Changes

==People==

==People==

[[Image:Greek national costume.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Greek national costume.]]

[[Image:Greek national costume.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Greek national costume.]]

Greece was inhabited as early as the Paleolithic period and by 3000 BCE had become home, in the Cycladic Islands, to a culture whose art remains among the most evocative in world history. In the second millennium BCE, the island of Crete nurtured the maritime empire of the Minoans, whose trade reached from Egypt to Sicily. The Minoans were supplanted by the Mycenaeans of the Greek mainland, who spoke a dialect of ancient Greek. The roots of Greek language and culture date back at least 3,500 years and its history is conventionally split into 3 major periods: Classical (1,500BCE-4th c. CE), Byzantine (4th c. CE-15th c. CE) and Modern (15th c. CE-today).

Greece was inhabited as early as the Paleolithic period and by 3000 B.C. had become home, in the Cycladic Islands, to a culture whose art remains among the most evocative in world history. In the second millennium B.C, the island of [[Crete]] nurtured the maritime empire of the [[Minoan]]s, whose trade reached from [[Egypt]] to [[Sicily]]. The Minoans were supplanted by the [[Mycenaean]]s of the Greek mainland, who spoke a dialect of ancient Greek. The roots of Greek language and culture date back at least 3,500 years and its history is conventionally split into 3 major periods: Classical (1,500 BC - 4th century AD), Byzantine (4th century AD - 15th century) and Modern (15th century through today).

<ref> Greek: A History of the Language and Its Speakers

<ref> Greek: A History of the Language and Its Speakers

by Geoffrey C. Horrocks </ref>

by Geoffrey C. Horrocks </ref>

Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion in Greece and receives state support. During the centuries of Ottoman domination, the Greek Orthodox Church helped preserve the Greek language and cultural identity and was an important rallying point in the struggle for independence. There is a centuries-old Muslim religious minority concentrated in Thrace and an estimated 300,000 Muslim immigrants living elsewhere in the country. Smaller religious communities in Greece include Old Calendar Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons etc. <ref>  

[[Eastern Orthodox]] [[Christianity]] is the dominant religion in Greece and receives state support. During the centuries of [[Ottoman]] domination, the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] helped preserve the Greek language and cultural identity and was an important rallying point in the struggle for independence. There is a centuries-old [[Muslim]] religious minority concentrated in [[Thrace]] and an estimated 300,000 Muslim immigrants living elsewhere in the country. Smaller religious communities in Greece include Old Calendar Orthodox, [[Catholic]]s, [[Protestant]]s, [[Jew]]s, [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Mormon]]s etc. <ref>  

  Minorities in Greece by Richard Clogg (2002)  

  Minorities in Greece by Richard Clogg (2002)  

  </ref>

  </ref>

Greek education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 15. Overall responsibility for education rests with the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs. Private colleges and universities (mostly foreign) do have campuses in Greece despite the fact that their degrees are not recognized by the Greek state. Entrance to public universities is determined by state-administered exams.  

Greek education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 15. Overall responsibility for education rests with the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs. Private colleges and universities (mostly foreign) do have campuses in Greece despite the fact that their degrees are not recognized by the Greek state. Entrance to public universities is determined by state-administered exams.

==History==

==History==