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Greece Info on Greece
Greece (modern Greek, Ellas) is a country in southeastern Europe that forms the southern extremity of the Balkan Peninsula. It is bordered by the Ionian, Mediterranean, and Aegean seas on the west, south, and east, and on the north by Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Greece encompasses many island groups, including the Ionian Islands to the west and the Sporades (Sporadhes) and CYCLADES (Kikladhes) to the east, as well as the larger islands of CRETE (Kriti), LESBOS (Lesvos), RHODES (Rodhos), SAMOS, SAMOTHRACE (Samothraki), Chios (Khios), and Lemnos (Limnos), which lie within sight of the Turkish coast. The name Greece is derived from the Latin name Graeci, applied to a people who lived in ancient times in the northwest part of the country. Greece is predominantly an agricultural country, although less than one-third of its area is cultivated. The country is self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs, and agricultural products make up most of Greece's exports. Tourism is well developed and is economically important. Modern Greece came into being in 1830, following a war of independence against Ottoman Turkey. Initially much smaller than it is today, Greece acquired additional territory from Turkey as a result of the RUSSO-TURKISH WAR of 1877-78 and the BALKAN WARS (1912-13). LAND AND RESOURCES Greece is a mountainous country, with flat land restricted to many small coastal plains. The mountains, which form part of the Alpine system, generally stretch from northwest to southeast. They are highest and most rugged in the northwest, where the Grammos Mountains rise to 2,519 m (8,265 ft) and the Pindus (Pindhos) to over 2,285 m (7,500 ft), although the highest mountain in the country (Mount OLYMPUS; 2,917 m/9,573 ft) is in east central Greece. The mountains are interrupted by the long, narrow Gulf of Corinth, which almost cuts off southern Greece--the PELOPONNESUS--from the rest of the peninsula. But the mountains continue south of the gulf and terminate in the three headlands of southern Greece. The mountain ranges, extending in the same direction, are continued offshore, and their highest portions appear as the chains and groups of islands that dot the Aegean. The Cyclades continue the eastern ranges toward the Turkish mainland, and Crete and Rhodes are continuations of the more westerly ranges. Both mountains and islands are composed of sedimentary rocks, mainly limestone and sandstone, most of which were deposited during the Mesozoic Era (230 to 65 million years ago). Only near the northern boundary of Greece are igneous rocks significant in the landscape. The largest plains are those of MACEDONIA, THESSALY, and THRACE, all of which border the Aegean Sea. The soils of Greece, as Plato noted more than 2,000 years ago, are thin and poor, and over much of the country the bare rock shows at the surface. The only good soils are on the small coastal lowlands. These are mainly alluvial soils, but their productivity is greatly reduced by the long summer drought. Climate The climate of Greece is typically Mediterranean. Summers are long, hot, and dry. The average temperature in July is 26.7 degrees C (80 degrees F), in Athens, the capital, but is much lower in the mountains. Winters are mild; the average January temperature is 9.2 degrees C (48.5 degrees F). Winter temperatures are also much lower in the interior; in mountain valleys averages are close to freezing, and prolonged frosts may occur. Snow is not uncommon away from the coasts. Precipitation varies greatly. In Athens it averages 394 mm (16 in) annually, but it is much higher away from the east coast and rises to more than 1,200 mm (47 in) in the higher mountains. In all parts of the country rainfall is seasonal, most of it coming in late fall and winter. Only in Macedonia and Thrace is there a significant summer rainfall; almost no rain falls in the rest of the country. Drainage Few rivers exist in peninsular Greece; all are small, and most dry up in the summer. Only those rivers which rise farther north in the Balkan Peninsula and flow through northern Greece to the sea, for example, the Vardar and Struma, have any significant summer discharge. The small size and seasonal character of most rivers is the primary reason for the limited use of irrigation. Of the several lakes within the mountains--many of them in northern Greece--most occupy basins that were formed by the dissolution of limestone. Vegetation Naturally occurring vegetation is adapted to the climate and consists largely of xerophytes, which are plants that are able to withstand the summer drought by the storage of water. Spring is the primary growing season, and flowering plants make a brilliant show during this time, before withering under the summer heat. The mountains are mostly clothed with a relatively dense scrub brush (called maquis). Evergreen forests may once have covered much of the land but have been largely destroyed in southern Greece. Extensive forest is found only in the mountains of northwestern Greece, where large stands of fir occur. About 19 percent of the total area is forested. Resources Greece is poorly endowed with minerals and fuel. Although some lignite (a soft coal) is produced, no economically significant coal deposits exist. Oil has been found in northwestern Greece and on the floor of the Aegean Sea. The Pinos oil field, off the island of Thasos, has been producing petroleum since 1981. Reserves of hydroelectric power are slight because of the small size and seasonal flow of most rivers. Iron ore and bauxite are the most important mineral resources; bauxite is quarried to the north of the Gulf of Corinth, and most of it is exported. Small amounts of pyrites (used in making sulfuric acid), lead, zinc, magnesite, manganese, chrome, and silver are also mined. In most cases the ore is exported for smelting elsewhere. PEOPLE Ethnic Groups, Language, and Religion The present population is