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greece is dumb
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LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = Hellenic Republic
|native_name = {{lang|el|Ελληνική Δημοκρατία}}<br/>{{lower|0.2em|''{{transl|el|Ellīnikî Dīmokratía}}''{{nbsp|2}}{{resize|75%|{{nobold|(])}}}}}}
|common_name = Greece
|image_flag = Flag of Greece.svg
|image_coat = Coat of arms of Greece.svg
|image_map = EU-Greece.svg
|map_caption = {{map_caption |location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the ] |subregion_color=green |legend=EU-Greece.svg}}
|national_motto = {{small|(traditional)}} {{vlist |{{native phrase|el|"Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος"|italics=off}} |"]"{{nbsp|2}}{{small|(transliteration)}} |{{small|"Freedom or Death"}} }}
|national_anthem = {{native name|el|Ὕμνος εἰς τὴν Ἐλευθερίαν|nolink=on}}<br/>''Ýmnos is tin Eleftherían''<br/>{{raise|0.2em|{{small|'']''}}}}<center>]</center>
|official_languages = ]
|ethnic_groups = {{vlist |94% ] |4% ] |2% others}}
|ethnic_groups_year = 2010{{\}}2011<br/>&nbsp;<!--
-->{{lower|0.4em<!--
-->|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurfedling.org/Greece.htm |title=Demographics of Greece |publisher=European Union National Languages |accessdate=19 December 2010}}</ref><!--
--><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gr.html |title=Greece |work=] |publisher=] |accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref><!--
--><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/BUCKET/A1602/Other/A1602_SAM07_TB_DC_00_2001_07_F_GR.pdf |title=Πίνακας 7: Αλλοδαποί κατά υπηκοότητα, φύλο και επίπεδο εκπαίδευσης – Σύνολο Ελλάδας και Νομοί |trans_title=Table 7: Foreigners by citizenship, gender and educational level -Whole of Greece and Prefectures |language=Greek |publisher=] |accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref><!--
--><ref>{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/population/documents/Tab/report.pdf |title=Demography Report 2010 |work=Eurostat Yearbook 2010 |publisher=] |accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref><!--
-->}}
|demonym = ]
|capital = ]
|latd=37 |latm=58 |latNS=N |longd=23 |longm=43 |longEW=E
|largest_city = capital
|government_type = ] ] ] ]
|leader_title1 = ]
|leader_name1 = ]
|leader_title2 = ]
|leader_name2 = ]
|leader_title3 = ]
|leader_name3 = ]
|legislature = ]
|sovereignty_type = ] {{nobold|from the ]}}
|established_event1 = ]
|established_date1 = 1 January 1822
|established_event2 = ]
|established_date2 = 3 February 1830
|established_event3 = {{nowrap|]}}
|established_date3 = 11 June 1975
|accessionEUdate = 1 January 1981
|EUseats = 24
|area_rank = 97th
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|area_km2 = 131,957
|area_footnote = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=Greece&countryCode=gr&regionCode=eur&rank=97#gr |title= Country Comparison:Area |work=] |publisher=] |accessdate= 7 January 2013}}</ref>
|area_sq_mi = 50,949 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
|percent_water = 0.8669
|population_census = 10,815,197<ref name="ELSTAT">{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/BUCKET/General/A1602_SAM01_DT_DC_00_2011_02_F_GR.pdf |title=2011 Greek Census |publisher=] |accessdate=10 August 2012}}</ref>
|population_census_year = 2011
|population_census_rank = 77th
|population_estimate_year =
|population_density_km2 = 82<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/BUCKET/General/A1602_SAM01_DT_DC_00_2011_01_F_GR.pdf |title=Publication of provisional results of Greece Census 2011 |publisher=] |accessdate=7 January 2013}}</ref>
|population_density_sq_mi = 212 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
|population_density_rank = 117th
|GDP_PPP = $280.796&nbsp;billion<ref name="imf2">{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2012/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2011&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=174&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a=&pr1.x=46&pr1.y=12|title=Greece|publisher=]|accessdate=October 2012}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 42nd
|GDP_PPP_year = 2012
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $25,061<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 37th
|GDP_nominal = $254.978&nbsp;billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank = 35th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2012
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $22,757<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 30th
|Gini_year = 2005
|Gini_change = <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
|Gini = 33 <!--number only-->
|Gini_ref = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2172.html |title=Distribution of Family Income&nbsp;– Gini Index |work=] |publisher=] |accessdate=9 July 2010}}</ref>
|Gini_rank =
|HDI_year = 2011
|HDI_change = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
|HDI = 0.861 <!--number only-->
|HDI_ref =
|HDI_rank = 29th
|currency = ] (])<sup>a</sup>
|currency_code = EUR
|country_code =
|time_zone = ]
|utc_offset = +2
|time_zone_DST = ]
|utc_offset_DST = +3
|drives_on = right
|date_format = dd/mm/yyyy
|calling_code = ]
|cctld = ]<sup>b</sup>
|footnote_a = Before 2002, the ].
|footnote_b = The ] domain is also used, as in other ] member states.
}}

'''Greece''' ({{lang-el|Ελλάδα}}, ]), officially the '''Hellenic Republic''' ({{lang|el|Ελληνική Δημοκρατία}}, ''{{transl|el|Ellīnikî Dīmokratía}}''),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gr.html|publisher=] |date=15 March 2007 |accessdate=7 April 2007|title=World Factbook – Greece: Government}}</ref> is a country in ].<ref>http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/ungegn/docs/23-gegn/wp/gegn23wp48.pdf</ref> ] is the nation's capital and largest city, its metropolitan area also including the municipality of ]. According to the 2011 census, Greece's population is slightly less than 11 million.

Greece is located at the crossroads of ], ] and ] and has land ] with ], the ] and ] to the north, and ] to the northeast. The ] lies to the east of mainland Greece, the ] to the west, and the ] to the south. Greece has the ] in the world at {{convert|13676|km|0|abbr=on}} in length, featuring a vast number of ] (approximately 1,400, of which 227 are inhabited), including ], the ], the ], and the ] among others. Eighty percent of Greece consists of mountains, of which ] is the highest at {{convert|2917|m|0|abbr=on}}.

Modern Greece traces its roots to the civilization of ], generally considered the cradle of ]. As such, it is the birthplace of ],<ref>] (1985). ''Democracy Ancient and Modern''. 2d ed. London: ].</ref> ],<ref>]. ''History of Philosophy, Volume 1''.</ref> the ], ] and ], ], major scientific and ] principles, and Western ],<ref>Brockett, Oscar G. (1991)''History of the Theatre'' (sixth edition). Boston; London: ].</ref> including both ] and ]. This legacy is partly reflected in the seventeen ] located in Greece, ranking it ]. The modern Greek state was established in 1830, following the ].

Greece is a founding member of the ], has been a member of what is now the ] since 1981 (and the ] since 2001),<ref name="europa.eu">{{cite web |url=http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/member-countries/greece/index_en.htm |publisher=] |accessdate=7 April 2007 |title=Member States of the EU: Greece}}</ref> and has been a member of ] since 1952.<ref name="integrated1974">On 14 August 1974 Greek forces withdrew from the integrated military structure of ] in protest at the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus; Greece rejoined NATO in 1980.</ref> Greece is a ] with an advanced,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/weodata/groups.htm#ae|title=World Economic Outlook Database April 2011—WEO Groups and Aggregates Information|publisher=]|accessdate=27 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/appendix/appendix-b.html|title=Appendix B :: International Organizations and Groups|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=19 August 2010}}</ref> ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups#OECD_members|title=Country and Lending Groups|publisher=]|accessdate=19 August 2010}}</ref> and very high ], including the 21st highest ] as of 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Table1.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2011|publisher=United Nations|accessdate=2 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="Economist2005">{{Cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf |title=The Economist Intelligence Unit's Quality-of-Life Index (2005)|work=The Economist |accessdate=19 August 2010|format= PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Interactive Infographic of the World's Best Countries|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/08/15/interactive-infographic-of-the-worlds-best-countries.html|date=15 August 2010|work=Newsweek |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref> Greece's economy is also the largest in the ], where Greece is an important regional investor.

==Name==
{{Main|Name of Greece}}
Greece's name differs in comparison with the names used for the country in other languages and cultures, just like the ]. Although the ] call the country ''{{transl|el|Hellas}}'' or ''{{transl|el|Ellada}}'' ({{lang-el|Ελλάς, Ελλάδα}}) and its official name is Hellenic Republic, in English the country is called Greece, which comes from ] ''{{lang|la|Graecia}}'' as used by the ] and literally means 'the land of the Greeks', and derives from the ] name '']''; however, the name ''{{transl|el|Hellas}}'' is sometimes used in English too.

==History==
{{Main|History of Greece}}

===From the earliest settlements to the 3rd century B.C.===
{{main|Ancient Greece}}
] period.]]

The earliest evidence of human presence in the Balkans, dated to 270,000 BC, is to be found in the ], in the northern Greek province of ].<ref name="Borza">Borza, E.N. ''In the Shadow of Olympus: The Emergence of Macedon'', page 58 . Princeton University Press, 1992.</ref> ] settlements in Greece, dating from the 7th millennium BC,<ref name="Borza"/> are the oldest in Europe by several centuries, as Greece lies on the route via which farming spread from the ] to ].<ref>Perlès, Catherine. ''The Early Neolithic in Greece: The First Farming Communities in Europe'', page 1 . Cambridge University Press, 2001.</ref>

Greece is home to the first advanced civilizations in Europe and is considered the birthplace of Western civilization,<ref name="Slomp2011">{{cite book|author=Hans Slomp|title=Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics: An American Companion to European Politics|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LmfAPmwE6YYC&pg=PA50|accessdate=5 December 2012|date=30 September 2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-39182-8|page=50|quote=Greek Culture and Democracy. As the cradle of European civilization, Greece long, long ago discovered the value and beauty of the individual human being; Greek gods were actually no more than super-humans. Around 500 BC, Greece also ...}}</ref><ref name="Fullinwider1996">{{cite book|author=Robert K. Fullinwider|title=Public Education in a Multicultural Society: Policy, Theory, Critique|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=VrXWLLwigTEC&pg=PA55|accessdate=5 December 2012|date=26 January 1996|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-49958-3|page=55|quote=Similarly obscured was the influence of Egypt on Greece, which European civilization honors as its fountainhead.}}</ref><ref name="BullietCrossley2007">{{cite book|author1=Richard W. Bulliet|author2=Pamela Kyle Crossley|author3=Daniel R. Headrick|coauthors=Lyman L. Johnson, Steven W. Hirsch|title=The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History to 1550|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=TM4cFlroi7AC&pg=PA95|accessdate=5 December 2012|date=21 February 2007|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-0-618-77150-9|page=95|quote=The emergence of the Minoan° civilization on the island of Crete and the Mycenaean° civilization of Greece is another ... was home to the first European civilization to have complex political and social structures and advanced technologies like ...}}</ref><ref name="Pomeroy1999">{{cite book|author=Sarah B. Pomeroy|title=Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=INUT5sZku1UC|accessdate=5 December 2012|year=1999|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-509742-9|quote=Written by four leading authorities on the classical world, here is a new history of ancient Greece that dynamically presents a generation of new scholarship on the birthplace of Western civilization.}}</ref><ref name="Frucht2004">{{cite book|author=Richard C. Frucht|title=Eastern Europe: An Introduction to the People, Lands, and Culture|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lVBB1a0rC70C&pg=PA847|accessdate=5 December 2012|date=31 December 2004|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-57607-800-6|page=847|quote=HISTORY ANCIENT GREECE People appear to have first entered Greece as hunter- gatherers from southwest Asia about 50,000 years ... of Bronze Age culture and technology laid the foundations for the rise of Europe's first civilization, Minoan Crete...}}</ref> beginning with the ] on the islands of the ] at around 3200 BC,<ref>Sansone, David. ''Ancient Greek civilzation'', page 5 . Wiley, 2011.</ref> the ] in Crete (2700–1500 BC),<ref name="Frucht2004"/><ref name="World and Its Peoples">{{cite book|title=World and Its Peoples|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=b5vHRWp8yqEC&pg=PA1458|accessdate=5 December 2012|date=September 2009|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-0-7614-7902-4|page=1458|quote=Greece was home to the earliest European civilizations, the Minoan civilization of Crete, which developed around 2000 BCE, and the Mycenaean civilization on the Greek mainland, which emerged about 400 years later. The ancient Minoan ...}}</ref> and then the ] civilization on the mainland (1900–1100 BC).<ref name="World and Its Peoples"/> These civilizations possessed writing, the Minoans writing in an undeciphered script known as ], and the Myceneans in ], an early form of ]. The Myceneans gradually absorbed the Minoans, but collapsed violently around 1200 BC, during a time of regional upheaval known as the ].<ref>Drews, Robert. ''The End of the Bronze Age: Changes in Warfare and the Catastrophe Ca. 1200 B.C.'', page 3 . Princeton University Press, 1995.</ref> This ushered in a period known as the ], from which written records are absent.

] on the ] is a symbol of classical Greece.]]
], depicting ] on his horse ].]]

