About Greece

It has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era. In ancient times in Greece there have been three main civilizations, the Trojan civilization in Troy, the Cretan or Minoan civilization centered on Crete, and the Helladic or Mycenaean civilization of the Greek mainland. Greek's victory against the Persian invaders at the beginning of the 5th century strengthens Athens role as the leader of the Greek world and marks the beginning of an epoch that was called "The Golden Age of Pericles" in which Athens became the cradle of democracy itself. In the following Hellenistic Period Greek civilization has spread and Greek language became official in the eastern Mediterranean.

Followed by the Greco-Roman civilization and a long period of foreign occupation through Romans, French, Spanish and the Ottomans, Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830.

During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories with Greek-speaking populations. In 1945, Greece becomes a member of the UN.

Following the defeat of communist rebels in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952.

In 1967 a putsch takes place resulting in the military dictatorship that lasted seven years, suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. Student anti-governmental revolts break out in the fall of 1973 and leads to the fall of the junta in July 1974.

Democratic elections in 1974 and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy; Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992).

Border countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Macedonia

Official Name:

Elliniki Dhimokratia

short form: Ellas or Ellada

int'l long form: Hellenic Republic

int'l short form: Greece

former: Kingdom of Greece

ISO Country Code: gr

Time:

Time Zone: EET - Eastern European Time

Local Time = UTC +2h

Actual Time: Tue-Sept-13 04:49

DST from 27 March - 30 October 2005; UTC +3h

Capital City: Athens Greater Athens (pop. 3,566,000)

Athens

Municipality of Athens - local government cultural executive body.

Other Cities:

Thessaloniki (750,000)

Municipality of Thessaloniki

Piraeus (880,529)

The Piraeus Prefecture (in Greek)

Patras (170,000), Larissa (113,000), Iraklion (132,000).

Government:

Type: Parliamentary republic.

Independence: 1830.

Constitution: 11. June 1975, amended March 1986, April 2001.

Geography:

Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey.

Area: 132,000 sq. km. (51,146 sq. mi.).

Terrain: Mountainous interior with coastal plains; 1,400-plus islands.

Climate: Mediterranean; mild, wet winter and hot, dry summer.

People:

Population: 11,018,000 million.

Languages: Greek 99% (official); Turkish (Northern Greece), English.

Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other .7%.

Literacy: 95%.

Natural resources: Bauxite, lignite, magnesite, oil, marble; Agriculture Products.

Agriculture products: Wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products.

Industries: Tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum.

Exports partners: Germany 12.6%, Italy 10.5%, UK 7%, USA 6.5%, Bulgaria 6.2%, Cyprus 4.8%, France 4.2%, Turkey 4% (2003)

Imports partners: Germany 12.5%, Italy 12.2%, France 6.6%, Russia 6.1%, South Korea 5.4%, USA 5.2%, Netherlands 5.2%, Japan 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2003)

Currency: Euro (EUR)