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| {{redirect4|Hellas|Greece}} | |||
| {{Infobox Country or territory | |||
| |native_name = <span style="line-height:1.33em;"> Ελληνική Δημοκρατία<br>''Ellinikí Dimokratía''</span> | |||
| |conventional_long_name = <span style="line-height:1.33em;">Hellenic Republic</span> | |||
| |common_name = Greece | |||
| |image_flag = Flag of Greece.svg | |||
| |image_coat = Coat of arms of Greece.png | |||
| |symbol_type = Coat of arms | |||
| |image_map = LocationGreece.png | |||
| |national_motto = {{lang|el|Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος}}<br>(]: {{lang|el|'']''}})<br>(]: "Freedom or Death")<!-- See http://www.culture.gr/4/42/421/42103/42103e/g42103e3.html and http://humanitas.filg.uj.edu.pl/files/terminus/artykuly/d9b23762d6da8f325e2b215ff5338d2b.pdf --> | |||
| |national_anthem = {{lang|el|Ύμνος εις την Ελευθερίαν}}<br>("]") | |||
| |official_languages = ] | |||
| |capital = ] | |||
| |latd=38| latm=00| latNS=N| longd=23| longm=43| longEW=E | |||
| |largest_city = ] | |||
| |government_type = ]ary ] | |||
| |leader_title1 = ] | |||
| |leader_title2 = ] | |||
| |leader_name1 = ] | |||
| |leader_name2 = ] | |||
| |accessionEUdate = ], ] | |||
| |area_rank = 96th | |||
| |area_magnitude = 1 E11 | |||
| |area = 131,990 | |||
| |areami² = 50,944 <!--Do not remove per ]--> | |||
| |percent_water = 0.8669 | |||
| |population_estimate = 11,244,118 | |||
| |population_estimate_rank = 74th | |||
| |population_estimate_year = 2005 | |||
| |population_census = 10,964,020 | |||
| |population_census_year = 2001 | |||
| |population_density = 84 | |||
| |population_densitymi² = 218 <!--Do not remove per ]--> | |||
| |population_density_rank = 108th | |||
| |GDP_PPP = $261.018 billion <!--IMF--> | |||
| |GDP_PPP_rank = 37th | |||
| |GDP_PPP_year = 2006 | |||
| |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $23,518 | |||
| |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 30th | |||
| |sovereignty_type = ] | |||
| |sovereignty_note = from ] | |||
| |established_event1 = Last Independent Greek State | |||
| |established_event2 = Declared | |||
| |established_event3 = Recognized | |||
| |established_date1 = 1461 ] | |||
| |established_date2 = ] ] | |||
| |established_date3 = 1829 | |||
| |HDI = 0.921 | |||
| |HDI_rank = 24th | |||
| |HDI_year = 2004 | |||
| |HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font> | |||
| |currency = ] (])<sup>2</sup> | |||
| |currency_code = EUR | |||
| |country_code = | |||
| |time_zone = ] | |||
| |utc_offset = +2 | |||
| |time_zone_DST = ] | |||
| |utc_offset_DST = +3 | |||
| |cctld = ] <sup>3</sup> | |||
| |calling_code = 30 | |||
| |footnotes = <sup>1<sup> Monarchy rejected by referendum on December 8th, 1974.<br/><sup>2</sup> Prior to 2001: ].<br/><sup>3</sup> The ] domain is also used, as it is shared with other ] member states. | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Greece''' ({{lang-el|Ελλάδα}} {{IPA|}} or Ελλάς {{IPA|}}), officially the '''Hellenic Republic''' (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία {{IPA|}}), is a country in ], situated on the southern end of the ]. It is bordered by ], the ] and ] to the north and by ] to the east. The ] lies to the east of mainland Greece while the ] lies to the west. Both parts of the eastern ] basin, feature a vast number of ]. | |||
| Greece lies at the juncture of ], ], and ]. It is heir to the heritages of ], the ], and nearly four centuries of ] rule<ref>"Greece." ]. ]. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 6 Sept. 2006 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9106266>.</ref>. Regarded as the cradle of ] and being the birthplace of ],<ref>Finley, M. I. Democracy Ancient and Modern. 2d ed., 1985. London: Hogarth.</ref> Western ],<ref>History of Philosophy, Volume 1 by Frederick Copleston</ref> the ], ], ], major scientific principles, and ]<ref>Brockett, Oscar G. History of the Theatre. 6th ed., 1991. Boston; London: Allyn and Bacon.</ref> (including both ] and ]), Greece has a particularly long and eventful history and a cultural heritage considerably influential in ], ] and the ]. Today, Greece is a ], member of the ] since ] and a member of the ] since ]. ], ], ] and ] are the country's major cities. | |||
| == History == | |||
| {{details|History of Greece}} | |||
| :''See also: ] for a different angle.'' | |||
| :''See also:]'' | |||
| ] on the ]]] | |||
| The shores of Greece's ] saw the emergence of the first advanced civilizations in ] whose impact is inseparable from today's western institutions. | |||
| Home to the ] civilization, Greece became a Roman province and in the process transformed Rome itself. Following the emergence of the Greek-speaking ] and 400 years of Ottoman control the modern Greek state evolved after 1821-1830 as an independent Kingdom. It increased its territorial area up until 1922, which saw the collapse of the Greek presence in Asia Minor. | |||