The end of the Dark Ages is traditionally dated to 776 BC, the year of the first ].<ref>John R. Short. ''An Introduction to Urban Geography'', page 10 . Routledge, 1987</ref> The '']'' and the '']'', the foundational texts of ], are believed to have been composed by ] in the 8th or 7th centuries BC. With the end of the Dark Ages, there emerged various kingdoms and ]s across the Greek peninsula, which spread to the shores of the ], ] (known in Latin as ''{{lang|la|Magna Graecia}}'', or ''Greater Greece'') and ]. These states and their colonies reached great levels of ] that resulted in an unprecedented cultural boom, that of ], expressed in ], ], ], ] and ]. In 508 BC, ] instituted the world's first democratic system of government in ].<ref name="BKDunn1992">John Dunn, ''Democracy: the unfinished journey 508 BC – 1993 AD'', Oxford University Press, 1994, ISBN 0-19-827934-5</ref><ref name="BKRaaflaud2007">Kurt A. Raaflaub, Josiah Ober, Robert W. Wallace, ''Origin of Democracy in Ancient Greece'', University of California Press, 2007, ISBN 0-520-24562-8, </ref>

By 500 BC, the ] controlled territories ranging from what is now northern Greece and Turkey all the way to Iran, and posed a threat to the Greek states. Attempts by the Greek city-states of ] to overthrow Persian rule failed, and Persia ] in 492 BC, but was forced to withdraw after a defeat at the ] in 490 BC. A ] followed in 480 BC. Despite a heroic resistance at ] by ]ns and other Greeks, Persian forces sacked Athens. Following successive Greek victories in 480 and 479 BC at ], ] and ], the Persians were forced to withdraw for a second time. The military conflicts, known as the ], were led mostly by Athens and Sparta. However, the fact that Greece was not a unified country meant that conflict between the Greek states was common. The most devastating of intra-Greek wars in classical antiquity was the ] (431-404 BC), which marked the demise of the ] as the leading power in ancient Greece. Both Athens and Sparta were later overshadowed by ] and eventually ], with the latter uniting the Greek world in the ] (also known as the ''Hellenic League'' or ''Greek League'') under the guidance of ], who was elected leader of the first unified Greek state in the history of Greece.

Following the assassination of Phillip II, his son ] ("The Great") assumed the leadership of the League of Corinth and launched an invasion of the Persian Empire with the combined forces of all Greek states in 334 BC. Following Greek victories in the battles of ], ] and ], the Greeks marched on ] and ], the ceremonial capital of Persia, in 330 BC. The Empire created by Alexander the Great stretched from Greece in the west and ] in the east, and ] in the south. Before his sudden death in 323 BC, Alexander was also planning an invasion of ]. His death marked the collapse of the vast empire, which was split into several kingdoms, the most famous of which were the ] and ]. Other states founded by Greeks include the ] and the ] in India. Although the political unity of Alexander's empire could not be maintained, it brought about the dominance of ] and the Greek language in the territories conquered by Alexander for at least two centuries, and, in the case of parts the Eastern Mediterranean, considerably longer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/260307/Hellenistic-Age |title=Hellenistic Age |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online |accessdate=29 April 2012}}</ref>

===Hellenistic and Roman periods===
{{main|Hellenistic Greece|Roman Greece}}
{{see also|Roman Empire}}
]]]
After a ] following Alexander's death, the ], descended from one of Alexander's generals, established its control over Macedon by 276 B.C., as well as hegemony over most of the Greek city-states.<ref>{{cite book | last = J. Spielvogel | first = Jackson | title = Western Civilization: Volume I: To 1715 | publisher = Thomson Wadsworth | year = 2005 | pages = 89–90 | url = http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xcNIBlwrjMsC&pg=PA89&dq=Antigonid+dynasty#PPA90,M1 | isbn = 0-534-64603-4}}</ref> From about 200 B.C the ] became increasingly involved in Greek affairs and engaged in a ].<ref name=Flower>{{cite book |title=The Roman Republic |last=Flower |first=Harriet (ed.) |coauthors= |year=2004 |isbn=0-521-00390-3 |page= |pages=248, 258}}</ref> Macedon's defeat at the ] in 168 signaled the end of Antigonid power in Greece.<ref>'''Britannica''', ''Antigonid dynasty'', 2008, O.Ed.</ref> In 146 B.C. Macedonia was annexed as a province by Rome, and the rest of Greece became a Roman protectorate.<ref name=Flower/><ref name=Ward>{{cite book |title=A history of the Roman people
|last=Ward |first=Allen Mason et al. |coauthors= |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-13-038480-5 |page=276 }}</ref> The process was completed in 27 B.C. when the Roman Emperor ] annexed the rest of Greece and constituted it as the ] of ].<ref name=Ward/> Despite their military superiority, the Romans admired and became ] by the achievements of Greek culture, hence ]'s famous statement: ''Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit'' ("Greece, although captured, took its wild conqueror captive").<ref>{{cite book |title=Ancient Rome: An Introductory History |last=Zoch |first=Paul |coauthors= |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-8061-3287-7 |page=136 |pages= |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=95bu0O3LLlsC&pg=PA136&dq=Graecia+capta+ferum+victorem+cepit&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VUudT7z-NsH80QWt4tmVDw&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Graecia%20capta%20ferum%20victorem%20cepit&f=false |accessdate=29 April 2012}}</ref> Greek science, technology and mathematics are generally considered to have reached their peak during the Hellenistic period.<ref>Cynthia Kosso, Anne Scott. ''The Nature and Function of Water, Baths, Bathing, and Hygiene from Antiquity Through the Renaissance''
BRILL, 2009 - 538 pages, p. 51 </ref>

Greek-speaking communities of the Hellenized East were instrumental in the spread of early Christianity in the 2nd and 3rd centuries,<ref>{{cite book |title=Backgrounds of Early Christianity |last=Ferguson |first=Everett |coauthors= |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-8028-2221-5 |pages=617–618}}</ref> and Christianity's early leaders and writers (notably ]) were generally Greek-speaking,<ref>{{cite book |title=Ancient Rome |last=Dunstan |first=William |coauthors= |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-7425-6834-1 |page=500 |pages= |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xkOhwFzz1AkC&pg=PA500&dq=early+christian+leaders+speak+greek&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rFydT6f-OYiQ0AWjhtDlDg&ved=0CFMQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=early%20christian%20leaders%20speak%20greek&f=false |accessdate=29 April 2012}}</ref> though none were from Greece. However, Greece itself had a tendency to cling on to paganism and was not one of the influential centers of early Christianity: in fact, some ancient Greek religious practices remained in vogue until the end of the 4th century,<ref>{{cite book |title=Early Christian Art and Architecture |last=Milburn |first=Robert |coauthors= |year=1992 |isbn= |page=158 |pages= |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OcRTwsDq_Z4C&pg=PA158&dq=early+christianity+greece&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-1CdT5P_Dor68QPnnbzbDg&ved=0CG4Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=early%20christianity%20greece&f=false |accessdate=29 April 2012}}</ref> with some areas such as the southeastern Peloponnese remaining pagan until well into the 10th century AD.<ref>{{cite book |title=Hellenic Temples and Christian Churches: A Concise History of the Religious Cultures of Greece from Antiquity to the Present |last=Makrides |first=Nikolaos |year=2009 |publisher=NYU Press |isbn=978-0-8147-9568-2 |page=206 |pages=345 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=kKOY5NsekfkC&pg=PA17&dq=hellenic+polytheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=tQaeT4PAD8msjALr_rCTAQ&ved=0CEYQ6AEwAw#v=snippet&q=10th%20century&f=false |accessdate=29 April 2012}}</ref>

===Medieval period===
{{main|Byzantine Greece}}
{{see also|Byzantine Empire}}
]
The Roman Empire in the east, following the ] in the 5th century, is conventionally known as the Byzantine Empire (but was simply called "Roman Empire" in its own time) and lasted until 1453. With its capital in ], its language and literary culture was Greek and its religion was predominantly ].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies |last=Jeffreys |first=Elizabeth (ed.) |coauthors= |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-19-925246-6 |page=4 |pages= |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=liFKua_cWL8C&pg=PA4&dq=byzantine+predominantly+greek+culturally&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QOucT52cL8Sm0AXG3cX2Dg&ved=0CFQQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=byzantine%20predominantly%20greek%20culturally&f=false |accessdate=29 April 2012}}</ref> From the 4th century, the Empire's Balkan territories, including Greece, suffered from the dislocation of the '']''. The raids and devastation of the ] and ] in the 4th and 5th centuries and the ] invasion of Greece in the 7th century resulted in a dramatic collapse in imperial authority in the Greek peninsula.<ref name="Fine1">{{cite book | first = John Van Antwerp | last = Fine | title = The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century | publisher = University of Michigan Press | year = 1991 | pages=35–36 | pages = 376 | isbn = 978-0-472-08149-3 | url=http://books.google.com/?id=Y0NBxG9Id58C}}</ref> Following the Slavic invasion, the imperial government retained control of only the islands and coastal areas, particularly cities such as Athens, Corinth and Thessalonica, while some mountainous areas in the interior held out on their own and continued to recognize imperial authority.<ref name=Fine1/> Outside of these areas, a limited amount of Slavic settlement is generally thought to have occurred, although on a much smaller scale than previously thought.<ref name="Fine2">{{cite book | first = John Van Antwerp | last = Fine | title = The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century | publisher = University of Michigan Press | year = 1991 | pages=63–66 | pages = 376 | isbn = 978-0-472-08149-3 | url=http://books.google.com/?id=Y0NBxG9Id58C}}</ref><ref>T E Gregory, ''A History of Byzantium''. Wiley- Blackwell, 2010. Pg 169. ''"It is now generally agreed that the people who lived in the Balkans after the Slavic "invasions" were probably for the most part the same as those who had lived there earlier, although the creation of new political groups and arrival of small immigrants caused people to look at themselves as distinct from their neighbors, including the Byzantines".''</ref>

], a well-known example of 12th century ]]]

The Byzantine recovery of lost provinces began toward the end of the 8th century and most of the Greek peninsula came under imperial control again, in stages, during the 9th century.<ref name= EB2>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/244154/Greece/26387/Byzantine-recovery |title=Greece During the Byzantine Period: Byzantine recovery |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online |accessdate=28 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="Fine3">{{cite book | first = John Van Antwerp | last = Fine | title = The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century | publisher = University of Michigan Press | year = 1991 | pages=79–83 | pages = 376 | isbn = 978-0-472-08149-3 | url=http://books.google.com/?id=Y0NBxG9Id58C}}</ref> This process was facilitated by a large influx of Greeks from Sicily and Asia Minor to the Greek peninsula, while at the same time many Slavs were captured and re-settled in Asia Minor and those that remained were assimilated.<ref name=Fine2/> During the 11th and 12th centuries the return of stability resulted in the Greek peninsula benefiting from strong economic growth – much stronger than that of the Anatolian territories of the Empire.<ref name= EB2/> Following the ] and the fall of Constantinople to the “]” in 1204 most of Greece quickly came under ] rule <ref name= EB3>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/244154/Greece/26389/Results-of-the-Fourth-Crusade |title=Greece During the Byzantine Period: Results of the Fourth Crusade |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online |accessdate=28 April 2012}}</ref> (initiating the period known as the '']'') or ] rule in the case of some of the islands.<ref name= EB3A>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/244154/Greece/26395/The-islands |title=Greece During the Byzantine Period: The islands |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online |accessdate=14 May 2012}}</ref> The re-establishment of the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople in 1261 was accompanied by the recovery of much of the Greek peninsula, although the Frankish ] in the Peloponnese remained an important regional power into the 14th century, while the islands remained largely under Genoese and Venetian control.<ref name= EB3/>

In the 14th century much of the Greek peninsula was lost by the Empire as first the ] and then the ] seized imperial territory.<ref name= EB4>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/244154/Greece/26391/Thessaly-and-surrounding-regions |title=Greece During the Byzantine Period: Serbian and Ottoman advances|author= |date= |work= |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online |accessdate=28 April 2012}}</ref> By the beginning of the 15th century, the Ottoman advance meant that Byzantine territory in Greece was limited mainly to the ] in the Peloponnese.<ref name= EB4/> After the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453, the Morea was the last remnant of the Byzantine Empire to hold out against the Ottomans. However, this, too, fell to the Ottomans in 1460, completing the Ottoman conquest of mainland Greece.<ref name= EB5>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/244154/Greece/26391/Thessaly-and-surrounding-regions |title=Greece During the Byzantine Period: The Peloponnese advances|author= |date= |work= |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online |accessdate=28 April 2012}}</ref> With the Turkish conquest, many Byzantine Greek scholars, who up until then were largely responsible for preserving ] knowledge, fled to the West, taking with them a large body of literature and thereby significantly contributing to the ].<ref name=JJN>{{cite book |title=A Short History of Byzantium'' |last= Norwich |first= John Julius|year=1997 |publisher= Vintage Books |isbn=0-679-77269-3 |page=xxi }}</ref>

===The War of Independence===
{{main|Greek War of Independence}}
{{see also|First Hellenic Republic|Wikisource:Greek_Declaration_of_Independence|label 2=Greek Declaration of Independence}}

], by ].]]

In 1814, a secret organization called the ] was founded with the aim of liberating Greece. The Filiki Eteria planned to launch revolution in the ], the ] and ]. The first of these revolts began on 6 March 1821 in the Danubian Principalities under the leadership of ], but it was soon put down by the Ottomans. The events in the north spurred the Greeks of the Peloponnese into action and on 17 March 1821 the ] declared war on the Ottomans. By the end of the month, the Peloponnese was in open revolt against the Ottomans and by October 1821 the Greeks under ] had captured ]. The Peloponnesian revolt was quickly followed by revolts in ], ] and ], which would soon be suppressed. Meanwhile, the makeshift Greek navy was achieving success against the Ottoman navy in the ] and prevented Ottoman reinforcements from arriving by sea. However in 1822 and 1824 the Turks and Egyptians ravaged the islands, including ] and ], committing wholesale massacres of the population.<ref>Brewer, D. ''The Greek War of Independence: The Struggle for Freedom from Ottoman Oppression and the Birth of the Modern Greek Nation.'' Overlook Press, 2001, ISBN 1-58567-172-X, pp. 235-236.</ref> This had the effect of galvanizing public opinion in western Europe in favor of the Greek rebels.<ref name="Clogg">Clogg, Richard, ''A Concise History of Greece'', pages 10-37. Cambridge University Press, 1992, 257 pages. ISBN 0-521-37228-3. </ref>

Tensions soon developed among different Greek factions, leading to two consecutive civil wars. Meanwhile, the ] negotiated with ], who agreed to send his son ] to Greece with an army to suppress the revolt in return for territorial gain. Ibrahim landed in the Peloponnese in February 1825 and had immediate success: by the end of 1825, most of the Peloponnese was under Egyptian control, and the city of ]—put under siege by the Turks since April 1825—fell in April 1826. Although Ibrahim was defeated in ], he had succeeded in suppressing most of the revolt in the Peloponnese and ] had been retaken.

