Terrain

Greece has a diverse topography with a great variety of vegetation. The central mountain area consists of the Pindus Mountains, which run north to south and are sparsely populated. There is also a damp, mountainous region in the west. Eastern Thessaly (Thessalia), Macedonia, and Thrace have dry, sunny plains and low mountain ranges. Central Greece contains the Athenian plain, Greece's most famous region. The Peloponnese Peninsula in the south is mountainous with narrow valleys. The islands, most of which are in the Aegean, are high, stony, and dry. The country has 4000 km of coastline, and 9.841 islands, 114 of which are inhabited, add a further 11.000 km. Mount Olympus (2917 m), Greece's highest peak, was considered in ancient times to be the home of the gods.

Climate

Greece has a warm Mediterranean climate. In summer, dry hot days are often relieved by stiff breezes, especially in the north and coastal areas. Winters are mild in the south but much colder in the north. November to March is the rainy season. Greece's lowlands have hot, dry summers and rainy winters. The mountain areas are much cooler, with considerable rain in summer and snow in winter.

Fauna/Flora

Greece's flora is dominated by white poplars, spearheaded cypresses, chestnut, spruce, pine, fir and olive trees. The cultivated and wild flowers of Greece are of special beauty, many of which are mentioned in classical poetry and mythology, such as evosmon, anemone, violets, tulips, narcissus, and others. All species typical for the Mediterranean region can be found in Greece. Wild animals include wild boars, bears, wild cats, brown squirrels, jackals, foxes, deer, wolves. A rare white goat is found in Crete. A number of 358 species of birds are found throughout Greece, two-thirds of which are migratory. Among the birds of prey are the golden and imperial eagle, and several species of falcons. Other indigenous varieties of birds are owl, pelican, pheasant, partridge, woodcock and nightingale. Some 246 species of marine life have been identified in Greek seas. Among the best known are species such as red mullet, lobster, squid, octopus, shrimp, crab, oyster, mussel and cockle. Dolphins, so familiar in the legends and sculpture of antiquity, are still present in the Greek seas.

Politics/History

Greece has a history stretching back almost 4000 years. The people of the mainland, called Hellenes, organized great naval and military expeditions, and explored the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, going as far as the Atlantic Ocean and the Caucasus Mountains. One of those expeditions, the siege of Troy, is narrated in the first great European literary work, Homer's Iliad. Numerous Greek settlements were founded throughout the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and the coast of North Africa as a result of travelling in search of new markets. During the Classical period (5th century BC), Greece was composed of city-states, the largest being Athens, followed by Sparta and Thebes. A fierce spirit of independence and love of freedom enabled the Greeks to defeat the Persians in battles which are famous in the history of civilization - Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis and Plataea. In the second half of the 4th century BC, the Greeks, led by Alexander the Great, conquered most of the then known world and sought to Hellenize it.

In BC 146, Greece fell to the Romans. In 330 AD, Emperor Constantine moved the Capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople, founding the Eastern Roman Empire which was renamed Byzantine Empire or Byzantium for short, by Western historians in the 19th century. Byzantium transformed the linguistic heritage of Ancient Greece into a vehicle for the new Christian civilization. The Byzantine Empire fell to the Turks in 1453 and the Greeks remained under Ottoman rule for nearly 400 years. During this time, their language, religion and sense of identity remained strong.

On 25 March 1821, the Greeks revolted against the Turks, and by 1828, they had won their independence. As the new state comprised only a tiny fraction of the country, the struggle for liberation of all the lands inhabited by Greeks continued. In 1864, the Ionian islands were added to Greece; in 1881, parts of Epirus and Thessaly. Crete, the islands of the Eastern Aegean and Macedonia were added in 1913 and Western Thrace in 1919. After World War II, the Dodecanese islands were also returned to Greece. During World War II, Greece defeated Italy. However, despite fierce resistance, Greece was eventually occupied by German troops. As a result, a resistance movement came into being. Civil war followed, again taking a heavy toll on Greece.

After the downfall of the military junta (1967-1974) and following the abolition of monarchy, Greece became a parliamentary democracy headed by a president. In 1952, Greece became a member of NATO and joined the EC (now EU) in 1981 and the WEU in 1992. Further, Greece is a member of the UN and the IMF, the OSCE, the OECD, the Council of Europe and other international organizations. The country's commitment to the European Union was confirmed by the ratification of the Treaty of Maastricht by the Greek parliament with 270 of 300 votes in favour.

Economy

Agriculture plays an important role in the economy, and the leading cash crop is tobacco. Leading manufactured products include food, basic metals and metal products, refined petroleum, and machinery and transportation equipment. Shipping and tourism are also major sources of income. In 1999, unemployment rate was 11.7%, 1999-2000 saw an increase in the country's gross domestic product of 7.2%, inflation rate in September 2000 amounted to 3.1%.

Culture

Ancient Greece's achievements in architecture, sculpture, jewellery-making, drama, philosophy, and sciences are still unrivalled, blessing present-day Greece with a cultural heritage of immeasurable wealth. In the early 20th century, a traditional music named Rembetiko developed in the rural areas around Athens and Piraeus among poor people. This kind of music was first played in small clubs. The musicians created a unique style that opposed assimilation to other Greek or European musical traditions. This special type of music eventually changed and became popular under the name Bouzouki. Apart from music, Greece is a good breeding ground for world-renowned artists in architecture, dance, literature, cinema and photography.