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Overview
Greek civilization runs from Minoan Crete and Mycenaean palaces through the classical city-states, Alexander's Hellenistic world, the Byzantine millennium and the modern Hellenic Republic.
Basic Information
CapitalAthens
Population10.4 million
Area131,957 km²
CurrencyEuro (EUR)
LanguagesGreek
RegionWestern Europe
History Timeline
- c. 3000 – 1450 BCEMinoan civilization on Crete
- c. 1600 – 1100 BCEMycenaean Greece
- 508 BCEAthenian democracy founded
- 336 – 323 BCEAlexander the Great's conquests
- 146 BCERoman conquest
- 1453Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans
- 1821 – 1832Greek War of Independence
Ancient Peoples
- Minoans
- Mycenaeans
- Dorians
- Ionians
Ancient Kingdoms
- Sparta
- Athens
- Thebes
- Macedon
Empires
- Macedonian Empire
- Byzantine Empire
Religions
- Greek Orthodoxy
- Ancient Greek religion
Culture
Homer, Plato, Aristotle and the invention of drama, history and philosophy.
Language
Greek has been continuously written for over three thousand years.
Important Battles
- Battle of Marathon490 BCE
Athenian victory over Persia
- Battle of Thermopylae480 BCE
Leonidas and the 300
- Battle of Salamis480 BCE
Greek naval victory over Xerxes
Historical Figures
Pericles
c. 495 – 429 BCE
Statesman of the Athenian Golden Age
Alexander the Great
336 – 323 BCE
Macedonian conqueror
Archaeological Sites
- Acropolis of Athens
- Delphi
- Olympia
- Knossos
- Mycenae
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Acropolis of Athens
- Delphi
- Meteora
- Mystras
- Mount Athos
Dynasties
- Argead
- Antigonid
- Palaiologos
Colonial Period
Occupied by the Ottomans for nearly four centuries.
Modern History
Greece joined the European Communities in 1981.