After years of negotiation, three Great Powers, ], the ] and ], decided to intervene in the conflict and each nation sent a navy to Greece. Following news that combined Ottoman–Egyptian fleets were going to attack the Greek island of ], the allied fleet intercepted the Ottoman–Egyptian fleet at ]. After a week-long standoff, a ] began which resulted in the destruction of the Ottoman–Egyptian fleet. A ] was dispatched to supervise the evacuation of the Egyptian army from the Peloponnese, while the Greeks proceeded to the captured part of Central Greece by 1828. As a result of years of negotiation, the ] was finally recognized under the ] in 1830.

===The 19th century===
{{see also|Kingdom of Greece}}
] and the ] in 1903, before the ].]]

In 1827 ], from ], was chosen as the first governor of the new Republic. However, following his assassination in 1831, the ]s installed a ] under ], of the Bavarian ]. In 1843 an uprising forced the king to grant a constitution and a representative assembly.

Due to his unimpaired authoritarian rule he was eventually dethroned in 1862 and a year later replaced by Prince Wilhelm (William) of Denmark, who took the name ] and brought with him the Ionian Islands as a coronation gift from Britain. In 1877 ], who is credited with significant improvement of the country's infrastructure, curbed the power of the monarchy to interfere in the assembly by issuing the rule of ] to any potential prime minister.

Corruption and Trikoupis' increased spending to create necessary infrastructure like the ] overtaxed the weak Greek economy, forcing the declaration of ] in 1893 and to accept the imposition of an International Financial Control authority to pay off the country's debtors. Another political issue in 19th-century Greece was uniquely Greek: the language question. The Greek people spoke a form of Greek called ]. Many of the educated elite saw this as a peasant dialect and were determined to restore the glories of ]. Government documents and newspapers were consequently published in '']'' (purified) Greek, a form which few ordinary Greeks could read. Liberals favoured recognising Demotic as the national language, but conservatives and the Orthodox Church resisted all such efforts, to the extent that, when the ] was translated into Demotic in 1901, riots erupted in Athens and the government fell (the ''Evangeliaka''). This issue would continue to plague Greek politics until the 1970s.

] until 1947.]]

All Greeks were united, however, in their determination to liberate the Greek-speaking provinces of the Ottoman Empire. Especially in ], a ] had raised nationalist fervour. When war broke out between ], Greek popular sentiment rallied to Russia's side, but Greece was too poor, and too concerned of British intervention, to officially enter the war. Nevertheless, in 1881, ] and small parts of ] were ceded to Greece as part of the ], while frustrating Greek hopes of receiving Crete. Greeks in Crete continued to stage regular revolts, and in 1897, the Greek government under Theodoros Deligiannis, bowing to popular pressure, declared war on the Ottomans. In the ensuing ] the badly trained and equipped Greek army was defeated by the Ottomans. Through the intervention of the Great Powers however, Greece lost only a little territory along the border to Turkey, while Crete was established as an ] under ].

===The 20th century and beyond===
] with ] (seated, with back to camera) in 1913, during the ].]]

As a result of the ] Greece increased the extent of its territory and population. In the following years, the struggle between ] and charismatic Prime Minister ] over the country's foreign policy on the eve of World War I dominated the country's political scene, and divided the country into ]. During part of WWI, Greece had two governments; a royalist pro-German government in ] and a Venizelist pro-Britain one in ]. The two governments were united in 1917, when Greece officially entered the war on the side of the ].

In the aftermath of the First World War, Greece attempted further expansion into ], a region with a large Greek population at the time, but was defeated in the ], which resulted in a ] under the ].<ref>. '']''. 28 November 2006.</ref> According to various sources,<ref>] (1998). "The Holocaust in Comparative and Historical Perspective". ''Idea Journal of Social Issues'', Vol.3 no.2.</ref> several hundred thousand ] died during this period, in what has sometimes been referred to as the ].<ref>] (17 September 2000).. '']''.</ref> Instability and successive '']'' marked the following era, which was overshadowed by the massive task of incorporating 1.5 million Greek refugees from Turkey into Greek society. The Greek population in ] dropped from 300,000 at the turn of the 20th century to around 3,000 in the city today.<ref name="minorities">Roudometof, Victor; Robertson, Roland (2001). ''. ], Connecticut: ]. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-313-31949-5.</ref>

Following the catastrophic events in Asia Minor, the monarchy was abolished ] in 1924 and the ] was declared. Premier ] took power in 1935 and effectively abolished the republic by bringing back the monarchy via ] in 1935. A coup d'état followed in 1936 and installed ] as the head of a dictatorial regime known as the ]. Although a dictatorship, Greece remained in good terms with Britain and was not allied with the Axis.

] over the ] of ]. The symbol of the country's occupation, it would be taken down in one of the first acts of the ].]]

On 28 October 1940 Fascist ] demanded the surrender of Greece, but Greek dictator Metaxas refused and in the following ], Greece repelled Italian forces into Albania, giving the ] their first victory over ] forces on land. The country would eventually fall to urgently dispatched German forces during the ]. The German occupiers nevertheless met serious challenges from the ]. Over 100,000 civilians died from starvation during the winter of 1941–42, and the great majority of ] were deported to Nazi extermination camps.<ref>. '']''.</ref>

After liberation, Greece experienced a bitter ] between communist and ] forces, which led to economic devastation and severe social tensions between ] and largely communist ] for the next thirty years.<ref>]. ''After the War was Over''.</ref> The next twenty years were characterized by marginalisation of the left in the political and social spheres but also by ], propelled in part by the ].

King ]'s ] of ]'s centrist government in July 1965 prompted a prolonged period of political turbulence which culminated in a ''coup d'état'' on 21 April 1967 by the ]. The brutal suppression of the ] on 17 November 1973 sent shockwaves through the regime, and a counter-coup established ] ] as dictator. On 20 July 1974, as ], the regime collapsed.

Former prime minister ] was invited back from Paris where he had lived in self-exile since 1963, marking the beginning of the ] era. On 14 August 1974 Greek forces withdrew from the integrated military structure of ] in protest at the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus.<ref name="autogenerated2">History, Editorial Consultant: Adam Hart-Davis. ]. ISBN 978-1-85613-062-2.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/docu/update/70-79/1974e.htm|title=NATO Update 1974 |publisher=] |date=26 October 2001 |accessdate=22 March 2009}}</ref> The first multiparty ] since 1964 were held on the first anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising. A democratic and republican ] was promulgated on 11 June 1975 following a ] which chose to not restore the monarchy.

] in 1979.]]

Meanwhile, ] founded the ] (PASOK) in response to Karamanlis's conservative ] party, with the two political formations alternating in government ever since. Greece rejoined NATO in 1980.<ref name="autogenerated2" /> Traditionally strained ] ], leading to the lifting of the Greek veto against Turkey's ] for EU membership.

Greece became the tenth member of the ] (subsequently subsumed by the ]) on 1 January 1981, ushering in a period of remarkable and sustained economic growth {{citation needed|date=December 2012}}. Widespread investments in industrial enterprises and heavy infrastructure, as well as funds from the European Union and growing revenues from tourism, shipping and a fast-growing service sector raised the country's standard of living to unprecedented levels. The country adopted the euro in 2001 and successfully hosted the ] in Athens.

More recently, Greece has been hit hard by the ] and central to the related ]. The ], subsequent economic crisis and ] have roiled domestic politics and have regularly threatened both European and world financial market stability in since the crisis began in 2010.

==Geography and climate==
{{Main|Geography of Greece}}
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Greece consists of a mountainous, peninsular mainland jutting out into the sea at the southern end of the ], ending at the ] peninsula (separated from the mainland by the ] of the ]). Due to its highly indented coastline and numerous islands, Greece has the ] in the world with{{convert|13676|km|mi|0|abbr=on}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2060.html?countryName=Greece&countryCode=gr&regionCode=eu&#gr |title=The World Fact Book – Field Listing :: Coastline |accessdate=17 March 2011 |publisher=]}}</ref> its land boundary is {{convert|1160|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. The country lies approximately between latitudes ] and ], and longitudes ] and ].

Greece features a ], between 1,200 and 6,000, depending on the definition,<ref>{{cite book |last=Marker, Sherry; Bowman, John; Kerasiotis, Peter; Sarna, Heidi |title= Frommer's Greek Islands |publisher=]|year=2010 |page=12 |isbn= 978-0-470-52664-4 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=wvlP7D9C_7gC&pg=PA12}}</ref> 227 of which are inhabited. Crete is the largest and most populous island; ], separated from the mainland by the 60m-wide ], is the second largest, followed by ] and ].

The Greek islands are traditionally grouped into the following clusters: The ] in the Saronic gulf near Athens, the Cyclades, a large but dense collection occupying the central part of the Aegean Sea, the ], a loose grouping off the west coast of Turkey, the Dodecanese, another loose collection in the southeast between Crete and Turkey, the ], a small tight group off the coast of Euboea, and the Ionian Islands, located to the west of the mainland in the Ionian Sea.

Eighty percent of Greece consists of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in Europe. ], the mythical abode of the ], culminates at Mytikas peak {{convert|2917|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, the highest in the country. Western Greece contains a number of lakes and wetlands and is dominated by the ] mountain range. The Pindus, a continuation of the ], reaches a maximum elevation of {{convert|2637|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} at Mt. Smolikas (the second-highest in Greece) and historically has been a significant barrier to east-west travel.

] (]) bay, in ].]]

The Pindus range continues through the central Peloponnese, crosses the islands of ] and Antikythera and find its way into southwestern Aegean, in the island of Crete where it eventually ends. The islands of the Aegean are peaks of underwater mountains that once constituted an extension of the mainland. Pindus is characterized by its high, steep peaks, often dissected by numerous canyons and a variety of other karstic landscapes. The spectacular ], part of the ] in the Pindus range, is listed by the Guinness book of World Records as the deepest gorge in the world.<ref>{{cite book | title=Guinness World Records 2005: Special 50th Anniversary Edition | publisher=Guinness World Records | year=2004 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=D4wYAAAAIAAJ&dq=Vikos%2BGuines | isbn= 978-1-892051-22-6| page = 52}}</ref> Another notable formation are the ] rock pillars, atop which have been built medieval Greek Orthodox monasteries.

], located on the border between ] and ].]]
]

Northeastern Greece features another high-altitude mountain range, the ] range, spreading across the region of ]; this area is covered with vast, thick, ancient forests, including the famous Dadia forest in the ], in the far northeast of the country.

Extensive plains are primarily located in the regions of ], ] and ]. They constitute key economic regions as they are among the few arable places in the country. Rare marine species such as the Pinniped Seals and the ] live in the seas surrounding mainland Greece, while its dense forests are home to the endangered ], the ], the ] and the Wild Goat.

The ] is primarily ], featuring mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. This climate occurs at all coastal locations, including Athens, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, Crete, the Peloponnese, the Ionian Islands and parts of the ] (Central Continental Grece) region. The ] mountain range strongly affects the climate of the country, as areas to the west of the range are considerably wetter on average (due to greater exposure to south-westerly systems bringing in moisture) than the areas lying to the east of the range (due to a ] effect).

The mountainous areas of Northwestern Greece (parts of ], ], ], ]) as well as in the mountainous central parts of Peloponnese – including parts of the regional units of ], ] and ] – feature an ] with heavy snowfalls. The inland parts of northern Greece, in Central Macedonia and ] feature a ] with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers with frequent thunderstorms. Snowfalls occur every year in the mountains and northern areas, and brief snowfalls are not unknown even in low-lying southern areas, such as Athens.

], Greece belongs to the ] and is shared between the East Mediterranean province of the ] and the Illyrian province of the ]. According to the ] and the ], the territory of Greece can be subdivided into six ]s: the ], ], ], Rhodope montane mixed forests, Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests and Crete Mediterranean forests.

==Politics==
{{Main|Politics of Greece|List of political parties in Greece}}
] in central ].]]

Greece is a ].<ref name="con51,53">{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.gr/english/politeuma/syntagma.pdf|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070925181747/http://www.parliament.gr/english/politeuma/syntagma.pdf|archivedate=25 September 2007 |title=syntagma.qxd |format=PDF|language=Greek|accessdate=2 August 2009}}</ref> The nominal ] is the ], who is elected by the ] for a five-year term.<ref name="con51,53"/> The current ] was drawn up and adopted by the Fifth Revisionary Parliament of the Hellenes and entered into force in 1975 after the fall of the ]. It has been revised three times since, in ], ] and in ]. The Constitution, which consists of 120 articles, provides for a ] into ], ], and ]es, and grants extensive specific guarantees (further reinforced in 2001) of ] and ].<ref>Dagtoglou, P.D. ''Individual Rights''. I, p. 21.<br>Venizelos, E. ''The "Acquis" of the Constitutional Revision''. pp. 131–132, 165–172.</ref> ] was guaranteed with a 1952 Constitutional amendment.