| ] in the site of ], ]]] | |||
| Greece was growing economically, whilst becoming politically more liberal. In 1877, Prime Minister ] curbed the power of the monarchy to interfere in the Assembly. This period was punctuated by the undertaking of one of the largest construction initiatives in Europe: the creation of the ] (1881 - 1893), and in ] the ] were revived in Athens, judged a success. As a result of the ], ], ], ], most of ] and southern Macedonia, including ], were incorporated into Greece. King George was assassinated in Thessaloniki in ] and succeeded by his Germanophile son, ], whose struggle with Prime Minister ] resulted in Greece's joining of the ] against Germany and Austria, and the abdication of King Constantine in favor of his son, ]. | |||
| ], the Prime Minister who defined his era.]] | |||
| A small part of ], which still retained a majority Greek population and was centred around the city of ] (known today as ]), was awarded to Greece by the ] for having sided with the ] powers in ] against the ]. Very soon, however, Turkish nationalists, led by ], denounced the Sultan's government in Istanbul and formed a new one in ], eventually defeating the Greeks (]) when the ] stopped supplying the Greek armies. | |||
| Following the regaining of control of ] and the destruction of Smyrna, a new government was established. Soon afterwards, the ] was signed, fixing the borders to this date. A population exchange was included in the agreement and immediately afterward, around five hundred thousand Muslims then living in mainland Greek territory left for Turkey in exchange for more than 1.22 million Greek residents of Asia Minor (excluding ], ] and ]). | |||
| In 1936, General ] established an authoritarian conservative ] in Greece, known as the ], and shortly before the outbreak of ] a disputed referendum was held, resulting in a 'yes' to restore the ] under ]. | |||
| ], architect of the famous Greek "]" against the Italian dictator ], along with King ], crown prince ] and General ] at the successful Albanian Campaign against the invasion of ] ] during ]]] | |||
| On October 28, 1940, the ] dictator ] demanded that Greece allow ] troops to enter the country and to surrender its arms; the Greek government gave what became known as the simple negative response of “No” (see ]) — thereby immediately siding with the ] (see ]). Italian troops poured over from ] but were foiled by the Greeks at the Albanian front, giving the Allies their first victory against ] (see ]). Since ] and his generals needed to secure their strategic southern flank, German forces, whose ranks included troops from ] and ], successfully invaded, and the ] began in April–May, 1941 (see ]). Greek partisan resistance to the occupation was fierce, often with bitter retaliation from the occupiers. ] however, such as that waged in ], is believed to have forced a delay in German plans to initiate invasion against the Soviet Union, thereby extending the campaign into the punishing Russian winter, while the extremely heavy losses of German paratroop forces foiled a planned German campaign in the ] against British-held Iraq and its oil fields. Germany retained its grip on the country until 1944 when German troops withdrew. The Jewish community of Thessaloniki suffered the heaviest toll by far and the Greek economy languished. | |||
| ]: The aftermath of a fierce street fighting in ], ] ].]] | |||
| After liberation from Nazi Germany, Greece experienced an equally bitter ] between the communist-led Democratic Army and Hellenic Army lasting until 1949, when the communists were defeated in the battle of Grammos-Vitsi. During the 1950s and 1960s, Greece experienced a gradual and consistent economic growth, aided by significant grants and loans by the ] through the ]. However, starting in 1965, a period of turbulence and the subsequent political uncertainty led to a coup d’etat against the elected government and ] that took place in the dawn of April 21, 1967, and the establishment of a US-supported ] (]). In the ensuing years, a number of sympathisers of the left, as well as a number of politicians and communists, were arrested and brutally tortured by the regime. Many politicians evaded capture and found political refuge in other European countries such as ] and ], but the then-head of state, King Constantine, officially acknowledged the new regime, which was also then duly recognized by the international community, and diplomatic relations continued; he attempted a counter coup in December, 1967 which was to fail, and he went to Rome in exile. It collapsed in July 1974. | |||
