GREECE

Planet earth is uniue in all the universe for its abundance and variety of animals, every one of which should be protected

 

 

 

Greece (Greek: Ελλάδα, Elláda (IPA: [e̞ˈlađa]), or Ελλάς, Ellás (IPA: [e̞ˈlas])), officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία, Ellinikí Dimokratía), is a country in south-eastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan peninsula. It is bordered by Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania to the north and by Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of mainland Greece while the Ionian Sea lies to the west. Both, parts of the eastern Mediterranean basin, feature a vast number of islands.

 

Regarded as the cradle of western civilization and being the birthplace of modern Democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, Western Literature, Political Science and drama including both tragedy and comedy, Greece has a very long and remarkably rich history during which its culture has proven to be especially influential in Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. The Greek philosopher Plato lived and taught in Athens. Today, Greece is a developed nation, member of the European Union since 1981 and a member of the Eurozone since 2001.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Map of Greece - Mediterranean Sea

 

 

History

 

Prehistory and Antiquity

 

The first proof of native intelligent human presence in Greece came with the discovery of Petralona Archanthropus’ Skull, in Chalcidice in 1960. The skull has been dated to be at least 70,000 years old, by two German scientists: the anthropologist E. Breitinger and the palaeontologist O. Sickenberg. Extensive research on the issue has been done by the anthropologist Dr. Aris Poulianos of Moscow University, who claims this discovery obsoletes the Indo-European theory. 

 

The shores of Greece's Aegean Sea saw the emergence of the first civilizations in Europe, namely the Minoan and the Mycenaen. After this, a Dark Age followed until around 800 BC, when a new era of Greek city-states emerged, establishing colonies along the Mediterranean, and using the new Greek alphabet. Plato described how the Greeks live round the Aegean Archipelago "like frogs around a pond"; their name has always been associated with the sea. After the internal struggle between Spartans and Athenians, all parts of Greece were united under the rule of Alexander the Great and aimed at the defeat of the 'eastern threat' of the Persians. Alexander led the Greeks to a victorious campaign which established a Greek Empire and introduced a new era in world history, the Hellenistic.

 

 

Newfound stability

 

In the evening of July 23, 1974, ex Premier Constantine Karamanlis was invited back from Paris where he had found a political refuge. In the morning hours of the following day, the plane carrying him landed in Athens amidst massive celebrations by cheering crowds that could not believe that the ordeal they had to endure for seven years was over. Karamanlis was immediately appointed as the interim prime minister under President Gizikis. Karamanlis founded the conservative Nea Dimokratia party and he then won the elections. Democracy had finally been restored and a democratic republican constitution came into force in 1975. In addition, a referendum held that same year, confirmed the will of the overwhelming majority of the Greek people to abolish the monarchy — this time democratically. Therefore former King Constantine II and his family remained in Britain and were not allowed free access to the country until 2004. Meanwhile, yet another prominent figure of the past, charismatic politician Andreas Papandreou had also returned from the United States and he had already founded the Panhellenic Socialist Party or PASOK. Karamanlis won the 1977 parliamentary elections as well but he resigned in 1980, giving his way to George Rallis. However, Papandreou won the elections held on October 18, 1981 by landslide and he formed the first socialist government in the history of the nation. Papandreou dominated the Greek political course for almost 15 years, up until his death in June 23, 1996.

 

 

 

 

 

Map of Europe showing location Greece

 

 

 

Greece as a member of the European Union

 

The country became the tenth member of the European Union on January 1, 1981. Over the course of the last 25 years, and particularly during this past decade, Greece has experienced a remarkable 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 services have raised the standard of living to unprecedented levels. The country adopted the Euro in 2001.

 

 

Singers

 

The famous Eurovision artist Manto lives in Athens.  Her career looks set to take off with a new album for 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

Manto

 

 

 

Greece finally won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 with a number called 'My Number One'.  The song was performed by Elena Paparizou who was born in Sweden.

 

 

 

 

 

Elena Paparizou

 

 

LINKS

 

Chronology of Greece from the World History Database

Official Greek Tourist Organisation site

Official Greek Statistics Site

History of Greece: Primary Documents

President of the Hellenic Republic

Prime Minister of Greece

Hellenic Parliament

Hellenic History

Open Directory Project: Greece

Hellenic Genocide

Hellenic Genocide:Horton's "Blight of Asia"

Greek Royal Family

 

 

 

WORLD GEOGRAPHY

 

 

 

Adelaide

Aden - Yemen

Africa

Alaska

Amsterdam

Antarctic

Argentina

Athens

Atlantis - Plato's Lost City

Australia

Austria

Aztecs - Mexico

Bangladesh

Beachy Head, England

Belgium

Berlin

Bonneville, Utah, USA

Brazil

Brighton - West Pier

Canada

Canary Islands

Cape York - Au

Cayman Islands

Chichester Harbour

China

Columbo - Sri Lanka

Cowes, Isle of Wight

Cyprus

Czechoslovakia

Darwin - Australia

Denmark

Eastbounre Pier, England

Earthquakes

Egypt

Equator

Europe

Falmouth, Cornwall

Fiji

Finland

France

Galapagos Islands

Geography Links

Geography Records

Geography Resources

Geography Statistics

Germany

Gibraltar - Links

 

 

Greece

Greenland

Hawaii

Holland the Nertherlands

Hollywood, California, LA

Hong Kong

Hungary

Hurricanes

Iceland

India

Indonesia Links

Iran

Iraq

Ireland

Isle of Man

Isle of Wight - The Needles

Israel

Italy

Jakarta - Java

Japan

Kent, England

Korea

Kuwait

Life on Earth

London - Big Ben

London Eye

London Houses Parliament

London - Buckingham Palace

London - Old Bailey

London - Overview

London - The City

London - Tower Bridge

London - Trafalgar Square

Luxembourg

Maya Empire - Central America

Melbourne, Australia

Mexico

Mountains

Naples- Italy

National Geographic

New York

New Zealand

Norway

Oceans and Seas

Pakistan

 

 

 

Palermo - Sicily

Palma - Malorca

Panama Canal - Links

Paris

Planet Earth

Poland

Port Moresby - PNG

Port Said - Egypt

Portugal

Rome

Russia

Salt Lake City - Utah USA

Saudi Arabia

Scotland

Singapore

South America

Southampton

Spain - Espana

Sri Lanka - Links

Stonehenge

Suez Canal

Sussex, England Index

Sweden

Switzerland

Tahiti - Polynesia - Links

Taiwan

Tokyo, Japan

Tonga - Polynesia

Trinidad - Lesser Antilles

Tsunami

Tunbridge Wells, England

Turkey

UAE - United Arab Emirates

UK Statistics

Ukraine

United Kingdom

United Kingdom - Gov

USA

Venice

Vienna

Vietnam

Volcanoes

Wales

Washington D.C.

Wealden iron industry

World Peace Supporters

 

 

 

 

Solar Cola drinkers care about planet earth

 

.. Thirst for Life

 

Planet Earth Solar Cola can 330 mil

 

(330ml Planet Earth can)

 

 

 

This website is Copyright © 1999 & 2024.   The bird logo and name Solar Navigator are trademarks. All rights reserved.  All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged. 

Max Energy Limited is an educational charity.