According to the Constitution, executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic and the ].<ref name="con51,53"/> From the ] the President's duties were curtailed to a significant extent, and they are now largely ceremonial; most political power thus lies in the hands of the Prime Minister.<ref name="M477-478">Mavrias, K.''Constitutional Law''. 477–478, 486–487.</ref> The position of ], Greece's ], belongs to the ] of the ] that can obtain a vote of confidence by the Parliament. The President of the Republic formally appoints the Prime Minister and, on his recommendation, appoints and dismisses the other members of the Cabinet.<ref name="con51,53"/>

] (1776–1831), first head of state, governor of independent Greece and founder of the modern Greek state]]

Legislative powers are exercised by a 300-member elective ].<ref name="con51,53"/> Statutes passed by the Parliament are promulgated by the President of the Republic.<ref name="con51,53"/> ] are held every four years, but the President of the Republic is obliged to dissolve the Parliament earlier on the proposal of the Cabinet, in view of dealing with a national issue of exceptional importance.<ref name="con51,53"/> The President is also obliged to dissolve the Parliament earlier, if the opposition manages to pass a ].<ref name="con51,53"/>

The ] is independent of the executive and the legislature and comprises three Supreme Courts: the ] (Άρειος Πάγος), the ] (Συμβούλιο της Επικρατείας) and the ] (Ελεγκτικό Συνέδριο). The Judiciary system is also composed of civil courts, which judge civil and penal cases and administrative courts, which judge disputes between the citizens and the Greek administrative authorities.

===Political parties===
], ] since 2005.]]
{{Main|Political parties of Greece}}
Since the restoration of democracy, the Greek ] is dominated by the liberal-conservative ] (ND) and the social-democratic ] (PASOK).<ref>For a diachronic analysis of the Greek party system see T. Pappas, ''Transformation of the Greek Party System Since 1951'', 90–114, who distinguishes three distinct types of party system which developed in consecutive order, namely, a predominant-party system (from 1952 to 1963), a system of polarised pluralism (between 1963 and 1981), and a two-party system (since 1981).</ref> Other significant parties include the ] (KKE), the ] (SYRIZA) the ] (LAOS)and the ] (Golden Dawn). In 2010, two new parties split off from ND and SYRIZA, the centrist-liberal ] (DS) and the moderate leftist ] (DA). ], president of PASOK, won ], won with a majority in the Parliament of 160 out of 300 seats. A new government was sworn in on 20 June 2011, and received a marginal vote of confidence on 22 June, with 155 votes for, 143 against, and two MPs absent.<ref name="BBC confidence">{{cite news | author=Staff | title = Greek Government Survives Confidence Vote|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13869428 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate =5 August 2011 |date=22 June 2011}}</ref> Since the beginning in 2010 of the ], the two major parties, New Democracy and PASOK, have seen a sharp decline in the share of votes in polls conducted, with recent polls showing support from 34% to 48% for the two major parties.<ref name="Political Climate and Governance December 2011">{{cite news|url=http://www.vprc.gr/uplds/File/teleytaia%20nea/Epikaira/Political%20Climate%20and%20Governance_December2011.pdf |title="Πολιτική Συγκυρία & Διακυβέρνηση" — Δεκέμβριος 2011 |date=22 December 2011 |work=VPRC |publisher=vprc.gr| accessdate=22 December 2011}}</ref><ref name="Political Climate and Governance January 2012">{{cite news|url=http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/Political_Conjuncture_and_Governance_Jan2012.pdf |title="Πολιτική Συγκυρία & Διακυβέρνηση" — Ιανουάριος 2012 |date=26 January 2012 |work=VPRC |publisher=vprc.gr| accessdate=26 January 2012}}</ref><ref name="Panhellenic Research for ET3">{{cite news|url=http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/ToThePoint-Ert3_30-1-12.pdf |title="Πανελλαδικη Ερευνα για την ET3" — Ιανουάριος 2012 |date=29 January 2012 |work=To The Point |publisher=tothepoint.gr/| accessdate=29 January 2012}}</ref><ref name="Research from Pulse RC for Pontiki">{{cite news|url=http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/PulseRC-ToPontiki_2-2-2012.pdf |title="Ερευνα της Pulse RC για το Ποντικι" — Φεβρουαριος 2012|date=2 February 2012 |work=Pulse RC |publisher=pulserc.gr/| accessdate=2 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="Varometro Feb 2011">{{cite news|url=http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/varometro_2_12.pdf |title=Πολιτικό Βαρόμετρο 99 - Ιανουαριος 2012 |date=7 February 2012 |work=Public Issue |publisher=publicissue.gr | accessdate=7 February 2011}}</ref> Polls show support for PASOK ranging from 8%<ref name="Varometro Feb 2011" /> to 18%,<ref name="Political Climate and Governance December 2011" /> while New Democracy is in the 18% to 30% range.<ref name="Political Climate and Governance December 2011" /><ref name="Panhellenic Research for ET3" />

In November 2011, the two major parties joined the smaller ] in a ], pledging their parliamentary support for a ] headed by former ] vice-president ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Lucas Papademos named as new Greek prime minister|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15671354|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=10 November 2011|date=10 November 2011}}</ref>

===Administrative divisions===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Greece (2011)}}
Since the ] reform entered into effect on 1 January 2011, Greece consists of thirteen ] subdivided into a total of 325 ]. The 54 old ] have been largely retained as '']'' of the regions. Seven decentralized administrations group one to three regions for administrative purposes on a regional basis. There is also one ], ] ({{lang-el|Agio Oros}}, "Holy Mountain"), which borders the region of ].

{|
|-
|valign="middle"|
]
||
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:center;"
!No.!! ]!! Capital!! Area (km²)!! Area (sq. mi.)!!Population<ref name="2011census">{{cite web |publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece: Ανακοίνωση προσωρινών αποτελεσμάτων Απογραφής Πληθυσμού 2011, 22 Ιουλίου 2011 |url=http://www.tovima.gr/files/1/2011/07/22/apografh22.pdf |title='Πίνακας 1: Προσωρινά αποτελέσματα του Μόνιμου Πληθυσμού της Ελλάδος' }}</ref> !! GDP (])<ref name="Eurostat Regional GDP">{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/graph.do?tab=graph&plugin=1&pcode=tgs00003&language=en&toolbox=sort |title=Regional gross domestic product (million EUR), by NUTS 2 regions |year=2008 |publisher=] |accessdate=25 October 2011}}</ref>
|-
|align="center"| 1 || ] || ] || style="text-align:right"|3,808||style="text-align:right"|1,470|| style="text-align:right"|3,812,330 || style="text-align:right"|€103.334
|-
|align="center"| 2 || ] || ] ||style="text-align:right"|15,549|| style="text-align:right"|6,004||style="text-align:right"|546,870 || style="text-align:right"|€12.530
|-
|align="center"| 3 || ] || ] ||style="text-align:right"|18,811||style="text-align:right"|7,263|| style="text-align:right"|1,874,590 || style="text-align:right"|€34.458
|-
|align="center"| 4 || ] || ] || style="text-align:right"|8,259||style="text-align:right"|3,189|| style="text-align:right"|621,340 || style="text-align:right"|€12.854
|-
|align="center"| 5 || ] || ] || style="text-align:right"|14,157||style="text-align:right"|5,466|| style="text-align:right"|606,170 || style="text-align:right"|€9.054
|-
|align="center"| 6 || ] || ] ||style="text-align:right"|9,203||style="text-align:right"|3,553|| style="text-align:right"|336,650 || style="text-align:right"|€5.827
|-
|align="center"| 7 || ] || ] ||style="text-align:right"|2,307|| style="text-align:right"|891||style="text-align:right"|206,470 || style="text-align:right"|€4.464
|-
|align="center"| 8 || ] || ] || style="text-align:right"|3,836||style="text-align:right"|1,481|| style="text-align:right"|197,810 || style="text-align:right"|€3.579
|-
|align="center"| 9 || ] || ] ||style="text-align:right"|15,490|| style="text-align:right"|5,981||style="text-align:right"|581,980 || style="text-align:right"|€11.230
|-
|align="center"| 10 || ] || ] || style="text-align:right"|5,286||style="text-align:right"|2,041|| style="text-align:right"|308,610 || style="text-align:right"|€7.816
|-
|align="center"| 11 || ] || ] || style="text-align:right"|14,037||style="text-align:right"|5,420|| style="text-align:right"|730,730 || style="text-align:right"|€12.905
|-
|align="center"| 12 || ] || ] || style="text-align:right"|11,350||style="text-align:right"|4,382|| style="text-align:right"|680,190 || style="text-align:right"|€12.122
|-
|align="center"| 13 || ] || ] || style="text-align:right"|9,451||style="text-align:right"|3,649|| style="text-align:right"|282,120 || style="text-align:right"|€5.564
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:center;"
!No. !! Autonomous state !! Capital !! Area (km²)!! Area (sq. mi.)!!Population<ref name="2011census" /> !! GDP (])<ref name="Eurostat Regional GDP" />
|-
|align="center"| (14) || ] || ] || style="text-align:right"|390||style="text-align:right"|151|| style="text-align:right"|1,830 || {{NA}}
|}
|}

===Foreign relations===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Greece}}
] at the ] 2011.]]
Greece's foreign policy is conducted through the ] and its head, the ]. The current minister is ] of the ] party. According to the official website, the main aims of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are to represent Greece before other states and international organizations;<ref name="MFA mission">{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gr/en/the-ministry/structure/mission-and-competences.html |title=Mission and Competences |publisher=] |accessdate=23 February 2012}}</ref> safeguarding the interests of the Greek state and of its citizens abroad;<ref name="MFA mission" /> the promotion of Greek culture;<ref name="MFA mission" /> the fostering of closer relations with the ];<ref name="MFA mission" /> and the promotion of international cooperation.<ref name="MFA mission" /> Additionally, Greece has developed a regional policy to help promote peace and stability in the ], the ] and the ].<ref name="MFA regional policy">{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gr/en/foreign-policy/regional-policy/ |title=Regional Policy |publisher=] |accessdate=23 February 2012}}</ref>

The Ministry identifies three issues as of particular importance to the Greek state: ] claims over what the Ministry defines as Greek ] over the ] and corresponding airspace;<ref name="MFA issues">{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gr/en/foreign-policy-issues/ |title=Foreign Policy Issues |publisher=] |accessdate=23 February 2012}}</ref> the legitimacy of the ] on the island of ];<ref name="MFA issues" /> and the ]<ref name="MFA issues" /> with the small Balkan country which shares a name with Greece's largest and second-most-populous region, ].

Greece is a member of numerous international organizations, including the ], the ], the ] and the ], of which it is a founding member.

==Military==
{{Main|Military of Greece}}
{| class="toccolours" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; border:1px #DDDDDD solid"
|+ '''Branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces'''
|- align="center"
|width="120px"|]<br><small>Hellenic Army<br>Leopard 2A6 HEL</small>
|width="120px"|]<br><small>Hellenic Navy<br>]</small>
|width="120px"|]<br><small>Hellenic Air Force<br>]</small>
|}

The Hellenic Armed Forces are overseen by the ] (Γενικό Επιτελείο Εθνικής Άμυνας – ΓΕΕΘΑ) and consists of three branches:
* ]
* ]
* ]

The civilian authority for the Greek military is the ]. Furthermore, Greece maintains the ] for law enforcement in the sea and for search and rescue.

] for males, while females (who may serve in the military) are exempted from conscription. {{As of|2009}}, Greece has mandatory military service of nine months for male citizens between the ages of 19 and 45. However, as the armed forces had been gearing towards a complete professional army system, the government had promised that the mandatory military service would be cut or even abolished completely.

Greek males between the age of 18 and 60 who live in strategically sensitive areas may be required to serve part-time in the National Guard. Service in the Guard is paid. As a member of ], the Greek military participates in exercises and deployments under the auspices of the alliance.

Greece spends over 9 billion USD every year on its military, or 3.2% of GDP, ].

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Greece}}
] in 2008 according to Eurostat.]]
]

=== Introduction ===

The economy of Greece is the ] or ] largest in the world at $299<ref name="World Bank GDP (nominal)">{{cite web|title=Gross domestic product 2011|url=http://databank.worldbank.org/databank/download/GDP.pdf|publisher=]|accessdate=20 July 2012|format=PDF|date=9 July 2012}}</ref> or $304<ref name="World Bank GDP (PPP)">{{cite web|title=Gross domestic product 2011, PPP|url=http://databank.worldbank.org/databank/download/GDP_PPP.pdf|publisher=World Bank|accessdate=20 July 2012|format=PDF|date=9 July 2012}}</ref> billion by ] ] or ] (PPP) respectively, according to ] statistics for the year 2011. Additionally, Greece is the 15th largest economy in the 27-member ].<ref name="Eurostat GDP">{{cite web|title=Gross domestic product at market prices (tec00001) |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/national_accounts/data/main_tables |publisher=] |accessdate=22 February 2012}}</ref> In terms of ], Greece is ranked ] or ] in the world at $27,875 and $27,624 for nominal GDP and PPP respectively.