| ] arrives in Athens on the French Presidential jet, courtesy of French President ], to assume the leadership of government of national unity that would lead to free elections. He is greeted by a jubilant crowd of supporters craving for the restoration of democratic rule.]] | |||
| Ex Premier ] was invited back on July 23, 1974 from Paris, where he had found political refuge. Marking the beginning of the ] era of Greek history, the plane carrying Constantine Karamanlis landed in Athens amidst massive celebrations and enormous crowds in ]; Karamanlis was immediately appointed interim prime minister under President Gizikis, and founded the conservative ] party, going on to win the ensuing elections by a large margin. Democracy was finally restored and a democratic republican constitution came into force in ]. The monarchy was abolished by a referendum held that same year, denying King Constantine II and his family any access to the country until 2004. Meanwhile, another prominent figure of the past, politician ], had also returned from the United States, and founded the Panhellenic Socialist Party, or ]. | |||
| ] ] was held on ] in the ].]] | |||
| Karamanlis won the ] parliamentary elections, but resigned in ] giving way to ]; Papandreou, however, won the elections held on ], ] by a landslide and formed the first ] government in Greece's history. Papandreou dominated the Greek political stage for almost 15 years until his death in ], ], by which time ], another prominent political figure of PASOK, had already succeeded him as Prime Minister. Simitis remained in office until ], ], when ] of the conservative ] party won elections. | |||
| Greece became the tenth member of the ] on January 1, 1981 and ever since the nation has experienced remarkable and sustained economic growth. 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 have raised the country's standard of living to unprecedented levels. The country adopted the ] in ] and successfully organised the ] in ]. | |||
| == Politics == | |||
| {{morepolitics|country=Greece}} | |||
| ] | |||
| The 1975 ], describes Greece as a "presidential parliamentary republic”, grants extensive specific guarantees of ] and vests the powers of the ] in a President elected by ] for a 5 year term. | |||
| The Greek governmental structure is similar to that found in many Western democracies, and has been described as a compromise between the French and German models. The ] and cabinet play the central role in the political process, while the President performs some executive and legislative functions in addition to ceremonial duties. | |||
| The ] is the head of government, and ] is exercised by that government. ] is vested in both the government and the ]. The ] is independent of the executive and the legislature and comprises three Supreme Courts: the ] (Άρειος Πάγος), the ] (Συμβούλιο της Επικρατείας) and the Court of Auditors (Ελεγκτικό Συνέδριο). The ] system is also comprised of civil courts, which judge civil and penal cases and administrative courts, which judge administrative cases, namely disputes between the citizens and the State. | |||
| Greece elects a ] by ] of all citizens over the age of 18. The ] (Vouli ton Ellinon) has 300 members, elected for a four-year term. Since the restoration of democracy the party system is dominated by the liberal-conservative ] (Νέα Δημοκρατία - Nea Dimokratia) and the socialist PASOK, or ] (Πανελλήνιο Σοσιαλιστικό Κίνημα - Panellinio Sosialistiko Kinima). Non-negligible parties include the ] and the ]. {{see|List of political parties in Greece}} | |||
| On ], ], ], president of the ] party and nephew of the late ], was elected as the new ], thus marking his party's first electoral victory in nearly 11 years. Karamanlis took over Government from ] of PASOK, who had been in office since January 1996. | |||
| == Administrative divisions == | |||
| {{main|Peripheries of Greece|Regions of Greece|Prefectures of Greece}} | |||
| '''Peripheries:''' Greece consists of 13 administrative regions known as peripheries, which subdivide further into the 54 ]s ({{lang|el|''nomoi''}}, singular — {{lang|el|'']''}}). For more detailed maps of the peripheries and/or prefectures, see the ] or ] articles. | |||
| '''Autonomous region:'''Greece has one autonomous region, ] ({{lang|el|''Agio Oros''}} — Holy Mountain) in Macedonia. | |||
| == Military == | |||
| ''See ]'' | |||
| == Geography == | |||
| {{main|Geography of Greece}} | |||
| ] | |||
| Greece consists of a mountainous and craggy mainland jutting out into the sea at the southern end of the ]. The ] peninsula (separated from the mainland by the canal of the ]); and ] (around 3,000), including ], ], ], ], the ] and the ] groups of the ] as well as the ] islands. Greece has the 7th or 8th longest coastline in the world with more than 15,000 ]s (9,300 ]); its land boundary is 1,160 kilometres (721 mi). | |||
