6
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − {{stub}}+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − The collective term for the [[civilization|civilizations]] of the Greek subcontinent. It is now a [[Greece (Country)|developing country]]. Ancient Greece had a lot of influence on many of today's cultural achievements, like democracy and the art of debating. The ancient Greeks were pagans, believing in their own pantheon of numerous gods. The capital of ancient Greece was Athens.
no edit summary
Country located in the South-East of [[Europe]]. It is also used as a
collective term for the [[civilization|civilizations]] of that geographic
area. It is now a [[Greece (Country)|developed country]]
</ref>http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1127.html<ref>,
member of the [[EU]] and of [[NATO]].
Ancient Greece had a lot of influence on many of today's cultural
achievements, like democracy and the art of debating. The ancient Greeks
were pagans, believing in their own pantheon of numerous gods.
Arguably the most important contribution of Greece is its role in the
spread and subsequest growth of [[Christianity]]. The first town of
(today's) [[Europe]] set foot on was [[Philipi]] in Northern Greece
and the [[Athens]] hill on which he preached is one of the most important
landmarks of the town. It is generally accepted that the Greek-speaking
part of the [[Roman Empire]] was the first one to abandon paganism
<ref>Renaissance and Reformation: The Intellectual Genesis, by A. Levi
Yale University Press (2004) </ref>
and certainly, [[Constantine the Great]], the first Christian Roman
Emperor moved his capital to [[Constantinople]] in the Greek East.
Most of the great Church Fathers were either Greek or primarily active in
the Greek-speaking areas of the Empire <ref>The Teachings of the Church
Fathers, by John Randolph Willis, Ignatius Press (2002)</ref>
The [[Byzantine Empire]], as it was late called, was a continuation of the
(Eastern) Roman Empire, but it was gradually identified with the Greek
national conscience and the [[Greek-Orthodox]] Church. <ref>History
of the Byzantine State, by G. Ostrogorski, Rutgers University Press
(1986)</ref> The Byzantine State was dissolved after the conquest of
[[Constantinople]] by the [[Ottoman]] Turks in 1453. The Greeks, along
with the other Orthodox subjects of the Ottoman Empire, were represented
by the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] of [[Constantinople]] and the
Greek-Orthodox Patriarch was responsible for the obedience of the
Orthodox subjects to the Sultan.
The modern Greek state was established in 1830 after the Greek War of
Independence (1821-1830). Though still holding on to the
Greek Orthodox traditions that defined Greek culture for centuries, Greece
has since its independence rapidly developing economically and integrating
into the Western institutions. It took part in both World Wars on the side
of the [[USA]] and the other allies and it successfully resisted a
Communist take-over during the Greek Civil War (1945-1949). Greece is now
an EU and NATO member and its currency is the [[Euro]] <ref>
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gr.html</ref>
==References==
<div class="references-small">
<references />
</div>
==See Also==
==See Also==