derived mainly from the inhabitants of ancient Greece. Greek is spoken by about 97 percent of the population. The modern language is derived from classical Greek of Attica and Ionia and exists today in two forms. The popular, or demotic, form has evolved naturally and has incorporated Slavic, Turkish, and Italian words. The Katharevousa, "pure," form of Greeks has resulted from a conscious attempt to revive ancient Greek. The latter had been taught in the schools and used by the civil service and church until its official demise in 1976 in favor of the demotic form. The non-Greek population includes a small Albanian community close to the Albanian frontier in the northwest; some Macedonian and Bulgarian Slavs near the northern frontier; and a few Turks, who remained after the exchange of population of 1923. Small communities of Vlachs, a seminomadic people who speak a Romance language, live in the northern mountains. After World War I, Greece and Bulgaria agreed to exchange their ethnic minorities; about 92,000 Bulgarians left Greece for Bulgaria, and 46,000 Greeks emigrated from Bulgaria to Greece. In 1922 a large-scale exodus of Greeks from Anatolia, followed by a more orderly exchange of populations, occurred. In all, about 1,500,000 refugees came to Greece, and about 800,000 Turks were transferred from Greece to Turkey. Although the settlement of the newcomers presented great difficulties, the country eventually benefited from the resulting increase in economic productivity. More than 95 percent of the population belongs to the Greek Orthodox church, which is the established religion of the country. In 1987 the Socialist-controlled parliament enacted legislation confiscating most of the church's land and placing its other property (except for the self-governing monastic territory of Mount Athos) under lay control. Demography and Education Greece is one of the least urbanized countries in Europe and has only two large cities, ATHENS (with its contiguous port city of PIRAEUS) and SALONIKA (Thessaloniki). Most Greek cities are small--even the well-known city of CORINTH had only 28,900 people in 1991. The population has grown rapidly during the past century. Many rural areas have become overpopulated, and there has been a large migration, especially to the United States. Temporary migration by men to work in northern Europe is also common. Education is free and compulsory until the age of 15, with provision for further secondary education in high schools or in gymnasiums. The literacy rate is slightly below the European average. Culture The cultural history of Greece goes back to the artists, historians, philosophers, playwrights, and poets of ancient times. Classical Greek culture was probably the greatest formative influence in the development of European civilization. Greek cultural traditions continued through the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods and reemerged in modern forms after the centuries of domination by the Ottoman Empire. ECONOMIC ACTIVITY Little economic growth occurred during the long period of Turkish rule (1456-1830), and when Greece gained independence in 1830, it was a backward, peasant country with no industry above the level of rural crafts. Athens was little more than a large village. Economic growth was slow in the 19th century. Greece offered little scope for industrial development, having only scanty resources in metals and solid fuels. Economic development began following World War II and was assisted by foreign aid from the United States. Greece became a member of the European Community (now the European Union, or EU) in 1981. A high rate of inflation and chronic budget deficits have made Greece dependent on financial help from the EU. In 1992 this aid amounted to 5 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product. In 1993 an EU-approved plan was adopted to help bring the inflation rate and public-sector spending under control. Agriculture and Fishing Agriculture continues to be the most important economic activity. Farming is typically carried on by peasants, who cultivate holdings that are uneconomically small, using old-fashioned, if not primitive, methods. In remote areas plows similar to those represented on classical Greek vases continue to be used. The average size of holdings is less than one ha (2.5 acres), although as some peasants forsake the land, others are able to acquire larger holdings. A land redistribution program instituted in the late 1950s has also enlarged some holdings. The primary agricultural products are wheat; fruit, such as grapes, olives, and citrus fruit; and industrial crops, such as cotton and tobacco. Greece is generally self-sufficient in bread grains, and large amounts of tobacco and dried grapes (raisins and sultanas) are exported. Rice is grown in some damp deltaic regions, but Greek agriculture in general suffers from a shortage of water during the growing season. Animal rearing is restricted by a shortage of grass and fodder. Sheep and goats, which can subsist on the coarse grass of the hills, are by far the most numerous farm stock; there are few cattle. Cheese is made from sheep's and goats' milk. Fishing is important around the coast of Greece. Among the fish caught are tunny and octopus, considered a delicacy. Manufacturing Manufacturing is largely related to domestic agricultural production. It includes canning and drying fruit; wine making and distilling; and tobacco preparation. All these activities are carried out in small units of production. Most factory industries are found near the two large cities, Athens and Salonika. Cement, fertilizers, simple chemical products, and china and glass are made for the domestic market. A small aluminum industry exists, and petroleum refining is important. Unregulated development in the Athens metropolitan area, which contains more than one-third of the population, has contributed to a severe air pollution problem. Transportation and Trade Greece has only a skeletal railroad system, which