A ], with high standards of living, the economy of Greece mainly revolves around the ] (85.0%) and ] (12.0%), while ] makes up 3.0% of the national economic output.<ref name="GDP by sector">{{cite web|title=Gross Added Value by Industry (A17) ( Years 2000 - 2011 ) |url=http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/PAGE-themes?p_param=A0702&r_param=SEL12&y_param=2011_00&mytabs=0|publisher=Hellenic Statistical Authority|accessdate=22 March 2012|location=Piraeus}}</ref> Important Greek industries include ] (with 14.9 million<ref name="World Tourism Organization">{{cite web|title=UNWTO World Tourism Barometer |url=http://www.unwto.org/facts/eng/pdf/barometer/UNWTO_Barom10_2_en.pdf |publisher=] |accessdate=22 February 2012}}</ref> international tourists in 2009, it is ranked as the 7th most visited country in the European Union<ref name="World Tourism Organization" /> and 16th in the world<ref name="World Tourism Organization" /> by the ]) and ] (at 16.2%<ref name="UN Shipping report 2011" /> of the world's total capacity, the Greek merchant marine is the largest in the world<ref name="UN Shipping report 2011" />), while the country is also a considerable agricultural producer (including fisheries) within the union. With an economy larger than all the Balkan economies combined, Greece is the largest economy in the Balkans,<ref name=BalkanInsight> News 11 Jul 12 by Besar Likmeta BIRN Gjirokastra Title: "Albania Eyes New Markets as Greek Crisis Hits Home Businesses affected by the economic downturn in Greece are seeking new markets in the West, hoping that a cheap and qualified labour force will draw fresh clients." Quote: "Greece is the Balkan region's largest economy and has been an important investor in Southeast Europe over the past decade."</ref><ref name=Keridis> ''Greece and the Balkans: From Stabilization to Growth'' Dimitris Keridis
Assistant Professor of International Politics, University of Macedonia, Greece Constantine Karamanlis Professor in Hellenic and Southeast European Studies, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, USA Quote: "Greece has a larger economy than all the Balkan countries combined. Greece is also an important regional investor." Based on a lecture given at the Hellenic Studies Unit at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, on March 3rd, 2006</ref> and an important regional investor.<ref name=BalkanInsight/><ref name=Keridis/>

The Greek economy is classified as advanced<ref name="Advanced economies">{{cite web|title=World Economic Outlook |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/02/pdf/text.pdf |publisher=] |accessdate=23 February 2012}}</ref> and ].<ref name="High income economies">{{cite web|title=Country and Lending Groups |url=http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups#High_income |publisher=] |accessdate=22 February 2012}}</ref> Greece was a founding member of the ] (OECD) and the ] (BSEC). In 1979 the accession of the country in the ] and the ] was signed, and the process was completed in 1982. In January 2001 Greece adopted the ] as its currency, replacing the ] at an exchange rate of 340.75 drachma to the Euro.<ref name="Drachma exchange rate">{{cite web|title=Fixed Euro conversion rates|url=http://www.ecb.int/euro/intro/html/index.en.html|publisher=European Central Bank|accessdate=23 February 2012}}</ref> Greece is also a member of the ] and the ], and is ranked 31st on the KOF ] for 2010.

===Eurozone entry===
{{see also|Greek Financial Audit, 2004}}
] in 2001.]]
Greece was accepted into the ] by the ] on 19 June 2000, based on a number of ] (inflation rate, budget deficit, public debt, long-term interest rates, exchange rate) using 1999 as the reference year. After ] commissioned by the incoming ] government in 2004, ] revealed that the statistics for the budget deficit had been under-reported.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/GREECE/EN/GREECE-EN.PDF|title=REPORT BY EUROSTAT ON THE REVISION OF THE GREEK GOVERNMENT DEFICIT AND DEBT FIGURES|format=PDF|date=22 November 2004}}</ref>

Most of the differences in the revised budget deficit numbers were due to a temporary change of accounting practices by the new government, i.e., recording expenses when military material was ordered rather than received.<ref>
{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2012/apr/26/greece-europe-north-south-divide?pagewanted=all |title= Greece did not Cause the Euro Crisis |publisher= Guardian| first1= |last1= |first2=Landon |last2= |first3= |last3= |date=26 April 2012}}</ref> However, it was the retroactive application of ESA95 methodology (applied since 2000) by Eurostat, that finally raised the reference year (1999) budget deficit to 3.38% of GDP, thus exceeding the 3% limit. This led to claims that Greece (similar claims have been made about other European countries like Italy<ref>
{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/business/global/14debt.html?pagewanted=all |title= Wall St. Helped to Mask Debt Fueling Europe’s Crisis |publisher= New York Times | first1=Louise |last1=Story |first2=Landon |last2=Thomas Jr |first3=Nelson D. |last3=Schwartz |date=14 February 2010}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.cfr.org/italy/enron-italy-parallels-between-romes-efforts-qualify-euro-entry-financial-chicanery-texas/p4455 |title= Enron and Italy: Parallels between Rome's efforts to qualify for euro entry and the financial chicanery in Texas |publisher= Council on Foreign Relations}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.icmagroup.org/assets/documents/Derivatives%20and%20Public%20Debt%20Management.pdf |title= Derivatives and Public Debt Management |publisher= International Securities Market Association (ISMA) in cooperation with the Council on Foreign Relations}}</ref>)
had not actually met all five accession criteria, and the common perception that Greece entered the Eurozone through "falsified" deficit numbers.

In the 2005 OECD report for Greece,<ref name="OECD Greece 2005">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Wstn-8rGQZQC&printsec=frontcover&hl=el&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false |title= OECD Economic Surveys (Greece), Vol. 2005/12, September 2005, p.47 |year= |publisher= OECD Publishing |accessdate=25 September 2011}}</ref> it was clearly stated that “the impact of new accounting rules on the fiscal figures for the years 1997 to 1999 ranged from 0.7 to 1 percentage point of GDP; this retroactive change of methodology was responsible for the revised deficit exceeding 3% in 1999, the year of EMU membership qualification”. The above led the Greek minister of finance to clarify that the 1999 budget deficit was below the prescribed 3% limit when calculated with the ESA79 methodology in force at the time of Greece's application, and thus the criteria had been met.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hri.org/news/greek/ana/2004/04-12-08.ana.html#09|title=Finmin says fiscal data saga has ended in wake of EU report|date=8 December 2004}}</ref>

The original accounting practice for military expenses was later restored in line with Eurostat recommendations, theoretically lowering even the ESA95-calculated 1999 Greek budget deficit to below 3% (an official Eurostat calculation is still pending for 1999).

An error very frequently made in press reports {{Which|date=February 2012}} is the confusion of the discussion regarding Greece’s Eurozone entry with the controversy regarding usage of derivatives’ deals with U.S. Banks by Greece and other Eurozone countries to artificially reduce their reported budget deficits. A currency swap arranged with ] allowed Greece to “hide” $1 billion of debt, however, this affected deficit values after 2001 (when Greece had already been admitted into the Eurozone) and is not related to Greece’s Eurozone entry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://georgewashington2.blogspot.com/2011/07/goldman-bet-against-its-european.html |title=Goldman bet against Entire European Nations|date=16 July 2011 |publisher=Washingtons Blog}}</ref>

A study by forensic accountants has found that data submitted by Greece to Eurostat had a statistical distribution indicative of manipulation.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/171aaa36-d8f1-11e0-aff1-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1XWna9dha
|title=Look out for No. 1
|author=Tim Harford
|date=9 September 2011
|publisher=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Fact and Fiction in EU-Governmental Economic Data|last1=Rauch|first1=Bernhard|last2=Max|first2=Göttsche|last3=Brähler|first3=Gernot|last4=Engel|first4=Stefan|journal=German Economic Review|volume=12|issue=3|pages=244–254|year=2011}}</ref>

{{anchor|2010 debt crisis}} <!-- Linked from ] and ] -->

===Debt crisis (2010–)===
{{See also|Greek government debt crisis}}
] measures in front of ] building in ] (29 May 2011).]]
By the end of 2009, as a result of a combination of international and local factors the Greek economy faced ] since the restoration of democracy in 1974 as the Greek government revised its deficit from an estimated 6% to 12.7% of gross domestic product (GDP).<ref>Lynn, Matthew (2011). ''Bust: Greece, the Euro and the Sovereign Debt Crisis''. ], New Jersey: ]. ISBN 978-0-470-97611-1.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Greece's Sovereign-Debt Crunch: A Very European Crisis |work=The Economist |url = http://www.economist.com/node/15452594?story_id=15452594 | date = 4 February 2010| accessdate =2 May 2010 }}</ref>
]
In early 2010, it was revealed that through the assistance of ], ] and numerous other banks, financial products were developed which enabled the governments of Greece, Italy and possibly other countries to hide their borrowing.<ref name=Rehn>{{cite web| title = Rehn: No Other State Will Need a Bail-Out| url = http://euobserver.com/19/30015 |publisher=]| accessdate =6 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name=Goldman>{{cite web| title = Greece Paid Goldman {{Nowrap|$300 Million}} To Help It Hide Its Ballooning Debts| url =http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-greece-paid-goldman-300-million-to-help-it-hide-its-ballooning-debts-2010-2| publisher=] | accessdate =6 May 2010 }}</ref> Dozens of similar agreements were concluded across Europe whereby banks supplied cash in advance in exchange for future payments by the governments involved; in turn, the liabilities of the involved countries were "kept off the books".<ref name=Goldman/>

This had enabled Greek governments to spend beyond their means, while meeting the deficit targets of the European Union.<ref name=Goldman/><ref>{{Cite news| title = Wall St. Helped To Mask Debt Fueling Europe's Crisis |work=The New York Times | url =http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/business/global/14debt.html?pagewanted=1&hp | date = 14 February 2010| accessdate =6 May 2010 | author=Story, Louise; Thomas Jr, Landon; Schwartz, Nelson D.}}</ref> In May 2010, the Greek government deficit was again revised and estimated to be 13.6%<ref>{{cite web | title = Papandreou Faces Bond Rout as Budget Worsens, Workers Strike | url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aUi3XLUwIIVA |Bloomberg|date=22 April 2010|accessdate =2 May 2010 }}</ref> which was the second highest in the world relative to GDP with Iceland in first place at 15.7% and Great Britain third with 12.6%.<ref>{{Cite news| author=Staff | title = Britain's Deficit Third Worst in the World, Table| url =http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/7269629/Britains-deficit-third-worst-in-the-world-table.html| date = 19 February 2010| accessdate =5 August 2011 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London }}
</ref> Public debt was forecast, according to some estimates, to hit 120% of GDP during 2010.<ref>{{Cite news| author=Melander, Ingrid; Papchristou, Harry | title = Greek Debt To Reach 120.8 Pct of GDP in '10&nbsp;– Draft| url =http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/11/05/greece-budget-debt-idUSATH00496420091105 |agency=Reuters | date = 5 November 2009| accessdate =5 August 2011}}</ref>

As a consequence, there was a crisis in international confidence in Greece's ability to repay its sovereign debt. In order to avert such a default, in May 2010 the other Eurozone countries, and the IMF, agreed to a rescue package which involved giving Greece an immediate €{{Nowrap|45 billion}} in loans, with more funds to follow, totaling €{{Nowrap|110 billion}}.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Thesing, Gabi; Krause-Jackson, Flavia |title= Greece Faces `Unprecedented' Cuts as $159B Rescue Nears |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-05-02/greece-faces-unprecedented-cuts-as-159b-rescue-nears.html | publisher=Bloomberg |date=3 May 2010 |accessdate=6 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Kerin Hope |title= EU Puts Positive Spin on Greek Rescue |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/08a87e4e-55c4-11df-b835-00144feab49a.html |work=Financial Times |date=2 May 2010 |accessdate=6 May 2010}}</ref> In order to secure the funding, Greece was required to adopt harsh austerity measures to bring its deficit under control.<ref>{{cite news|last=Newman|first=Rick|title=Lessons for Congress From the Chaos in Greece|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/rick-newman/2011/11/03/lessons-for-congress-from-the-chaos-in-greece|accessdate=3 November 2011|newspaper=US News|date=3 November 2011}}</ref>

On 15 November 2010 the EU's statistics body Eurostat revised the public finance and debt figure for Greece following an excessive deficit procedure methodological mission in Athens, and put Greece's 2009 government deficit at 15.4% of GDP and public debt at 126.8% of GDP making it the biggest deficit (as a percentage of GDP) among the EU member nations (although some have speculated that Ireland's in 2010 may prove to be worse).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europolitics.info/economy-monetary-affairs/deficits-increase-in-eurozone-and-eu-artb287086-50.html| publisher=] |title=Deficits Increase in Eurozone and EU | author=van Puyvelde, Eric |date= 15 November 2010 |accessdate=19 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Ireland-worse-than-Greece-faces-financial-ruin-say-two-leading-economists--94688524.html| publisher=] |title=Ireland Worse than Greece, Faces Financial Ruin, Say Two Leading Economists | author=Cooper, Patrick |date= 23 May 2010 |accessdate=31 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Ireland-worse-than-Greece-faces-financial-ruin-say-two-leading-economists--94688524.html| publisher=] |title=Ireland Now Has a Worse Deficit Problem Than Even Greece |date= 3 October 2010 |accessdate=31 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timiacono.com/index.php/2010/11/23/ireland-deficit-now-32-of-gdp/ |title=Ireland Deficit Now 32% of GDP? | publisher=] |accessdate=30 December 2010}}</ref>

In 2011 it became apparent that the bail-out would be insufficient and a second bail-out amounting to €{{Nowrap|130 billion}} (${{Nowrap|173 billion}}) was agreed in 2012, subject to strict conditions, including financial reforms and further austerity measures.<ref name= BBCQ&A>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13798000 |title= Q&A: Greek debt |author= |date= |work= |publisher=BBC News Online |accessdate=14 May 2012}}</ref> As part of the deal, there was to be a 53% reduction in the Greek debt burden to private creditors and any profits made by eurozone central banks on their holdings of Greek debt are to be repatriated back to Greece.<ref name= BBCQ&A/> A team of monitors will be based in Athens to ensure agreed reforms are put into place and three months worth of debt repayments are to be held in a special account.<ref name= BBCQ&A/>

===Maritime industry===
{{Main|Greek shipping|List of ports in Greece}}
{{See also|Economy of Greece#Maritime industry|label 1=Economy of Greece » Maritime industry}}
] controls 16.2% of the world's total ], making it the largest in the world. Greece is ranked in the top 5 for all kinds of ships, including first for tankers and bulk carriers.]]

