The history of Greek civilizations begins in Crete around 6000 BC. during the Neolithic period. Profitable geographical position at the crossroads of sea routes, force, religion and law served as the basis for the development of trade and the creation of a civilization that still amazes us with its grace and power. And a woman does not occupy such a high position as in Crete 4 thousand years ago to this day. It was the feminine principle that ensured the growth and prosperity of the culture of Crete in the Minoan era, in contrast to subsequent patriarchal civilizations.

Life on the mainland during this period was less developed than in Crete. The centers of culture were Mycenae and Tiryns, located in the Peloponnese. They largely copied the achievements of the Minoan Crete.

In the Bronze Age (3000-1200 BC), powerful Cycladic, Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations developed. Cretan culture dominated for almost a millennium and a half, until in 1500 BC. primacy did not pass to the Mycenaean culture. Around 1400 BC northern Achaean tribes came to the Peloponnese and assimilated with the local Mycenaean population. Who and where they were from is not known for certain. But historians unanimously come to the conclusion that it was the Achaeans who brought with them the cult of the Olympian Gods and elements of a new culture. As a result, Mycenae strengthened its position and became the leading power in the entire Mediterranean. This legendary period is called the Heroic Age, which has come down to us through the Homeric poems and numerous myths about the semi-divine heroes Hercules, Theseus, Jason and others. The culmination of the history of Achaean Greece is the Trojan War. Homer describes the battle scenes, the characters and feelings of his heroes with brilliant accuracy.

In the XI century BC. the Minoan and Mycenaean, as well as the Cretan civilizations suddenly ceased to exist due to changing trade needs and the invasion of the Dorians from the north, according to one version. According to another, these great cultures perished or were fatally weakened in a geological cataclysm, which, with gigantic waves and powerful earthquakes, overnight destroyed all their achievements and claimed millions of lives. After that, "dark times" reigned over the Mediterranean for almost four centuries. This troubled period in the history of Greece is called Homeric. Despite the fact that by the beginning of the tenth century BC. the country degraded catastrophically, gradually the culture began to develop, synthesizing a new civilization from the remnants of the Cretan, Mycenaean, Achaean, Asian and the rudiments of the Dorian cultures. Almost completely lost by the beginning of the 9th BC, is being revived and formed Greek language, a new worldview of the Greeks is being created, including the whole variety of religious ideas, reflected in myths, cults and mysteries. During this period, Homer created his immortal poems about the legendary era, filled with the spirit of his time.

Then, around 800. BC, a cultural and political revival began in Greece and city-states began to be created, the most powerful of which were Athens and Sparta. The policy is being formed as an institution of the power of free citizens. Greater Greece was formed, including southern Italy. A striking example of this time is the Peloponnesian Union, led by Sparta. Everyone knows the strict laws of Spartan life, which ensured her a leading position among the city-states. Also of great importance for the democracy and flourishing of Athens (and all of Greece) in the following era were the laws of Solon, enshrined through the dictatorship of Pisistratus and continued during the democratic reign of Cleisthenes.

After that, an era of prosperity began, the so-called classical (golden) era. The Classic period begins with a war with the Persians in 500 BC. This war lasted over 20 years. Greece managed to win the final victory thanks to Athens, who created a maritime alliance and led the fight against the Persians. Gradually, from an equal maritime union, it turned into an instrument for the rise of Athens, which allowed the Athenians to use significant resources to create impressive masterpieces. It was the time when Pericles created the Parthenon, Sophocles wrote Oedipus Rex, Socrates taught the young Athenians the logic and traditions of democracy. Freedom coexisted with tyranny, democratic ideals collided with corruption, the art of persuasion and inducement developed. In a word, it was the "Golden Age" of Athens.

