About Greece
History In Brief
Greece Today
2800 BC The beginning of the Aegean civilization.
1500 Santorini's civilization is devastated by
a volcanic eruption.
1300 The Minoan civilization and the Athenian
kingdom co-exist.
1200 Troy is destroyed.
776 Greece holds the first Olympic Games.
447 The Parthenon is built.
323 Alexander The Great dies.
145 The Romans invade Greece.
330 AD Constantinople is the capital of the Roman
Empire.
1453 The Turks conquer Constantinople, and
rename it Istanbul.
1480 Rhodes is the last island to surrender to the
Turks.
1821 The War of Independence starts.
1827 Independence is won.
1843 Greece has its first Constitution.
1896 Athens holds the first Olympic
Games after almost 1,000 years.
1912 Crete is united with Greece. Balkan
wars occur against Turkey.
1922 Greece loses territory in Asia Minor;
1,500,000 refugees from Asia Minor
look for shelter in Greece, one of
them Aristotle Onassis.
1940 World War II starts. Italian troops are
pushed out of Greece.
1941 Germans and Italians invade Greece.
1945 Greece is free. The Dodecanese islands
are united with Greece.
1950 Greece has almost the same
geographical area as in ancient times.
1967 A dictatorship is established in Greece.
1974 The dictatorship ends. The king is
expelled from Greece.
1977 Greece joins the European Community (EC).
2000 The Euro replaces the ancient drachma.
2004 Athens holds for second time after 108
years the Olympic Games
1500 Santorini's civilization is devastated by
a volcanic eruption.
1300 The Minoan civilization and the Athenian
kingdom co-exist.
1200 Troy is destroyed.
776 Greece holds the first Olympic Games.
447 The Parthenon is built.
323 Alexander The Great dies.
145 The Romans invade Greece.
330 AD Constantinople is the capital of the Roman
Empire.
1453 The Turks conquer Constantinople, and
rename it Istanbul.
1480 Rhodes is the last island to surrender to the
Turks.
1821 The War of Independence starts.
1827 Independence is won.
1843 Greece has its first Constitution.
1896 Athens holds the first Olympic
Games after almost 1,000 years.
1912 Crete is united with Greece. Balkan
wars occur against Turkey.
1922 Greece loses territory in Asia Minor;
1,500,000 refugees from Asia Minor
look for shelter in Greece, one of
them Aristotle Onassis.
1940 World War II starts. Italian troops are
pushed out of Greece.
1941 Germans and Italians invade Greece.
1945 Greece is free. The Dodecanese islands
are united with Greece.
1950 Greece has almost the same
geographical area as in ancient times.
1967 A dictatorship is established in Greece.
1974 The dictatorship ends. The king is
expelled from Greece.
1977 Greece joins the European Community (EC).
2000 The Euro replaces the ancient drachma.
2004 Athens holds for second time after 108
years the Olympic Games
The Greek mainland and its approximately 1,500 islands have an area of
137,00 square kilometers. About 100 of the islands have stable,
year-round populations. The population of Greece all tolled is
11,000,000.
Political system: Greece is a presidential democracy. The president of
the Democracy is elected by the parliament members.The prime minister
is the second in the hierarchy. He and his cabinet are responsible for the
internal and foreign policy that Greece follows. The 300 members of the
parliament are voted in by the Greeks every 4 years; the president of the
winning party usually is the prime minister. The governing party today is
N. D., a conservative democratic party equivalent to the American
republicans.
Health system: Greece has a socialistic health-care system. Treatment
at public hospitals is either free of charge or costs very little. Health care
is generally above average; however the public hospitals don't offer the
same services and facilities as private hospitals (which cost more).
Tourists are usually treated free at public hospitals, particularly if an
accident occurs.
Language barrier: Most Greeks speak English, however, it's helpful
for tourists to learn a few basic words in Greek, such as please
(pa-ra-ka-lo), thank you (ef-har-i-sto), hello and good-bye (both
yia-sas). On the larger islands, 90% of locals speak English, 40%
speak French, 30% speak Italian, and 20% speak German.
Criminality and Terrorism: Despite the negative press that Greece
has suffered, all in all it is a pretty safe place. There is some petty theft,
particularly in Athens near tourist spots like the Parthenon, and some
political crimes against institutions, but not against individuals. The
biggest risk for foreigners in Greece is probably driving a vehicle --
Greeks are very aggressive drivers who don't always obey the rules of
the road! Foreigners visiting Greece must have an international driver's
license to rent a car or a motorbike (not advisable if one is not an
experienced motorbike driver) available in the U.S. at any AAA office
for a small fee if a valid U.S. license is presented.
Diving: Snorkeling is of course wonderful in the crystal-clear waters of
the islands. However, scuba diving is not permitted unless you are part
of a group with a licensed guide, as there are too many antiquities on the
ocean floor that could be taken out of the country. You must carry your
diving license, and you can rent equipment and join a group for scuba
diving.
137,00 square kilometers. About 100 of the islands have stable,
year-round populations. The population of Greece all tolled is
11,000,000.
Political system: Greece is a presidential democracy. The president of
the Democracy is elected by the parliament members.The prime minister
is the second in the hierarchy. He and his cabinet are responsible for the
internal and foreign policy that Greece follows. The 300 members of the
parliament are voted in by the Greeks every 4 years; the president of the
winning party usually is the prime minister. The governing party today is
N. D., a conservative democratic party equivalent to the American
republicans.
Health system: Greece has a socialistic health-care system. Treatment
at public hospitals is either free of charge or costs very little. Health care
is generally above average; however the public hospitals don't offer the
same services and facilities as private hospitals (which cost more).
Tourists are usually treated free at public hospitals, particularly if an
accident occurs.
Language barrier: Most Greeks speak English, however, it's helpful
for tourists to learn a few basic words in Greek, such as please
(pa-ra-ka-lo), thank you (ef-har-i-sto), hello and good-bye (both
yia-sas). On the larger islands, 90% of locals speak English, 40%
speak French, 30% speak Italian, and 20% speak German.
Criminality and Terrorism: Despite the negative press that Greece
has suffered, all in all it is a pretty safe place. There is some petty theft,
particularly in Athens near tourist spots like the Parthenon, and some
political crimes against institutions, but not against individuals. The
biggest risk for foreigners in Greece is probably driving a vehicle --
Greeks are very aggressive drivers who don't always obey the rules of
the road! Foreigners visiting Greece must have an international driver's
license to rent a car or a motorbike (not advisable if one is not an
experienced motorbike driver) available in the U.S. at any AAA office
for a small fee if a valid U.S. license is presented.
Diving: Snorkeling is of course wonderful in the crystal-clear waters of
the islands. However, scuba diving is not permitted unless you are part
of a group with a licensed guide, as there are too many antiquities on the
ocean floor that could be taken out of the country. You must carry your
diving license, and you can rent equipment and join a group for scuba
diving.