The shipping industry is a key element of Greek economic activity dating back to ancient times.<ref name="shipping">{{cite web|url=http://www.greece.org/poseidon/work/articles/polemis_one.html |title=The History of Greek Shipping |author=Polemis, Spyros M. |publisher=greece.org |accessdate=9 April 2007}}</ref> Today, shipping is one of the country's most important industries. It accounts for 4.5% of GDP, employs about 160,000 people (4% of the workforce), and represents 1/3 of the country's trade deficit.<ref name =nbg>{{cite web | author=Press release |url=http://www.nbg.gr/en/pr_release_resb.asp?P_ID=463 | publisher=] |title=Greek Shipping Is Modernized To Remain a Global Leader and Expand Its Contribution to the Greek Economy |date=11 May 2006 |accessdate=8 April 2007| archiveurl =http://web.archive.org/web/20070831114031/http://www.nbg.gr/en/pr_release_resb.asp?P_ID=463|archivedate = 31 August 2007}}</ref>

During the 1960s, the size of the Greek fleet nearly doubled, primarily through the investment undertaken by the shipping magnates, ] and ].<ref name="slate">{{Cite news |url = http://www.slate.com/?id=2124542& |title = So Many Greek Shipping Magnates... | author=Engber, Daniel |work=] |date=17 August 2005 |accessdate =5 August 2011}}</ref> The basis of the modern Greek maritime industry was formed after World War II when Greek shipping businessmen were able to amass surplus ships sold to them by the U.S. government through the ] of the 1940s.<ref name=slate/>

According to a ] report in 2011, the Greek merchant navy is the largest in the world at 16.2% of the world's total capacity,<ref name="UN Shipping report 2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/rmt2011_en.pdf |title=Review of Maritime Transport 2011 |publisher=United Nations |year=2011 |accessdate=17 February 2012}}</ref> up from 15.96% in 2010.<ref name="UN Shipping report">{{cite web |url=http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/rmt2010_en.pdf|title=Review of Maritime Transport 2010 |publisher=United Nations |year=2010|accessdate=10 August 2011}}</ref> This is a drop from the equivalent number in 2006, which was 18.2%.<ref name="UN Shipping report 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/rmt2006_en.pdf |title=Review of Maritime Transport 2006|publisher=United Nations |year=2006 |accessdate=10 August 2011}}</ref> The total tonnage of the country's merchant fleet is 202 million ], ranked 1st in the world.<ref name="UN Shipping report 2011" /> In terms of total number of ships, the ] stands at 4th worldwide, with 3,150 ships (741 of which are registered in Greece whereas the rest 2,409 in other ports).<ref name="UN Shipping report" /> In terms of ship categories, Greece ranks first in both ] and dry ]s, fourth in the number of ], and fourth in other ships.<ref name="BTS">{{cite web|url=http://www.bts.gov/publications/maritime_trade_and_transportation/2002/html/table_01_05.html|title=Top 20 Ranking of World Merchant Fleet by Country of Owner as of 1&nbsp;January 2001|publisher=U.S. ] |year=2001 |accessdate=8 April 2007}}</ref> However, today's fleet roster is smaller than an all-time high of 5,000 ships in the late 1970s.<ref name=shipping/> Additionally, the total number of ships flying a Greek flag (includes non-Greek fleets) is 1,517, or 5.3% of the world's dwt (ranked 5th).<ref name="UN Shipping report" />

===Tourism===
{{Main|Tourism in Greece}}<!--20100706 Mykonos chora port panorama Greece.jpg-->
], a ], as seen from Palaio Frourio. The Bay of Garitsa is to the left and the port of ] is just visible on the top right of the picture. Spianada is in the foreground]]
].]]

An important percentage of Greece's national income comes from tourism. Tourism funds 16% of the gross domestic products which also includes the Tourism Council and the London-Based World Travel.<ref>http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite2_1_24/07/2012_453521</ref> According to ] statistics, Greece welcomed over 19.5 million tourists in 2009,<ref name="Eurostat Tourism table">{{cite web|url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/setupModifyTableLayout.do |title=Nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments – regional – annual data |year=2010|publisher=] |accessdate=10 August 2011}}</ref> which is an increase from the 17.7 million tourists it welcomed in 2007.<ref name="Eurostat Tourism">{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-HA-10-001-11/EN/KS-HA-10-001-11-EN.PDF|title=Tourism |year=2010 |publisher=] |accessdate=10 August 2011}}</ref> The vast majority of visitors in Greece in 2007 came from the European continent, numbering 12.7 million,<ref name="A2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/BUCKET/A2001/Other/A2001_STO03_TB_MM_12_2007_02_F_GR.pdf|title=02. Αφίξεις αλλοδαπών από το εξωτερικό κατά υπηκοότητα και μέσο ταξιδίου ( Δεκέμβριος 2007 ) |trans_title=02. Arrivals of foreigners from abroad by nationality and means of travel (December 2007) |date=December 2007 |publisher=Hellenic National Statistics Agency|language=Greek |accessdate=10 August 2011}}</ref> while the most visitors from a single nationality were those from the United Kingdom, (2.6 million), followed closely by those from Germany (2.3 million).<ref name="A2001" /> In 2010, the most visited ] of Greece was that of ], with 18% of the country's total tourist flow (amounting to 3.6 million tourists), followed by ] with 2.6 million and the ] with 1.8 million.<ref name="Eurostat Tourism table" /> ] is the country's most-visited geographical region, with 6.5 million tourists, while Central Greece is second with 6.3 million.<ref name="Eurostat Tourism table" />

In 2010, ] ranked Greece's northern and second-largest city of ] as the world's fifth-best party town worldwide, comparable to other cities such as ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/canada/travel-tips-and-articles/39339 |title=Ultimate party cities |publisher=] |accessdate=10 August 2011}}</ref> In 2011, ] was voted as "The World's Best Island" in '']''.<ref name="Best Islands">{{cite web|url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2011/islands/europe-islands/242|title=World's Best Awards&nbsp;– Islands |publisher=] |accessdate=10 August 2011}}</ref> Its neighboring island ], came in fifth in the European category.<ref name="Best Islands" />

===Transport===
] near the city of ] is the longest ] in Europe and second longest in the world.]]
{{Main|Transport in Greece}}

Since the 1980s, the road and rail network of Greece has been significantly modernized. Important works include the ] motorway, that connects northwestern Greece (]) with northern and northeastern Greece (]); and the ], the longest suspension cable bridge in Europe (2250&nbsp;m or 7382&nbsp;ft long), connecting the western Peloponnese from ] (7&nbsp;km or 4&nbsp;mi from ]) with ] in Central Greece.

Important projects that are currently underway include, the conversion of the ], connecting Athens with Patras and further towards ] in the western Peloponnese, into a modernised motorway throughout its length (scheduled to be completed by 2014); upgrading unfinished sections of motorway on the ], connecting Athens to ]; and the construction of the ].

The Athens Metropolitan Area in particular is served by some of the most modern and efficient transport infrastructure in Europe, such as the ], the privately run ] motorway network and the expanded ] system.

Most of the Greek islands and many main cities of Greece are connected by air mainly from the two major Greek airlines, ] and ]. Maritime connections have been improved with modern high-speed craft, including ] and ].

Railway connections play a somewhat lesser role in Greece than in many other European countries, but they too have also been expanded, with new suburban/] connections, serviced by ] around Athens, towards its airport, ] and ]; around Thessaloniki, towards the cities of ] and ]; and around Patras. A modern intercity rail connection between Athens and Thessaloniki has also been established, while an upgrade to double lines in many parts of the {{convert|2500|km|mi|abbr=on}} network is underway. International railway lines connect Greek cities with the rest of Europe, the Balkans and Turkey, although {{as of|lc=y|2011}} they have been suspended, due to the financial crisis.

===Telecommunications===
{{Main|Telecommunications in Greece}}
] Headquarters. OTE is the dominant telecommunications provider in Greece and one of the largest telecom groups in South Eastern Europe.]]
Modern, 100% digital, information and communication networks reach all areas. There are over 35.000 kilometers of fiber optics and an extensive open-wire network. Broadband internet availability is widespread in Greece: there were a total of 2,252,653 broadband connections {{as of|2011|alt=as of early 2011}}, translating to 20% broadband penetration.<ref name="cnbc">{{clarify|date=August 2011|reason=article in greek. at minimum, needs english translation of headline appended to "trans_title" parameter.}} {{cite news | date = 2 May 2011 | url=http://news.in.gr/science-technology/article/?aid=1231106170| title = ''Το 20% του πληθυσμού πλησιάζει η διείσδυση της ευρυζωνικότητας στην Ελλάδα'' | language = Greek | publisher=in.gr | accessdate =5 August 2011}}</ref> According to 2012 ] data, 53,6% of the households used the internet regularly and of which 94,8% of them had broadband connection<ref name="ELSTAT-Zougla.gr article"></ref>

]s that provide net access, office applications and multiplayer gaming are also a common sight in the country, while mobile internet on ] cellphone networks and ] connections can be found almost everywhere.<ref>{{cite web|title=Finding Free WiFi Internet in the Greek Islands|url=http://www.openjourney.com/blogs/josh/free-wifi-internet-greek-islands-47.html|publisher=Open Journey |accessdate=20 August 2011|date=29 June 2011}}</ref> 3G mobile internet usage has been on a sharp increase in recent years, with a 340% increase between August 2011 and August 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sharp increase 340% of mobile internet|url=http://www.tovima.gr/finance/article/?aid=474421|publisher=TA NEA |accessdate=12 September 2012|date=12 September 2012}}</ref> The United Nations International Telecommunication Union ranks Greece among the top 30 countries with a highly developed information and communications infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/backgrounders/general/pdf/5.pdf |title= ICT Development Index (IDI), 2010 and 2008 |accessdate=22 July 2012|publisher=]}} p. 15.</ref>

===Science and technology===
<!-- {{main|Science and technology in Greece}} -->
].]]
The of the is responsible for designing, implementing and supervising national research and technological policy. In 2003, public spending on ] (R&D) was 456.37 million euros (12.6% increase from 2002). Total R&D spending (both public and private) as a percentage of GDP had increased considerably since the beginning of the past decade, from 0.38% in 1989, to 0.65% in 2001. R&D spending in Greece remained lower than the EU average of 1.93%, but, according to Research DC, based on OECD and Eurostat data, between 1990 and 1998, total R&D expenditure in Greece enjoyed the third-highest increase in Europe, after ] and Ireland. Because of its strategic location, qualified workforce and political and economic stability, many multinational companies such as ], ], ] and ] have their regional research and development headquarters in Greece.

Greece's technology parks with incubator facilities include (Heraklion), the , the and the . Greece has been a member of the ] (ESA) since 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMWYQRMD6E_Benefits_0.html |title=
Greece becomes 16th ESA Member State |date=22 March 2005 |publisher=ESA |accessdate=15 May 2012}}</ref> Cooperation between ESA and the Hellenic National Space Committee began in the early 1990s. In 1994 Greece and ESA signed their first cooperation agreement. Having formally applied for full membership in 2003, Greece became the ESA's sixteenth member on 16 March 2005. As member of the ESA, Greece participates in the agency's telecommunication and technology activities, and the ] Initiative.

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Greece|Greeks}}
], on the island of ], is the capital of the ].]]
The official statistical body of Greece is the ] (ELSTAT). According to the ELSTAT, Greece's total population in 2011 was 10,815,197.<ref name="ELSTAT"/>

The birth rate in 2003 stood 9.5 per 1,000 inhabitants (14.5 per 1,000 in 1981). At the same time the mortality rate increased slightly from 8.9 per 1,000 inhabitants in 1981 to 9.6 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2003. In 2001, 16.71% of the population were 65 years old and older, 68.12% between the ages of 15 and 64 years old, and 15.18% were 14 years old and younger.<ref name="nssg">{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gr/eng_tables/hellas_in_numbers_eng.pdf|title=Greece in Numbers | publisher=] |year=2006|accessdate=14 December 2007|format= PDF| archiveurl =http://web.archive.org/web/20071124142319/http://www.statistics.gr/eng_tables/hellas_in_numbers_eng.pdf|archivedate = 24 November 2007}}</ref>

Greek society has also rapidly changed with the passage of time. Marriage rates kept falling from almost 71 per 1,000 inhabitants in 1981 until 2002, only to increase slightly in 2003 to 61 per 1,000 and then fall again to 51 in 2004.<ref name=nssg/> Divorce rates on the other hand, have seen an increase – from 191.2 per 1,000 marriages in 1991 to 239.5 per 1,000 marriages in 2004.<ref name=nssg/>

===Cities===
{{See also|List of cities in Greece}}
Almost two-thirds of the ] live in urban areas. Greece's largest and most influential metropolitan centres are those of ] and ], with metropolitan populations of approximately 4 million and 1 million inhabitants respectively. Other prominent cities with urban populations above 100,000 inhabitants include those of ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="cities">{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gr/Athena2001/Athena2001.ASP?wcu=$cmd=0$id=5200712142356520314915|title=Athena 2001 Census | publisher=]|accessdate=14 December 2007 | archiveurl =http://web.archive.org/web/20080117231653/http://www.statistics.gr/Athena2001/Athena2001.ASP?wcu=$cmd=0$id=5200712142356520314915| archivedate = 17 January 2008}}</ref>

The table below lists the largest cities in Greece, by population contained in their respective contiguous built up urban areas; which are either made up of many municipalities, evident in the cases of Athens and Thessaloniki, or are contained within a larger single municipality, case evident in most of the smaller cities of the country. The results come from the population census that took place in Greece in May 2011.