Naturally, such a strong power did not suit Sparta, and in 431 BC. The Peloponnesian War broke out, ending only 27 years later with the victory of Sparta and the overthrow of Athens. Fully occupied with the Peloponnesian wars, the Spartans did not attach any importance to the growing power of Philip of Macedon, who easily defeated the war-weary city-states. The main prerequisites for the creation of the empire of Alexander the Great were made by his father, Philip II, who was a wise politician and far-sighted reformer. Against the backdrop of general instability, Macedonia was distinguished high level development of the economy, technology and military affairs. In 337 BC Greece was united under Macedonian rule. After the assassination of Philip II, his son Alexander took his place, leading a victorious war against the Persians and creating a new empire within 9 years. He traveled to the Himalayas and reached the banks of the Ganges. Alexander the Great multiplied his father's achievements and captured Asia Minor, Egypt, Persia and the territories of present-day Afghanistan and India. The power of the Macedonian Empire, which was replaced by three dynasties after the death of 33-year-old Alexander, is known as the Hellenistic era, when, thanks to the combination of Greek ideas and culture with other ancient cultures, a new civilization was formed.

However, internecine conflicts continued. Just as the Russian princes used the Horde as a military force in their internecine wars, the Greek cities turned to the Roman legionnaires for help. For which they paid with freedom. From 205 BC Roman attacks on Greece began. Before the Roman aggressor, Macedonia and Greece were the first to fall in 148 BC. The longest - until 30 BC. The Ptolemaic kingdom existed in Egypt. However, the Romans became the successors of Greek culture and brought it to the modern world. The traditions of art, literature and philosophy of the Roman Empire were based on the values of enslaved Greece. Largely thanks to Roman copies, we can get acquainted with the brightest examples of the work of Greek masters. Elements of Roman architecture repeat the traditions of the Greek masters of antiquity.

The Roman Empire fell, destroyed from within by wealth, idleness and self-interest. The final division of the Roman Empire into two components: Western and Eastern (Byzantine) was approved by Theodosius the Great, distributing it among his sons in 395 AD. Before the collapse of the Empire, Greece was a province of the Primate, then it ceded to the Byzantine Empire with the same rights and was part of it until the 13th century. The Byzantine period is characterized by the formation of Christian traditions. Churches and monasteries are being built all over the country. The empire reaches its heyday under Justinian I, who created a code of laws, in which the union of church and secular power was fixed. In the same period, Byzantium becomes the most powerful power in the entire Mediterranean, spreading its influence from the Arab east to the Slavic north. But already in the XII century, which was the heyday of the crusades, the power of Byzantium was significantly weakened due to attacks from the Venetians, Catalans, Genoese, Franks, Normans. The Byzantine Empire suffered its first defeat from the Crusader Knights in 1204. The participants of the 4th Crusade briefly founded the Latin Empire on its territory. Greece was divided into several counties, the most powerful of which was Athens. Half a century later, the Byzantine emperors regained Constantinople.

Then a new powerful force enters the historical stage - the Ottoman Empire. In 1453, the Turks took the Byzantine capital, and by 1500, virtually the entire territory of Greece was under Turkish control. And two hundred years later, the Turks expelled the Venetians from the few remaining Christians. shopping centers. In 1669, the island of Crete was annexed to the Ottoman Empire, and until the 19th century, Greece was part of it. During this period, the country actually became a backward province again, as merchants, intellectuals, and artists left for Central Europe. At this time, only the traditional way of life and Orthodoxy helped to preserve the national spirit. Turkish rule is one of the blackest pages in the history of Greece. And although the Turks left the Greeks freedom of religion, the Greeks constantly fought for their liberation.

A cultural renaissance at the end of the 18th century set the stage for the outbreak of the War of Independence from Turkey (1821-1832), in which the Greeks were supported by Byron, Shelley and Goethe. In 1821, the first phase of the war began, with the Greeks fighting almost without anyone's help. However, the independence movement lacked integrity, and in 1827 Russia, France and Great Britain decided to invade. The war ended in 1829 with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Greece. After Greece gained independence, the European powers decided to establish a monarchy here and, in order to avoid the struggle for power from the Greek influential people, appointed in 1833 by King Otto of Bavaria. The monarchy with numerous kings at the head of the country lasted until the middle of the 20th century, despite the discontent of the population. In 1864, under George I, a new constitution was adopted, which established democracy in the country and the role of the king became formal.

At the end of the 19th century, Greece fought several wars for territory, as a result of which Turkey lost Macedonia and Crete, which were still under its rule. At the beginning of the 20th century, the countries of the Balkan Peninsula waged the so-called Balkan Wars, they ended almost on the eve of the First World War (and as a result of these wars, Greece also increased its territory). After its completion, a strong anti-monarchist movement arose in the country, and in 1924 Greece was proclaimed a republic, but in 1935 the monarchy was again restored. During World War I, Greek troops fought on the side of the Allies and occupied Thrace. After the war, Prime Minister Venizelos sent troops to Turkey with the aim of "liberating" the Turkish territory of Smyrna (present-day Izmir), where many Greeks lived. The aggression was stopped by Atatürk's troops and many Greek soldiers died.

In 1923, mutual repatriation took place between the countries, which led to an increase in the population (1.3 million Christian refugees), which significantly complicated the weak economy. Outside urban centers, poor villages appeared, refugee unions began to form, and by 1936 the Communist Party had widespread support. In the same year, the king appointed General Metaxis as prime minister, who immediately established a dictatorship in the image of the fascist. Although Metaxis created the Greek version of the Third Reich, he did not find common language with German and Italian leadership and did not allow Italian troops to enter the country in 1940. Despite help from the allies, Germany occupied Greece in 1941, and bloody battles and famine began. Resistance movements emerged, which later evolved into royal and communist factions. As a result, a bloody civil war began, which lasted until 1949, which ended with the victory of the royal faction. During this war, the United States, under the influence of Truman's ideas, gave huge sums of money to the anti-communist government and even introduced the "Certificate of Political Reliability", which was valid until 1962. This document confirmed that its owner does not adhere to leftist views; without this document, the Greeks had no right to vote and practically could not get a job.

Fearing a resurgence of left-wing parties, a group of army colonels staged a military coup in 1967. Andreas Papandreou said of it this way: "This is the first successful military putsch carried out by the CIA on the European continent." The military coup led to repression and political incompetence. In 1974, the colonels attempted to assassinate the first president of independent Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, which led to the Turkish invasion of the island and the occupation of northern Cyprus. Until now, relations with Turkey remain tense, and the fact of occupation is a sore point for the Greeks.

After a powerful student demonstration in the fall of 1973, repression intensified, but in July 1974 the junta was removed from power. In December of the same year, a referendum was organized with the aim of re-restoring the monarchy, but with a negative result. In 1981 Greece joined the European Community and Andreas Papandreou's Socialist Party (PASOK) won the elections. PASOK promised to reduce the number of American air force bases in the country and refuse to join NATO, but these promises were not kept. But the dowry system was abolished and abortion was legalized. As a result, after numerous scandals, Papandreou and his supporters were replaced in 1989 by a coalition of conservatives and communists.

In the 1990 elections, the Conservatives won only 2 more seats in the government. In an attempt to improve the economic situation in the country, the government took harsh measures, which caused discontent among citizens. In 1993, general elections were held, as a result of which the old sick Papandreou and PASOK returned to power. Kostas Simitis was appointed prime minister in early 1996 when it became clear that Papandreou would not last long (he died in mid-1996). Simitris narrowly won the election in April 2000, receiving only one percent more than his competitors. With a new mandate, he promised to improve relations with Turkey and implement economic reforms that should secure a place for Greece in the European Monetary Union. Greece joined the European Union in early 2001 and adopted the euro in 2002. In 2004, the Olympic Games were again held in Athens.

Briefly about Greece:

Capital - Athens
Area - 131,940 km 2 (95th place in the world).
The official language is Greek.
Currency - euro.
Public holiday - March 25 (Independence Day).