Greece facts: What you need to know about Greece

Greece - a country that will enchant you with its beautiful nature, picturesque rows of white houses on the Greek islands, stunning bays, white sandy beaches and crystal clear water. But what has this beautiful country been through? In this article we will take you on a journey into Greece's past.

The early history

Greece's early history began just under 3500 years before Christ with the Neolithic Sesklo culture, an early farming culture that was already raising livestock and growing grain. Then, around 2800 BC, the Dimini culture began to invade from the north. During this time, the first city-like fortifications were already built. Finally, in the middle of the 2nd millennium B.C., the Aegean culture developed on the Aegean islands, whereupon on the island of Crete, which is very well known today, the first European advanced civilization was created by the Minoan people, who built, among others, the famous palaces of Knossos and Phaistos. From 2000 BC, the Greek mainland was finally settled by Indo-European tribes and the Mycenaean culture began to develop. 

The Dark and Archaic Ages

The period from the 12th to the 8th century is often referred to as the Dark Ages of Greece, when the rule of the peoples settled until then collapsed due to the Doric tribes invading from the north. This so-called "Aegean migration" gave rise to the important cities of Miletus, Ephesus and Troy, among others. The Trojan War described by the famous Greek poet Homer may also have taken place at this time. In addition, the spread of the Phoenician script and the culture of the Greek mainland by colonists and traders began throughout the Mediterranean.Greek settlers thus colonized the coasts of Asia Minor, cities on the Black Sea and in southern Italy.

From now on, from about 800 BC, history was ruled for the next centuries by the city-states polis that emerged. In Athens, today's capital, the first beginnings of democracy finally emerged, in which citizens were granted co-determination in political matters. This development also took place in other city-states, with the exception of the empire of Sparta, which dominated all of southern Greece. Here, the emphasis was on the training of an army.

Classical Greece

Due to the Persian threat, the city-states led by Athens and Sparta joined together in 481 B.C. to form the Hellenic League, whereupon the Persians suffered their defeat in the battles of Salamis and Plataea. While this was followed by recurring internal conflicts over the supremacy of the city-states of Athens and Sparta and the resulting Peloponnesian War, the Macedonian kingdom under the rule of Phillip II prepared for an attack on the Greek mainland. Thus, Macedonia defeated the Greek allies in the Battle of Chaironeia.

His goal was now to unite the Greek city-states in the "Corinthian League" under Macedonian presidency in order to move against the Persians. His son Alexander the Great finally succeeded in defeating the Persian Empire in 330 BC. His empire included not only Greece but also Egypt, the Near East, Asia Minor and northern India, which in no way led to the suppression of Greek culture but rather mixed Greek and Oriental. After Alexander's death, Greece was divided into three different territories after wars between his successors. 

Roman and Byzantine Empire

In the following period, the Roman Empire increasingly interfered in the disputes within Greece, whereupon the entire country was declared the Roman province of Achaia in 27 BC. During the Roman domination, Greek culture and language were preserved. In 395, the Roman Empire was finally divided, with Greece falling into the Eastern Roman Byzantine Empire and Christianity becoming the state religion at the same time. Everything remained like this for almost 1000 years, until finally in 1453 a long battle resulted in Turkish rule and Greece belonged to the Turkish Ottoman Empire for the next 400 years.

19th century

The Greek revolution by the freedom fighters was only made possible by the support of the countries of France, Great Britain and Russia. They proved to be helpful allies and thus, after the defeat of the Navarino Shaft, Turkey was forced to sign the London Protocol in 1830, recognizing Greece as an independent state. For the next 80 years, except for minor internal disputes, things remained quiet until the Balkan War, which lasted a year in 1912. This war brought about an enlargement of the country, whereby Crete now also belonged to the Greek Empire. 

20th century

Greece was involved in both the 1st and 2nd World Wars, but suffered defeat both times. After the end of the Second World War, the last civil war broke out, in which the government troops could prevail against the communist partisans only in 1949. In 1981, Greece finally joined the EU.

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