{{Largest cities of Greece}}

===Migration===
{{Main|Greek Diaspora|Immigration to Greece}}
Throughout the 20th century, millions of Greeks migrated to the ], ], ], ], and ], creating a thriving ]. Net migration started to
show positive numbers from the 1970s, but until the beginning of the 1990s, the main influx was that of returning Greek migrants.<ref name=eliamep>Triandafyllidou, Anna. . ''Critical Review and Policy Recommendations''. ]. No. 3, April 2009</ref>
]
In 1986 legal and unauthorized immigrants totaled approximately 90,000. A study from the maintains that the 2001 census recorded 762,191 persons residing in Greece without Greek citizenship, constituting around 7% of total population. Of the non-citizen residents, 48,560 were EU or ] nationals and 17,426 were Cypriots with privileged status. The majority come from Eastern European countries: Albania (56%), Bulgaria (5%) and Romania (3%), while migrants from the former Soviet Union (Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, etc.) comprise 10% of the total.<ref>Kasimis, Charalambos; Kassimi, Chryssa (June 2004). . Migration Information Source.</ref> The greatest cluster of non-EU immigrant population are the larger urban centers, especially the Municipality of Athens, with 132,000 immigrants comprising 17% of the local population, and then Thessaloniki, with 27,000 immigrants reaching 7% of the local population. There is also a considerable number of co-ethnics that came from the Greek communities of Albania and the former ].<ref name=eliamep/>

Greece, together with ] and Spain, faces a large influx of illegal immigrants trying to enter the EU. Illegal immigrants entering Greece mostly do so from the border with ] at the ]. As of 2012, the majority of illegal immigrants entering Greece came from ], followed by ]is and ]is.<ref> In crisis, Greece rounds up immigrants - Associated Press (22 August 2012)</ref> The Cabinet has approved a draft law that would allow children born in Greece to immigrant parents to apply for Greek citizenship, so long as one of them has been living in the country legally for at least five consecutive years.<ref>{{clarify|date=August 2011|reason=source in greek. at minimum, needs english translation of greek title appended to "trans_title" parameter}} {{cite web|url=http://diavatirio.net/diavat/news.php|title=Διαβατήριο&nbsp;– Διαδικτυακό περιοδικό για μετανάστες Ελληνοαλβανικός Σύνδεσμος Φιλίας Σωκράτης: Ειδήσεις | language = Greek |publisher=Diavatirio.net |accessdate=12 November 2010}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{Main|Religion in Greece}}
], in ], ].]]

The Greek Constitution recognizes the ] as the "prevailing" faith of the country, while guaranteeing freedom of religious belief for all.<ref name="con51,53"/> The Greek government does not keep statistics on religious groups and censuses do not ask for religious affiliation. According to the U.S. State Department, an estimated 97% of Greek citizens identify themselves as ], belonging to the ].<ref name="religion">{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90178.htm |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Greece |publisher=] |work=US Dept. of State/Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor |date=15 September 2006 |accessdate=14 April 2007}}</ref> In a ]&nbsp;– ] 2010 poll, 79% of Greek citizens responded that they "believe there is a God",<ref name="eurostat">{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf|title=Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology, page 204|date=Fieldwork: Jan-Feb 2010|format=PDF}}</ref>. According to other sources, 15.8% of Greeks describe themselves as "very religious", which is the highest among all European countries. The survey also found that just 3.5% never attend a church, compared to 4.9% in Poland and 59.1% in the Czech Republic.<ref name="forskning.no">{{clarify|date=August 2011|reason=source is in norwegian language. at minimum, needs english translation of title appended to "trans_title" parameter}} {{cite web|url=http://www.forskning.no/artikler/2005/oktober/1128932447.69 |title=Dagens ESS: Religiøsitet og kirkebesøk | publisher=forskning.no |language=Norwegian |date=11 October 2005 |accessdate=11 September 2010}}</ref>

Estimates of the recognized ], which is mostly located in ], range from 98,000 to 140,000,<ref name=religion/><ref name=religion2/> (between 0.9% and 1.2%) while the immigrant Muslim community numbers between 200,000 and 300,000. Albanian immigrants to Greece are usually associated with the Muslim religion, although most are secular in orientation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71383.htm |title=Greece |publisher=] |date=26 August 2005 |accessdate=6 January 2009}}</ref> Following the ] and the 1923 ], Greece and Turkey agreed to a ]. About 500,000 Muslims from Greece, predominantly ], but also other Muslims, were exchanged with approximately 1,500,000 Greeks from ] (now Turkey).<ref>. U.S.].</ref>
{{Bar box
| title=Greece religiosity (2001)<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gr.html</ref><ref>The newest polls show about 20% Greek citizens being irreligious which is much more than 1%. Ultimately, the statistics are disputed until the results of the ].</ref>
| titlebar=#ddd
| float=left
| bars=
{{Bar percent|Orthodoxy|blue|98}}
{{Bar percent|Islam|green|1.3}}
{{Bar percent|Others|grey|0.7}}
}}

{{bar box
|float=left
|title=Religiosity in Greece (2010)<ref name="eurostat" />
|width=220px
|bars=
{{bar percent|Belief in God|navy|79}}
{{bar percent|Belief in spirit or life force|lightblue|16}}
{{bar percent|No belief|gold|4}}
}}

Athens is the only EU capital without a purpose-built place of worship for its Muslim population.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5190256.stm |publisher=BBC News | title=Athens Muslims To Get a Mosque | date=18 July 2006 | accessdate=10 April 2010| first=Andrew | last=Burroughs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/05/world/europe/05iht-greek.1.6505511.html |work=The New York Times | first=Niki | last=Kitsantonis | date=6 July 2007 | accessdate=5 August 2011 | title=Muslims in Athens Build Their Own Mosque}}</ref>

Judaism has ] in Greece for more than 2,000 years. ] used to have a large presence in the city of ] (by 1900, some 80,000, or more than half of the population, were Jews),<ref>. ].</ref> but nowadays the Greek-Jewish community who survived German occupation and ], during World War II, is estimated to number around 5,500 people.<ref name=religion/><ref name=religion2/>

Greek members of Roman Catholic faith are estimated at 50,000<ref name=religion/><ref name=religion2/> with the Roman Catholic immigrant community approximating 200,000.<ref name=religion/> ] account for 500,000 followers.<ref name="religion2">{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/fundamental_rights/pdf/aneval/religion_el.pdf|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070605013415/http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/fundamental_rights/pdf/aneval/religion_el.pdf|archivedate=5 June 2007 |title=Executive Summary Discrimination on the Grounds of Religion and Belief Greece |publisher=]| author=Ktistakis, Ioannis; Sitaropoulos, Nicholas |date=22 June 2004 |accessdate=14 April 2007|format= PDF}}</ref> Protestants, including ] and ], stand at about 30,000.<ref name=religion/><ref name=religion2/> ], ] and other ] churches of the ] has 12,000 members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pentecost.gr/English/history.htm |title=Synod of Apostolic Church of Christ |publisher=Pentecost.gr |accessdate=22 March 2009}}</ref> Independent ] is the biggest Protestant denomination in Greece with 120 churches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianity.gr/church/addresses.php |title=Church addresses from the Official Site – in Greek |publisher=Christianity.gr |accessdate=22 March 2009| archiveurl =http://web.archive.org/web/20080421172048/http://www.christianity.gr/church/addresses.php|archivedate = 21 April 2008}}</ref> There are not official statistics about Free Apostolic Church of Pentecost, but the Orthodox Church estimates the followers as 20,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.egolpio.com/PENTECOSTAL/freechurpentecost.htm |title=Orthodox estimate –in Greek |publisher=Egolpio.com |accessdate=22 March 2009}}</ref> The ] report having 28,859 active members.<ref name=religion/><ref name=religion2/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report.htm|title=2009 Report | work=] |accessdate=16 December 2010}}</ref>

] has also been reportedly practiced by thousands of Greeks.

===Languages===
{{Main|Greek language|Languages of Greece|Minorities in Greece}}
]: ]. 2000.</ref>]]

The first concrete evidence of the Greek language dates back to 15th century BC and the ] script which is associated with the ]. Greek was a widely spoken ] in the Mediterranean world and beyond during ], and would eventually become the official parlance of the Byzantine Empire. During the 19th and 20th centuries there was a major dispute known as ], on whether the official language of Greece should be the archaic ], created in the 19th century and used as the state and scholarly language, or the ], the form of the ] which evolved naturally from ] and was the language of the people. The dispute was finally resolved in 1976, when Dimotiki was made the only official variation of the Greek language, and Katharevousa fell to disuse.

Greece is today relatively homogeneous in linguistic terms, with a large majority of the native population using Greek as their first or only language. Among the Greek-speaking population, speakers of the distinctive ] dialect came to Greece from Asia Minor after the ] and constitute a sizable group.

The ] in Thrace, which amounts to approximately 0.95% of the total population, consists of speakers of ], ] (])<ref>Trudgill, P. (2000). "Greece and European Turkey: From Religious to Linguistic Identity", in S Barbour, C Carmichael (eds.).''Language and Nationalism in Europe''. ]: ].</ref> and ]. Romani is also spoken by Christian ] in other parts of the country. Further minority languages have traditionally been spoken by regional population groups in various parts of the country. Their use has decreased radically in the course of the 20th century through assimilation with the Greek-speaking majority. Today they are only maintained by the older generations and are on the verge of extinction. This goes for the ], an ]-speaking group mostly located in the rural areas around the capital Athens, and for the ] and ], also known as ], whose language is closely related to ] and who used to live scattered across several areas of mountainous central Greece. Members of these groups ethnically identify as Greeks<ref>, Minority Rights Group, Greece, Report about Compliance with the Principles of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (along guidelines for state reports according to Article 25.1 of the Convention) 8 September 1999</ref> and are today all at least bilingual in Greek.

Near the northern Greek borders there are also some ]–speaking groups, locally known as ''Slavomacedonian''-speaking, most of whose members identify ethnically as Greeks. Their dialects can be linguistically classified as forms of either ] or ].<ref name="Bulgarian language">{{verify credibility|date=August 2011|reason=what is this site? no wikipedia article. seems to be operated by an individual. surely a more mainstream source can be substituted?}} {{cite web| url =http://www.omniglot.com/writing/bulgarian.htm
| title = Bulgarian Language | publisher=Omniglot&nbsp;– Writing Systems & Languages of the World| accessdate =17 October 2010 | ref = harv}}</ref><ref name="The Bulgarian language">{{cite web| url =http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/language/about/bulgarian.html |title = The Bulgarian Language | work=Kwintessential| accessdate =17 October 2010 | ref = harv}}</ref> It is estimated that in the aftermath of the population exchanges of 1923 there were somewhere between 200,000 and 400,000 Slavic speakers in Greek Macedonia.<ref name="minorities"/> The Jewish community in Greece traditionally spoke ] (Judeo-Spanish), today maintained only by a small group of a few thousand speakers.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}

===Education===
{{Main|Education in Greece}}
] is Greece's ] and the highest research establishment in the country.]]
Compulsory education in Greece comprises primary schools (Δημοτικό Σχολείο, ''Dimotikó Scholeio'') and ] (Γυμνάσιο). Nursery schools (Παιδικός σταθμός, ''Paidikós Stathmós'') are popular but not compulsory. ]s (Νηπιαγωγείο, ''Nipiagogeío'') are now compulsory for any child above 4 years of age. Children start primary school aged 6 and remain there for six years. Attendance at gymnasia starts at age 12 and last for three years.

Greece's post-compulsory secondary education consists of two school types: unified upper secondary schools (Γενικό Λύκειο, ''Genikό Lykeiό'') and ]–] educational schools (Τεχνικά και Επαγγελματικά Εκπαιδευτήρια, "TEE"). Post-compulsory secondary education also includes vocational training institutes (Ινστιτούτα Επαγγελματικής Κατάρτισης, "IEK") which provide a formal but unclassified level of education. As they can accept both ''Gymnasio'' (lower secondary school) and ''Lykeio'' (upper secondary school) graduates, these institutes are not classified as offering a particular level of education.
] in ], the first ] of modern Greece]]

According to the Framework Law (3549/2007), Public higher education "Highest Educational Institutions" (Ανώτατα Εκπαιδευτικά Ιδρύματα, ''Anótata Ekpaideytiká Idrýmata'', "ΑΕΙ") consists of two parallel sectors:the University sector (Universities,Polytechnics,Fine Arts Schools,the Open University) and the Technological sector (Technological Education Institutions (TEI) and the School of Pedagogic and Technological Education). There are also State Non-University Tertiary Institutes offering vocationally oriented courses of shorter duration (2 to 3 years) which operate under the authority of other Ministries. Students are admitted to these Institutes according to their performance at national level examinations taking place after completion of the third grade of ''Lykeio''. Additionally, students over twenty-two years old may be admitted to the ] through a form of lottery. The ] is the oldest university in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Greek education system also provides special kindergartens, primary and secondary schools for people with special needs or difficulties in learning. Specialist gymnasia and high schools offering musical, theological and physical education also exist.

===Health===
{{Main|Health care in Greece}}
]
The ] is ] and is ranked as one of the best in the world. In a 2000 ] report it was ranked 14th in the overall assessment and 11th at quality of service, surpassing countries such as the United Kingdom (18th) and Germany (25th).<ref name="WHO report">{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/whr/2000/en/whr00_en.pdf |title=Health Systems: Improving Performance |work=] 2000 |publisher=] |accessdate=22 July 2011}}</ref> In 2010, there were 138 hospitals with 31,000 beds in the country, but on 1 July 2011, the ] announced its plans to decrease the number to 77 hospitals with 36,035 beds, as a necessary reform to reduce expenses and further enhance healthcare standards.<ref name="Health Reform">{{clarify|date=August 2011|reason=source in greek language. at minimum, needs english translation of greek title appended to "trans_title" parameter}} {{cite web|url=http://www.ethnos.gr/article.asp?catid=22768&subid=2&pubid=63299225 |title=ΠΡΟΤΑΣΗ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΚΩΝ ΑΝΑΔΙΑΤΑΞΕΩΝ ΜΟΝΑΔΩΝ ΥΓΕΙΑΣ ΕΣΥ | language=Greek | format =PDF| date=1 July 2011 |publisher=tovima.gr |accessdate=22 July 2011}}</ref> Greece's healthcare expenditures as a percentage of GDP were 9.6% in 2007 according to a 2011 ] report, just above the OECD average of 9.5%.<ref name="OECD">{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/45/54/38979850.pdf |title=OECD Health Data 2011: How Does Greece Compare |publisher=]|accessdate=22 July 2011}}</ref> The country has the largest number of doctors-to-population ratio of any OECD country.<ref name="OECD" />

Life expectancy in Greece is 80.3 years, above the OECD average of 79.5.<ref name="OECD" /> and among the highest in the world. The same OECD report showed that Greece had the largest percentage of adult daily smokers of any of the 34 OECD members.<ref name="OECD" /> The country's obesity rate is 18.1%, which is above the OECD average of 15.1% but considerably below the American rate of 27.7%.<ref name="OECD" /> In 2008, Greece had the highest rate of perceived good health in the OECD, at 98.5%.<ref name="OECD Health Status">{{cite web|url=http://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?DataSetCode=HEALTH_STAT |title=Perceived Health Status|publisher=] |accessdate=22 July 2011}}</ref> Infant mortality is one of the lowest in the ] with a rate of 3.1 deaths per 1,000 live births.<ref name="OECD"/>

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of Greece|List of Greeks}}
] continues to be used for staging ancient Greek plays.]]
The culture of Greece has evolved over thousands of years, beginning in ] and continuing most notably into ], through the influence of the ] and its ]ern continuation, the Eastern Roman or ]. Other cultures and nations, such as the ], the ], the ], the ], and the ] have also left their influence on modern Greek culture, although historians credit the ] with revitalising Greece and giving birth to a single, cohesive entity of its multi-faceted culture.