focuses on Athens. The capital city has a subway system, which is scheduled for a major expansion by 1997. The main roads that link Athens with the principal provincial centers are well built, and more than 80 percent of the road system is surfaced. A canal, used by small ships, cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth, linking the Ionian Sea with the Aegean. Greece has a large fleet of merchant ships and tankers that contribute to Greece's balance of payments but have little relationship to the country's foreign trade. Greece has a small volume of foreign trade. Exports consist mainly of fruit, alcoholic drinks, and tobacco. Imports include fuel and manufactured goods. In the 1990s the value of imports has been more than double that of exports, creating a large balance-of-payments deficit. Most foreign trade is with other members of the EU. GOVERNMENT Until 1973, Greece was a constitutional monarchy, but in that year the military junta then in power proclaimed a republic. Democratic rule was restored the following year. Under the republican constitution adopted in 1975, Greece is governed by a prime minister and a cabinet responsible to the 300-member unicameral legislature whose members are elected by universal adult suffrage to 4-year terms. The president, whose duties are largely ceremonial, is chosen for a 5-year term by the legislature. For purposes of local administration the country is divided into 13 regions, each subdivided into nomoi ("departments"). Local government rests essentially with the 51 nomoi, which have been granted increasing autonomy. HISTORY Ancient Greece Although modern Greece has been an independent state only since 1830, the country has a long and distinguished history. Ancient Greece largely provided the foundations of Western civilization. Early civilizations emerged in the Greek world in the second millennium BC and were centered first in Crete and then in MYCENAE. Little is known of the following several centuries; the Iliad and the Odyssey, ascribed to HOMER, probably date from this period, however. By the 6th century BC, the Greek world around the Aegean Sea comprised several hundred small, autonomous city-states. Most were little more than village communities, but all tried, within the limits of their resources, to build temples and marketplaces and to create an urban civilization. Such larger cities as Athens and Corinth succeeded in establishing a highly ordered civilization, and in the 5th century BC, Athens came to dominate the Greek world. This dominance was possible, at least in part, because the territory of Athens was larger and more populous than that of its rivals, and in part because of the prestige and power Athens had earned by successfully resisting Persian invasions. The city-states were weak, however, because they were small and because of their wrangling. In 338 BC they were all overcome by the large and powerful state of Macedonia. The Hellenistic period, as the age of Macedonian domination is called, was followed by the Roman conquest of Greece in 146 BC. Greece, divided into the provinces of EPIRUS, ACHAEA, and Macedonia, remained part of the Roman Empire until the empire's collapse. Greece's great period of artistic achievement was in the 5th century BC, but literary and architectural creativity continued, albeit on a less exalted plane, throughout the Hellenistic period. The Romans themselves showed a deep appreciation of the Greek achievement. From the Byzantine to the Ottoman Empire When Diocletian divided the Roman Empire into two parts, Greece fell to the Eastern Empire (BYZANTINE EMPIRE). From the 5th to the 7th century it was invaded by Goths, Huns, and Slavs, whose depredations destroyed urban life as the Greeks had known it and brought Greek civilization to an end. In the late 11th century Greece again came under Western influence. Normans from Sicily invaded Greece. The Crusaders crossed it on their way to the Middle East, and in 1204 the Fourth Crusade was diverted to an attack on the Byzantine Empire. All of Greece, except the rugged interior, was occupied and divided into states ruled by Western princes or was controlled by the commercial republics of Venice and Genoa. This domination continued until the Ottoman Turkish invasion in the 15th century. The Turkish conquest (1456) was not, however, total. Some islands, notably Rhodes and Crete, held out until 1522 and 1669, respectively, and in the mountains of Epirus, Turkish rule was little more than nominal. Nevertheless, Greece remained part of the OTTOMAN EMPIRE for nearly 400 years. The Modern Greek State Modern Greek nationalism first manifested itself in the late 18th century in literary activity; but it soon acquired political overtones, and in 1821 the Greek revolt against Turkish rule began. With assistance from Russia and West European powers, Greece achieved independence in 1830 and was presented (1833) by these powers with a king from Bavaria, Otto. Greece at this time consisted only of the southern part of the peninsula and the Cyclades. In 1864 the Ionian Islands were ceded to Greece by Great Britain. Northern Greece was annexed in successive stages in 1881, 1913, and 1922. The DODECANESE and Rhodes were acquired from Italy in 1945. Modern Greece has had a disruptive internal history. Its democratic constitution worked imperfectly. In 1862, King Otto was driven out and was replaced by King GEORGE I , a member of the Danish royal house. Under his rule (1863-1913) the frontiers were greatly expanded, particularly as a result of the BALKAN WARS of 1912-13, but there was little internal development. During World War I, Salonika was used as a base for Allied campaigns in the Balkans from 1915, although Greece did not fully enter the war until 1917, under the leadership of Prime Minister Eleutherios VENIZELOS. At the end of the war the Greeks overextended themselves: their attempt to incorporate part of Anatolia led to violent Turkish. |
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