| Four fifths of Greece consist of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in ]. Western Greece contains a number of lakes and wetlands and it is dominated by the ] mountain range. Pindus has a maximum elevation of 2,636 metres (8,648 ]) and it is essentially a prolongation of the ]. | |||
| The range continues through the western Peloponnese, crosses the islands of ] and Antikythera and find its way into southwestern Aegean, in the island of ] where it eventually ends. (the islands of the Aegean are peaks of underwater mountains that once consisted 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. Most notably, the impressive ] formation consisting of high, steep boulders provides a breathtaking experience for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit the area each year. Special lifts transfer visitors to the scenic monasteries that lie on top of those rocks. Meteora are situated in the ] prefecture. The Vikos-Aoos Gorge is yet another spectacular formation. The Vicos-Aoos Gorge is a popular hotspot for those in fond of extreme sports.], the highest mountain of Greece. View from the town of ].]] The mythical ] is the highest mountain in the country, located in the southwestern ] prefecture, near ]. Mytikas in Olympus range has a height of 2,918 metres (9,570 ft) at its highest peak. Once considered the throne of the Gods, it is today extremely popular among hikers and climbers who deem its height as a challenge. Moreover, northeastern Greece features yet another high altitude mountain range, the Rhodope range, spreading across the periphery of ]; this area is covered with vast, thick, ancient forests. The famous Dadia forest is in the prefecture of ], in the far northeast of the country. | |||
| Expansive plains are primarily located in the prefectures of ], ] and ]. They constitute key economic regions as they are among the few arable places in the country. ] and ] are the two largest cities of Thessaly. | |||
| 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. | |||
| ].]] | |||
| == Climate of Greece == | |||
| {{main|Climate of Greece}} | |||
| The ] of Greece can be categorised into three types that influence well defined regions of its territory. The ] mountain range strongly affects the climate of the country. The three distinct types are the Mediterranean, the Alpine and the Temperate types. The first one features mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The Cyclades, the Dodecanese, Crete, Eastern Peloponessus and parts of the Sterea Ellada region are mostly affected by this particular type. Temperatures rarely reach extreme values although snowfalls do occur occasionally even in the Cyclades or Crete during the winter months. The Alpine type is dominant mainly in Western Greece (Epirus, Central Greece, Thessaly, Western Macedonia as well as in the western and central parts of Peloponessus, including the prefectures of ], ] and parts of ], where the ] range passes by). Finally the Temperate type affects Central and Eastern Macedonia as well as Thrace, mainly affecting the cities of ], ] and the towns of northern ]; it features cold, damp winters (with 52 inches of rain in Corfu and 25 inches in Crete)and hot, dry summers. ] is located in a transitional area featuring both the Mediterranean and the temperate types.It averages about 16 inches of rain annually. The city's northern suburbs are dominated by the temperate type while the downtown area and the southern suburbs enjoy a typical Mediterranean type. | |||
| == Economy == | |||
| {{main|Economy of Greece}} | |||
| ] depicting Goddess ]'s symbol, the ].]] | |||
| Greece has a ] ]. The nation's main economic activity is primarily based on the tourism, shipping, banking & finance and construction sectors while the country serves as the regional business hub for many of the world's largest multinational companies. Greece enjoys a high standard of living, ranking 24th on the 2006 ] and 22nd on ]'s 2005 world-wide quality-of-life index and it has an average per capita income that has been estimated at $23,518<ref>IMF World Economic Outlook, April 2006.</ref> for the year 2006. The implementation of a number of structural and fiscal reforms, combined with considerable European Union funding over the last 25 years and increasing private consumption have contributed to the fact that the Greek GDP annual growth consistently out-performs the European average. | |||
| ] connects the ] with mainland Greece.]] | |||
| Main exports from Greece include: | |||
| ], make up the largest, most vital and fastest-growing sector of the ], accounting for about 70% of GDP in 2002 followed by manufacturing and agriculture. The thriving ] is a major source of foreign exchange earnings and revenue accounting for 14.3% of Greece’s total GDP and employing (directly or indirectly) 659,719 people (or 16.5% of total employment). Fifteenth country in the world concerning the total number of tourists, Greece welcomed over 16.5 million visitors in 2004 alone, and almost 18 million in 2005, after the ]. With earnings of €12 bn in foreign exchange and a leading fleet on a global basis, the shipping industry is arguably considered as one of Greece's most important industries. The Greek banking & Finance sector is also an important source of revenue and employment and Greek banks have invested heavily in the Balkan region. The manufacturing sector accounts for about 13% of GDP with the food industry leading in growth, profit and export potential. High-technology equipment production, especially for telecommunications, is also a fast-growing sector. Other important areas include textiles, building materials, machinery, transport equipment, and electrical appliances. Construction (10%GDP) and agriculture (7%) are yet two other significant sectors of the Greek economic activity. | |||
| ] industry is an important source of income in Greece. Here, the popular Milopotas Beach in the island of ].]] | |||
| After the end of the ] in 1949 and for more than two decades Greece achieved the second highest economic growth rate in the world after ], resulting in a dramatic improvement of living standards (the "]"). Since Greece became a full member of the ], on ], ], it has benefited from cohesion funds, along with ], ] and ] that have contributed considerably to the nation's remarkable economic development since the 1980s. In 1989 Greece belonged to a group of 22 "]". | |||
| During the second quarter of 2006, Greece experienced a strong 4.1% growth rate, while in the same period of the previous year, the growth rate was 3.4%. This is among the highest rates in the EU and the ], where the average growth rates for these periods were estimated to stand as 1.6% and 1.3% respectively. Current challenges include the further reduction of ] which currently stands at 8.8%, the reform of the social security system, the further privatization of the ], the overhauling of the tax system and the further reduction of certain bureaucratic inefficiencies. Reduction of the ] to the Eurozone target of 3% of ] had also become a key issue. Under a negotiated agreement, the EU has given Greece a two year deadline (budgets of 2005 and 2006) in order to bring the deficit in line with the criteria of the ] ], namely below 3%. In 2005, the deficit had declined significantly and stood at 4.5% of GDP, in line with Greece's commitments to the European Union. As of mid 2006, the achievement of that goal is deemed as certain within the time constraints set by ]. | |||
| == Science and technology == | |||
| Because of its strategic location, qualified workforce and political and economic stability, many multinational companies, such as ], ], ], ], have their regional R&D Headquarters 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 has increased considerably since the beginning of the past decade, from 0,38% in 1989, to 0,65% in 2001.], Greece's third largest city.]] | |||
| R&D spending in Greece remains 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 Finland and Ireland. | |||
| In 2001, there were 55,626 researchers (from 30,500 in 1993)in such fields as telecommunications, microelectronics, multimedia, computer science, computer networks and software engineering, attracting the interest of many multinational companies and producing an increasing number of high quality publications. Of that number approximately, 33,507 were employed in Higher Education Foundations, 13,100 by private companies, 8,800 in State-owned Research Centres and approximately 200 in non-profit private research centres. | |||
| Greece's technology parks with incubator facilities include: , the , the and the . | |||
| Greece has been a member of the ], or ], since 2005. Cooperation between ESA and the ] 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 ESA's 16th member on March 16th 2005. As member of the ESA, Greece participates in the agency's telecommunication and technology activities, and the ] Initiative. | |||
| == Demography == | |||
| {{main|Demographics of Greece}} | |||
| {{Hellenic Culture}} | |||
| The official Statistical body of Greece is the . | |||
| '''Vital Statistics: '''According to the NSSG, in 2005, Greece had a total population of 11.082.752 of whom 5.486.632 were males and 5.596.119 females. As statistics from 1971, 1981 and 2001 show, the Greek population has been ageing the past several decades. The birth rate in 2003 stood 9,5/1,000 inhabitants (14,5/1,000 in 1981). At the same time the mortality rate increased slightly from 8,9/1,000 inhabitants in 1981 to 9,6/1,000 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. In 1971 the figures were 10.92%, 63.72% and 25,36% respectively. Greek societal traits have also rapidly changed through the passage of time. For example, marriage rates kept falling from almost 71/1,000 inhabitants in 1981 until 2002, only to increase slightly in 2003 to 61/1,000. Divorce rates on the other hand, have seen an everlasting and accelerating increase – from 89,2/1,000 marriages in 1981 to 191/1,000 marriages in 2002. | |||
| Almost 2/3 of Greeks live in urban areas. Greece's largest cities in 2005 were: Athens (3,190,336), Thessaloniki (980,419), Patra (216,592), Iraklio (188,650) and Volos (151,591). (source: ''The Regions of Greece, All Media Publication, 2005'') | |||
| '''Ethnic Minorities:''' The only minority in Greece which receives special minority treatment is the ] (Μουσουλμανική μειονότητα) in Thrace, which amounts to approximately 0.95% of the total population and mainly consists of ethnic Turks, Pomaks and Roma. Other recognized ethnic minorities are approximately 35,000 Armenians, and 5,500 Jews. For more information on ethnic minority-related issues see: ] and ]. | |||
| '''Immigration: '''Due to the complexity of Greek immigration policy, practices and data collection, truly reliable data on immigrant populations in Greece is difficult to gather and therefore subject to much speculation. A study from the maintains that the 2001 Census from the NSSG recorded 762.191 persons residing in Greece without Greek citizenship, constituting around 7% of total population and that, of these, 48.560 were EU or ] nationals and 17.426 Cypriots with privileged status. At the same time, Albanians constituted some 56% of total immigrants, followed by Bulgarians (5%), Georgians (3%) and Romanians (3%). Americans, Cypriots, British and Germans appeared as sizeable foreign communities at around 2% each of total foreign population. The rest were around 690.000 persons of non-EU or non-homogeneis status. | |||
| The greatest cluster of non-EU immigrant population is in the Municipality of Athens –some 132.000 immigrants, at 17% of local population. Thessaloniki is the second largest cluster, with 27.000 – but reaching only 7% of local population. | |||
| After this, the predominant areas of location are the Athens environs. | |||
| According to the same study, the foreign population (documented and undocumented) residing in Greece may in reality figure upwards to 8,5% or 10,3%, that is approximately meaning 1,15 million - if immigrants with ‘’homogeneis’’ cards are accounted for. | |||
| '''Religious Affiliation:''' The majority of Greek citizens (95-98%) are baptised into the ] and most celebrate at least the main religious feasts, especially Pascha (Greek Orthodox ]). | |||
| ].]] | |||
| According to the ], the Greek Government does not keep statistics on religious groups and censuses do not ask for religious affiliation. The Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report of 2005 maintains that approximately 97 percent of citizens identify themselves at least nominally with the ] faith. Estimates of the, mainly Turcophone, ] community range from 98,000 to 140,000 – the immigrant Muslim community is between 200,000 and 300,000. Members of the ] faith are estimated at 50,000, with the immigrant Catholic Community approximating 200,000. The ] report having 30,000 active members. The State Department report calculates ], including evangelicals, at about 30,000. The longstanding ] community numbers approximately 5,000 adherents, about 2,000 of whom reside in ]. There is also a significant, although unconfirmed, number of followers of the ] (100,000 members according to the ]). | |||
| According to the most recent ] ''Eurobarometer'' poll, in 2005,<ref name="Eurostat poll on the social and religious beliefs of Europeans"> Eurobarometer, http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf</ref> 81% of Greek citizens responded that they "believe there is a God", whereas 16% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 3% that they "do not believe there is a God, spirit, nor life force". Greece's percentage of respondents asserting that they "believe there is a God" was the third highest among ] members. | |||
| ==Education== | |||
| {{main|Education in Greece}} | |||
| Education in Greece is compulsory for all Greek children 6-15 years old, or for 9 years in general (Elementary school and junior high school). | |||
| ] (Patission Street Campus).]] | |||
| '''Compulsory education''' is comprised of Primary there are also Nipiaka Tmimata (nursery classes) which operate along with the Nipiagogeia (kindergartens). | |||
| Attendance at Primary Education (Dimotiko) lasts for six years, and children are admitted at the age of 6. Along with the regular kindergartens (Nipiagogeia) and the Dimotika, All-day primary schools are in operation, with an extended timetable and an enriched Curriculum. The Greek Education System also provides Special Nipagogeia (kindergartens), Dimotika, Gymnasia, Lykeia and special upper secondary classes in operation, for students with special educational needs. Musical, Ecclesiastical and Physical Education Gymnasia and Lykeia are also in operation. | |||
| '''Post-compulsory Secondary Education''', consists of two school types: Eniaia Lykeia (Unified Upper Secondary Schools) and the Technical Vocational Educational Schools (TEE). Post-compulsory Secondary Education also includes the Vocational Training Institutes (IEK) , which provide formal but unclassified level of education. These Institutes are not classified as an educational level, because they accept both Gymnasio (lower secondary school) and Lykeio (upper secondary school) graduates according to the relevant specializations they provide. | |||
| '''Public higher education''' is divided into ] and Technological Education Institutes (TEI). Students are admitted to these Institutes according to their performance at national level examinations taking place at the third grade of Lykeio. Additionally, students are admitted to the Hellenic Open University upon the completion of the 22 year of age by drawing lots. | |||
| Formal education is characterized by the fixed length of study, the possibility of repetition and the award of a formal school-leaving certificate which is the official authorization. As a consequence of the classification of the education institutions, a title (school-leaving certificate, degree etc.) is compulsory for students at each education level in order to continue to the next. | |||
| == Culture == | |||
| {{main|Culture of Greece}} | |||
| ]Greek culture is attributed with a vast number of contributions to philosophy, astronomy, science, and the arts. Greek culture evolved over thousands of years, with its beginnings in ], continuing into ], the birth of the ] and through the influence of the ] and its ] successor the ]. The ] also had a significant influence on Greek culture, but the ] is credited with revitalizing Greece and giving birth to a single entity of its multi-faceted culture throughout the ages. | |||
| Greece is often known as ''the cradle of ]''. | |||
| {{see|List of Greeks}} | |||
| ==Photo Gallery== | |||
| <gallery> | |||
| Image:Corfustspyridonchurch.jpg|The bell tower of the church of St. Spyridon, patron Saint of the island of ]. | |||
| Image:Porto katsiki beach.jpg|The popular ] beach in the island of ]. Shannon Davis 2006. | |||
| Image:White-Tower298.jpg|The ]; in ], Greece's second largest city. | |||
| Image:Corinth_Canal_2.jpg|The 6.3 Km long ], built from 1881 to 1893, connects the ] to the ]. | |||
| Image:Rhodes_road_hg.jpg|The famous Knights' Avenue in the Old town of the ]. | |||
| Image:Delphi_145.jpg|The Tholos at the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia in the site of ]. | |||
| Image:knossos_r5.jpg|A portion of ]' reconstruction of the Minoan palace at the site of ], ]. | |||
| Image:Athens-night-view1.jpg|Night shot of central Athens. | |||
| Image:Rethymnon-harbour-at-night.jpg|The old Venetian Port in the city of ], ]. | |||
| Image:Monemvasia Ansicht.jpg|The Old City of ], in southern ]. | |||
| Image:Mykonos_Windmills.JPG|The ] windmills. | |||
| Image:Oia at night.jpg|The popular Oia resort, ] at night. | |||
| Image:Fiscardo, Kefalonia 10-2003 01.jpg|The town of ], ]. | |||
| Image:Brainsik-ermoupoli.jpg|The port of Hermoupolis in the island of ]. | |||
| Image:Corfu town centre bgiu.jpg|Part of the Old Town of ]. | |||
| Image:Attiki-odos1.jpg|Interchange at the ], the ]' ring road. | |||
| Image:Porto Carras-marina.JPG|The ] resort in ] peninsula. | |||
| Image:Patrasport.JPG|The port of ] in ]. | |||
| Image:Aristotelous Sq Christmas 2005.jpg|Aristotelous Square in ]. | |||
| Image:Pythagoreion harbour.jpg|The harbour of Pythagoreio, in ] island. | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| <!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags--> | |||
| <references/> | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| *Richard Clogg, ''A Concise History of Greece'', Second Edition, Cambridge University Press 2002 | |||
| ==See also== | |||
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| == External links == | |||
| {{sisterlinks|Greece}} | |||
| === Official === | |||
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Revision as of 14:03, 1 December 2006
it's what's found on pizza, and kids with acne faces