===Philosophy===
{{Main|Ancient Greek philosophy}}
Most western philosophical traditions began in ] in the 6th century BC. The first philosophers are called "Presocratics," which designates that they came before ], whose contributions mark a turning point in western thought. The Presocratics were from the western or the eastern colonies of Greece and only fragments of their original writings survive, in some cases merely a single sentence.

A new period of philosophy started with Socrates. Like the ], he rejected entirely the physical speculations in which his predecessors had indulged, and made the thoughts and opinions of people his starting-point. Aspects of Socrates were first united from ], who also combined with them many of the principles established by earlier philosophers, and developed the whole of this material into the unity of a comprehensive system.

] of ], the most important disciple of Plato, shared with his teacher the title of the greatest philosopher of antiquity. But while Plato had sought to elucidate and explain things from the supra-sensual standpoint of the forms, his pupil preferred to start from the facts given us by experience. Except from these three most significant Greek philosophers other known schools of ] from other founders during ancient times were ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iep.utm.edu/greekphi/|title=Ancient Greek Philosophy|work=Internet encyclopedia of philosophy}}</ref>

===Literature===
{{Main|Greek Literature|Modern Greek literature}}
] wrote the '']'', which later became the national anthem.]]

Greek literature can be divided into three main categories: Ancient, Byzantine and modern Greek literature.

At the beginning of Greek literature stand the two monumental works of ]: the '']'' and the '']''. Though dates of composition vary, these works were fixed around 800&nbsp;BC or after. In the classical period many of the genres of western literature became more prominent. ], ]s, ], ], ]; dramatic presentations of comedy and ];], ] treatises, philosophical dialectics, and philosophical treatises all arose in this period.The two major lyrical poets were ] and ].
The Classical era also saw the dawn of drama.

Of the hundreds of ] written and performed during the classical age, only a limited number of plays by three authors have survived: those of ], ], and ]. The surviving plays by ] are also a treasure trove of comic presentation, while ] and ] are two of the most influential historians in this period.
The greatest prose achievement of the 4th century was in philosophy with the works of the three great philosophers.

]]]

] refers to literature of the Byzantine Empire written in ], ] and early ], and it is the expression of the intellectual life of the ] during the Christian ].

] refers to literature written in common Modern Greek, emerging from late Byzantine times in the 11th century. The Cretan Renaissance poem '']'' is undoubtedly the masterpiece of this period of Greek literature. It is a verse ] written around 1600 by ](1553–1613). Later, during the period of ], writers such as ] and ] will prepare with their works the ] (1821–1830).

Leading literary figures of modern Greece include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Two Greek authors have been awarded the ]: ] in 1963 and ] in 1979.

===Cinema===
{{Main|Greek cinema}}
]]]

Cinema first appeared in Greece in 1896 but the first actual cine-theatre was opened in 1907. In 1914 the ''Asty Films Company'' was founded and the production of long films begun. ''Golfo'' (Γκόλφω), a well known traditional love story, is considered the first Greek ], although there were several minor productions such as newscasts before this. In 1931 ] directed ''Daphnis and Chloe'' (''Δάφνις και Χλόη''), contained the first nude scene in the history of European cinema; it was also the first Greek movie which was played abroad. In 1944 ] was honoured with the ] ] for '']''.

The 1950s and early 1960s are considered by many as the Greek Golden age of Cinema. Directors and actors of this era were recognized as important historical figures in Greece and some gained international acclaim: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] etc. More than sixty films per year were made, with the majority having film noir elements . Notable films were '']'' (1955 directed by ]), ''Πικρό Ψωμί'' (1951, directed by Grigoris Grigoriou), '']'' (1956 directed by ]), '']'' (1955 directed by Cacoyannis and written by Kampanellis). Cacoyannis also directed ''Zorba the Greek'' with Anthony Quinn which received Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film nominations. ] also contributed to this period with movies such as ''Λατέρνα, Φτώχεια και Φιλότιμο'', '']'', '']'', ''Το ξύλο βγήκε από τον Παράδεισο'' and many more. During the 1970s and 1980s ] directed a series of notable and appreciated movies. His film '']'' won the ] and the ] at the ].

There were also internationally renowned filmmakers in the Greek diaspora such as the Greek-American ].

===Cuisine===
{{Main|Greek cuisine}}
] with additional ingredients.]]

] is an example of the healthy ] (]).<ref>{{cite book|author=Sari Edelstein|title=Food, Cuisine, and Cultural Competency for Culinary, Hospitality, and Nutrition Professionals|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lj0CeaIIETkC&pg=PA147|accessdate=27 December 2011|date=22 October 2010|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning|isbn=978-0-7637-5965-0|pages=147–149}}</ref> Greek cuisine incorporates fresh ingredients into a variety of local dishes such as ], ], ], ] and ]. Some dishes can be traced back to ancient Greece like ]{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}} (a thick purée of walnuts, almonds, crushed garlic and olive oil), ] ], ] (white or rosé wine sealed with pine resin) and pasteli (candy bar with sesame seeds baked with honey). Throughout Greece people often enjoy eating from small dishes such as ] with various dips such as ], grilled octopus and small fish, ], ](rice, currants and pine kernels wrapped in vine leaves), various ], ]s and cheese. ] is added to almost every dish.

Sweet desserts such as ], and drinks such as ], ] and a variety of wines including retsina. Greek cuisine differs widely from different parts of the mainland and from island to island. It uses some flavorings more often than other Mediterranean cuisines: ], ], garlic, onion, ] and ] leaves. Other common herbs and spices include ], ] and ]seed. Many Greek recipes, especially in the northern parts of the country, use "sweet" spices in combination with meat, for example ] and ] in stews.

===Music===
{{Main|Music of Greece}}
], composer of the ], representative of the founding generation of the ].]]
Greek vocal music extends far back into ancient times where mixed-gender choruses performed for entertainment, celebration and spiritual reasons. Instruments during that period included the double-reed ] and the plucked string instrument, the ], especially the special kind called a ]. Music played an important role in the education system during ancient times. Boys were taught music from the age of six. Later influences from the ], Middle East and the ] had also effect on Greek music.

While the new technique of polyphony was developing in the West, the ] resisted any type of change. Therefore, ] remained monophonic and without any form of instrumental accompaniment. As a result, and despite certain attempts by certain Greek chanters (such as Manouel Gazis, Ioannis Plousiadinos or the Cypriot Ieronimos o Tragoudistis), Byzantine music was deprived of elements of which in the West encouraged an unimpeded development of art. However, this method which kept music away from polyphony, along with centuries of continuous culture, enabled monophonic music to develop to the greatest heights of perfection. Byzantium presented the monophonic ]; a melodic treasury of inestimable value for its rhythmical variety and expressive power.

] dancers of traditional music.]]
Along with the Byzantine (Church) chant and music, the Greek people also cultivated the ] which is divided into two cycles, the ] and ]. The akritic was created between the 9th and 10th centuries. and expressed the life and struggles of the ] (frontier guards) of the Byzantine empire, the most well known being the stories associated with ]. The klephtic cycle came into being between the late Byzantine period and the start of the ]. The klephtic cycle, together with historical songs, ''paraloghes'' (narrative song or ballad), love songs, ], wedding songs, songs of exile and dirges express the life of the Greeks. There is a unity between the Greek people's struggles for freedom, their joys and sorrow and attitudes towards love and death.

The ]an ] (καντάδες ']s'; sing.: καντάδα) became the forerunners of the Greek modern song, influencing its development to a considerable degree. For the first part of the next century, several Greek composers continued to borrow elements from the Heptanesean style. The most successful songs during the period 1870–1930 were the so-called Athenian serenades, and the songs performed on stage (επιθεωρησιακά τραγούδια 'theatrical revue songs') in ], ]s and ]s that were dominating Athens' theater scene.

]
], initially a music associated with the lower classes, later (and especially after the ]) reached greater general acceptance as the rough edges of its overt subcultural character were softened and polished, sometimes to the point of unrecognizability. It was the base of the later ] (song of the people).

Regarding the classical music, it was through the ] (which were under western rule and influence) that all the major advances of the western European classical music were introduced to mainland Greeks. The region is notable for the birth of the first School of modern Greek classical music (], Greek:''Επτανησιακή Σχολή''), established in 1815. Prominent representatives of this genre include ], ], ] and ]. ] is considered the founder of the Greek National School of Music. In the 20th century, Greek composers have made a significant impact on the development of ] and modern classical music, with figures such as ], ] and ] achieving international prominence.

===Sports===
{{Main|Sport in Greece}}
{{Multiple image
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| caption2 = ] at the first day of the 1896 Summer Olympics (top) and the ], during the 2004 games (bottom).
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Greece is the birthplace of the ], first recorded in 776 BC. The ancient ] in Athens, which was essentially rebuilt in 1895, hosted the ] in 1896. It had also hosted Olympic Games in 1870 and 1875 (see ]). The Panathenaic stadium also hosted the Games in 1906 and was used to host events at the ].

The ], ranked 14th in the ] in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html|title=FIFA World Rankings |publisher=] |accessdate=23 July 2009 |month=July |year=2009}}</ref> won the ] in one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport.<ref name="Euro2004">{{Cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |title=Greece Win Euro 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2004/3860105.stm |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=7 May 2007 |date=4 July 2004}}</ref> The ] is the highest professional football league in the country comprising sixteen teams. The most successful are ], ] and ].

The ] has a decades-long tradition of excellence in the sport. As of 2012, it ranked 4th in the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/even/rank/rankMen.asp|title=Ranking Men after Olympic Games: Tournament Men (2008) |month=August | year=2008|accessdate=24 August 2008 | publisher=]}}</ref> They have won the ] twice in ] and ],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilkinson |first=Simon|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2172612 |title=Greece Tops Germany for Euro Title |accessdate=7 May 2007 |date=26 September 2005 | publisher=]}}</ref> and have reached the final four in two of the last four ]s, taking second place in 2006. The domestic top basketball league, ], is composed of fourteen teams. The most successful Greek teams are ], ], ] and ].

] and volleyball are also practiced widely in Greece while ] and ] are relatively popular in ] and ] respectively.

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|<!--Eurasia-->|Europe|<!--Southern Europe-->|European Union|NATO|Greece}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* <!-- {{wikipedia books link|Greece}} -->
* ]
* ]
{{-}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em|group="note"}}

;Bibliography
{{refbegin|2}}
* {{Cite book | author=Dagtoglou, P.D. |title=Constitutional Law&nbsp;– Individual Rights&nbsp;– Volume I |year=1991 |publisher=Ant. N. Sakkoulas Publishers|location=Athens-Komotini |language=Greek |chapter=Protection of Individual Rights}}
* {{Cite book |last=Mavrias |first=Kostas G. |title=Constitutional Law |year=2002|publisher=Ant. N. Sakkoulas Publishers |location=Athens |language=Greek |isbn=978-960-15-0663-0}}
* {{Cite book |title=The Constitution of Greece|url=http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/f3c70a23-7696-49db-9148-f24dce6a27c8/001-156%20aggliko.pdf|accessdate=21 March 2011 |year=2008 |publisher=] |location=Athens|isbn=978-960-560-073-0|format=PDF|author=Paparrigopoulos, Xenophon; Vassilouni, Stavroula (translators)}}
* {{Cite book | author=] |title=The "Acquis" of the Constitutional Revision |year=2002 |publisher=Ant. N. Sakkoulas Publishers|location=Athens |language=Greek |isbn=978-960-15-0617-3|chapter=The Contribution of the Revision of 2001}}
* {{Cite journal | author=Pappas, Takis |year=2003 |month=April |title=The Transformation of the Greek Party System Since 1951 |journal=]|volume=26|issue=2|pages=90–114|doi=10.1080/01402380512331341121|url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/wep/2003/00000026/00000002/art00005|accessdate=8 June 2008}}
* {{Cite journal | author=] |title=A Concise History of Greece |edition=Second |location= Cambridge |publisher=]|year=2002 |isbn=978-0-521-00479-4 }}.
* Kalaitzidis, Akis (2010). ''Europe's Greece: A Giant in the Making'' (]) 219 pages; $85. the impact of European Union membership on Greek politics, economics, and society.
* "Minorities in Greece&nbsp;– Historical Issues and New Perspectives". ''History and Culture of South Eastern Europe''. An Annual Journal. München (Slavica) 2003.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Greece|voy=Greece}}
; Government
*
*
*
*

; General information
* at ]
* at ]
* {{CIA_World_Factbook link|gr|Greece}}
* at ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Greece}}
* from the ]
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* {{Wikiatlas|Greece}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|192307}}

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GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGMKLHNNJHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHKLPMHHP0M,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL