Greece and Alismatales: Difference between pages

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Revision as of 15:40, 13 June 2005

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{{Taxobox_begin | color = lightgreen | name = Alismatids}}

{{otheruses}}

{{Taxobox_image | image = [[Image:Lemna trisulca0.jpg|250px|Lemna trisulca]] | caption = Ivy Duckweed (''Lemna trisulca'')}}

{{Taxobox_begin_placement | color = lightgreen}}

{{Taxobox_regnum_entry | taxon = [[Plant]]ae}}

{{Taxobox_divisio_entry | taxon = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]}}

{{Taxobox_classis_entry | taxon = [[Liliopsida]]}}

{{Taxobox_ordo_entry | taxon = '''Alismatales''' <small>Dumort. ([[1829]])</small>}}

{{Taxobox_end_placement}}

{{Taxobox_section_subdivision | color = lightgreen | plural_taxon = Families}}

[[Alismataceae]]<br/>

[[Aponogetonaceae]]<br/>

[[Araceae]]<br/>

[[Butomaceae]]<br/>

[[Cymodoceaceae]]<br/>

[[Hydrocharitaceae]]<br/>

[[Juncaginaceae]]<br/>

[[Limnocharitaceae]]<br/>

[[Posidoniaceae]]<br/>

[[Potamogetonaceae]]<br/>

[[Ruppiaceae]]<br/>

[[Scheuchzeriaceae]]<br/>

[[Tofieldiaceae]]<br/>

[[Zosteraceae]]

{{Taxobox_end}}

The order '''Alismatales''' contains the alismatids, a group of [[monocotyledon]]s (class [[Liliopsida]]). The order contains about 165 genera in 14 families, with cosmopolitic distribution. Most families are comprised of [[herb]]aceous non-[[succulent]] plants. These plants are commonly found in aquatic environmments. The [[flower]]s are usually arranged in [[inflorescence]]s, and the mature seeds lack [[endosperm]].

'''Greece''', officially called the '''Hellenic Republic''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: &Epsilon;&lambda;&lambda;&eta;&nu;&iota;&kappa;&#942; &Delta;&eta;&mu;&omicron;&kappa;&rho;&alpha;&tau;&#943;&alpha;), is a country in the southeast of [[Europe]] on the southern tip of the [[Balkan peninsula]]. It has land boundaries with [[Bulgaria]], the [[Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]], and [[Albania]] to the north; and with [[Turkey]] to the east. The waters of the [[Aegean Sea]] border Greece to the east, and those of the [[Ionian Sea|Ionian]] and [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the west and south. Regarded by many as the cradle of [[Western world|Western civilization]] and the birthplace of [[democracy]], Greece has a long and rich history during which its culture has proven especially influential in [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[Africa]].

{| border=1 align=right cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=300 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"

|+<big><big>'''&#917;&#923;&#923;&#919;&#925;&#921;&#922;&#919; &#916;&#919;&#924;&#927;&#922;&#929;&#913;&#932;&#921;&#913;'''<br>'''Ellinikí Dhimokratía'''<br>Hellenic Republic</big></big>

| align="center" colspan="2"|

{| border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="background:#f9f9f9; text-align:center;"

| width="130px"| [[Image:Greece flag large.png|125px|Flag of Greece]] || align=center width=130px | [[Image:Greece_coa.png|125px|Coat of Arms]]

|-

| align=center width=130 | ([[Flag of Greece|National Flag]]) || align=center width=130px |

|}

|-

| colspan=2 align=center | <small>''National [[motto]]:'' &#917;&#923;&#917;&#933;&#920;&#917;&#929;&#921;&#913; &#919; &#920;&#913;&#925;&#913;&#932;&#927;&#931;<br>''([[Greek language|Greek]]: Freedom or Death)''

|-

| align=center colspan=2 style="background:#fff;" | [[image:LocationGreece.png]]

|-

| '''[[Official language]]''' || [[Greek language|Greek]]

|-

| '''[[Capital]]''' || [[Athens]]

|-

| '''Largest city''' || [[Athens]]

|-

| '''[[List of Presidents of Greece|President]]''' || [[Karolos Papoulias|Károlos Papoúlias]]

|-

| '''[[List of Prime Ministers of Greece|Prime Minister]]''' || [[Costas Caramanlis|Kóstas Karamanlís]]

|-

| '''[[Area]]'''<br>&nbsp;- Total<br>&nbsp;- % water || [[List of countries by area|Ranked 94th]]<br/>[[1 E11 m2|131,940 km&sup2;]]<br/>0.86%

|-

| '''[[Population]]'''<br>&nbsp;- Total ([[2004]])<br>&nbsp;- [[Population density|Density]] || [[List of countries by population|Ranked 70th]]<br/>10,665,989<br/>82/km&sup2;

|-

| '''[[Independence]]'''<br>&nbsp;- Declared<br>&nbsp;- Recognised || From the [[Ottoman Empire]]<br/>[[25 March]] [[1821]]<br/>[[1829]]

|-

| '''[[Gross Domestic Product|GDP]]'''<br>&nbsp;- Total<br>&nbsp;- GDP per capita

| ([[IMF]] 2005 est.)<br>$230.684 billion ([[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|28th]])<br>$21,017 ([[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|28th]])

|-

| '''[[HDI|UN HDI rank]]'''

| 24 (2004)

|-

| '''[[Currency]]''' || [[Euro]] (&euro;)¹

|-

| '''[[Time zone]]'''<br/>&nbsp;- in [[European Summer Time|summer]]

| [[Eastern European Time|EET]] ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]+2)<br/>[[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]] ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]+3)

|-

| '''[[National anthem]]''' || [[Hymn to Freedom]]

|-

| '''[[Top-level ___domain|Internet TLD]]''' || [[.gr]]

|-

| '''[[List_of_country_calling_codes|Calling Code]]''' || +30

|-

| colspan="2" align="left" | <small>¹ Prior to [[2001]]: [[Drachma|Greek Drachma]].</small>

|}

==Name==

Traditionally, the order Alismatales was restricted to contain just three families (Alismataceae, Butomaceae and Limnocharitaceae). The other families were not considered as alismatids, and were assigned to various distinct orders, but this approach produced [[polyphyletic]] groups, and so the whole group of families is now placed into a single order.

''Main article: [[Greek (name)|Names of the Greeks]]''

The [[Petrosaviaceae]] have been placed in this order, but their actual affinity is not so clear. The alismatids have been considered the sister group of the [[Arales]] and the latter are now included here. As a result of this merger, the Araceae became the most important family in the order, accounting alone for over 2000 species in about 100 genera. The rest of families contain together just about 500 species.

The historical name of Greece in Greek is '''{{Polytonic|&#7961;&#955;&#955;&#940;&#962;}}''' ''Ell&aacute;s'' {{IPA|/&#603;&#712;las/}}<!--Please note: IPA accent is written *before* the accented syllable, not after the accented vowel-->. This name is also written ''Hellas'' in English, following the [[ancient Greek|ancient]] [[Greek language|Greek]] pronunciation {{IPA|/h&#603;&#712;l:as/}}. More commonly, it is called '''&Epsilon;&lambda;&lambda;&#x03ac;&delta;&alpha;''' ''Ell&aacute;dha'' {{IPA|/&#603;&#712;laða/}} in [[modern Greek|modern]] [[Greek language|Greek]]. The mythical ancestor of the [[Greeks]] is the eponymous [[Hellen]].

The name of Greece in the European languages (English: ''Greece'', French: ''Gr&egrave;ce'', Spanish and Italian: ''Grecia'', German: ''Griechenland'', Russian: ''&#1043;&#1088;&#1077;&#1094;&#1080;&#1103;'', etc.) comes from a different root: {{Polytonic|&#915;&#961;&#945;&#953;&#954;&#972;&#962;}} ''Graikós'' (<i>via</i> Latin ''Graecus'')

which according to [[Aristotle]] was an ancient name for the Greeks. On the other hand, the name of Greece in Middle Eastern languages (Turkish: ''Yunanistan'', Arabic: &#1610;&#1608;&#1606;&#1575;&#1606;, Hebrew: &#1497;&#1493;&#1493;&#1503;, ancient Persian: ''Yaunâ'') derives from the Greek root {{Polytonic|&#7992;&#969;&#957;&#943;&#945;}} ''[[Ionia|I&#333;nía]]''. [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] is one of the few languages apart from Greek in which the name ''Hellas'' predominates.

Some Greeks prefer the name "Hellas" for the country and "Hellenes" for the people even in English. See <i>[[Hellenes]]</i> for discussion.

== History ==

[[Image:athenssunset.jpg|thumbnail|left|The Acropolis in the Greek capital, Athens.]]

''Main Article: [[History of Greece]].''

=== Prehistory and Antiquity ===

The shores of Greece's [[Aegean Sea]] saw the emergence of the first civilizations in Europe, namely the [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] and [[Mycenae|Mycenaean]] civilizations. After these, a Dark Age followed until around [[800 BC]], when a new era of Greek civilization emerged. This Greece of [[polis|city-states]] established colonies along the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] and partially resisted [[Persian Empire|Persia]]n invasions. Greek culture would later become the basis of the [[History of Hellenistic Greece|Hellenistic civilization]] that followed the empire of Alexander the Great. For a detailed history of ''[[Ancient Greece]]'' see the relevant articles in: [[History of Greece]].

=== Roman Rule and Middle Ages ===

Militarily Greece itself declined to the point that the [[Roman Republic|Romans]] conquered the land ([[168 BC]] onwards), though Greek culture would in turn conquer Roman life. Greece became a province of the [[Roman Empire]], but Greek culture would continue to dominate the eastern Mediterranean and when the Empire finally split in two the Eastern or [[Byzantine Empire]], centered on [[Constantinople]], would remain Greek in nature, as well as encompassing Greece itself. From the [[4th century]] to the [[15th century]] the [[Eastern Roman Empire]] survived eleven centuries of attacks from the west and east until [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople fell]] on [[May 29]] [[1453]] to the [[Ottoman Empire]]. Greece proper had gradually been conquered by the Ottomans during the [[15th century]].

=== Ottoman Rule ===

When the Ottomans arrived, two Greek migrations occurred. The first migration entailed the Greek intelligentsia migrating to Western Europe and influencing the advent of the Renaissance. The second migration entailed Greeks leaving the plains of the Greek peninsula and resettling in the mountains. Greece being mostly mountainous, the Ottomans could not conquer the entire Greek peninsula since they did not create either a military or administrative presence in the mountains. There existed many Greek mountain clans all across the peninsula and islands. The Sphakiots of Crete, the Souliots (or Souli) of Epirus, and the Mani (or Maniots) of Peloponnesus were the most resilient mountain clans throughout the Ottoman Empire. By the end of the 16th century up until the 17th century, many Greeks began to migrate from the mountains to the plains. The millet system contributed to the ethnic cohesion of Orthodox Greeks by segregating the various peoples within the Ottoman Empire based on religion. The Greek Orthodox Church, an ethno-religious institution, helped the Greeks from all geographical areas of the peninsula (i.e. mountains, plains, and islands) to preserve their ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and racial heritage during the harsh years of Ottoman rule. The Greeks living in the plains during Ottoman occupation were either Christians who dealt with the burdens of foreign rule or Crypto-Christians (Greek Muslims who were secret practitioners of the Greek Orthodox faith). Many Greeks became Crypto-Christians in order to avoid heavy taxes and at the same time express their identity by maintaining their secret ties to the Greek Orthodox Church. However, Greeks who converted to [[Islam]] and were not Crypto-Christians were deemed Turks in the eyes of Orthodox Greeks.

[[Image:ac.sounion.JPG|thumb||fruit|[[Cape Sounion]] in Attica, looking out to the Aegean islands]]

=== Creation of the Modern Greek State ===

The Ottomans ruled Greece until the early [[19th century]]. In [[1821]], the Greeks rebelled and declared their independence, but did not succeed in winning it until [[1829]]. The elites of powerful European nations saw the war of Greek independence, with its accounts of Turkish [[atrocity|atrocities]], in a romantic light (see, for example, the [[1824]] painting ''Massacre of [[Chios]]'' by [[Eugene Delacroix]]). Scores of non-Greeks volunteered to fight for the cause--including, for example [[Lord Byron]]--and indeed at times the Ottomans seemed on the point of almost entirely suppressing the Greek revolution but for the threatened direct military intervention of [[France]], [[England]] or [[Russia]]. The Russian minister for foreign affairs, [[Ioannis Kapodistrias]], himself a Greek, returned home as President of the new Republic following Greek independence. That republic disappeared when a few years later Western powers helped turn Greece into a monarchy, the first king coming from [[Bavaria]] and the second from [[Denmark]]. During the 19th and early [[20th century|20th]] centuries, in a series of wars with the Ottomans, Greece sought to enlarge its boundaries to include the ethnic Greek population of the Ottoman Empire, slowly growing in territory and population until it reached its present configuration in [[1947]]. In [[World War I]], Greece sided with the [[entente]] powers against [[Ottoman Empire|Turkey]] and the other [[Central Powers]]. In the war's aftermath, the Great Powers awarded parts of [[Asia Minor]] to Greece, including the city of [[Smyrna]] (known as [[Izmir]] today) which had a large Greek population. At that time, however, the Turkish nationalists led by [[Mustafa Kemal Ataturk]], overthrew the Ottoman government, organised a military assault on the Greek troops, and defeated them. Immediately afterwards, hundreds of thousands of Turks then living in mainland Greek territory left for Turkey as an [[Population_exchange#Turkey_and_Greece:_population_exchange.2C_1922|exchange]] with hundreds of thousands of Greeks living in Turkey.

[[Image: 81fv8033.jpg|thumbnail|an overview of the 2004 Olympic infrastructure]]

Despite the country's numerically small and ill-equipped armed forces, Greece made a decisive contribution to the [[Allies | Allied]] efforts in [[World War II]]. At the start of the war Greece sided with the Allies and refused to give in to Italian demands. [[Italy]] invaded Greece on [[28 October]] [[1940]], but Greek troops repelled the invaders after a bitter struggle (see [[Greco-Italian_War]]). This marked the first Allied victory in the war. [[Hitler]] then reluctantly stepped in, primarily to secure his strategic southern flank: troops from [[Germany]], [[Hungary]], [[Bulgaria]] and [[Italy]] successfully invaded Greece, overcoming Greek, British, [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] units.

However, when the Germans attempted to [[Battle of Crete|seize Crete]] in a massive attack by [[paratroop]]s &mdash; with the aim of reducing the threat of a counter-offensive by Allied forces in [[Egypt]] &mdash; Allied forces, along with Cretan civilians, offered fierce resistance. Although Crete eventually fell, this delayed German plans significantly, with the result that the German invasion of the [[Soviet Union]] started fatally close to winter.

During years of [[Nazi]] occupation, thousands of Greeks died in direct combat, in concentration camps or of starvation. The occupiers murdered the greater part of the [[Jewish]] community despite efforts by the [[Greek Orthodox]] Church and many [[Christian]] Greeks to shelter Jews. The economy languished. After liberation, Greece experienced an equally bitter [[Hellenic Civil War|civil war]]&mdash;between [[communists]] and royalists&mdash;that lasted until [[1949]].

In the [[1950s]] and [[1960s]], Greece continued to develop slowly, initially with the help of the U.S.A [[Marshall_Plan|Marshall]] Plan granst and loans, and later through growth in the [[tourism]] sector. In [[1967]], the Greek military seized power in a [[coup d'état]] and overthrew the right-wing government of [[Panayiotis Kanellopoulos]] and established what became known as the ''Régime of the Colonels''. The [[Central Intelligence Agency]] was suspected in involvement in the coup. The new regime in Athens was supported by the [[U.S.A]]. In [[1973]], the régime abolished the [[Kings of Greece|Greek monarchy]]. In [[1974]], dictator [[George Papadopoulos| Papadopoulos]] denied help to the USA and rumor has it that as a result the US, through [[Henry Kissinger|Kissinger]] long arm, created a second coup. Colonel [[Dimitrios Ioannides | Ioannides]] was appointed as the new head-of-state.

Many hold Ioannides responsible for the coup against President [[Makarios]] of [[Cyprus]] -- the ''coup'' seen as the pretext for the first wave of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in [[1974]]; see: [[Greco-Turkish relations#The_1974_crisis_and_after|the 1974 crisis between Greece and Turkey]]. The Cyprus events and the outcry following a bloody suppression of [[Athens Polytechnic uprising]] in [[Athens]] led to the implosion of the military régime. A charismatic exiled politician, [[Konstantinos Karamanlis]], returned from [[Paris]] as interim prime minister and later gained re-election for two further terms at the head of the [[conservative]] [[New Democracy|Nea Dimokratia]] party. In [[1975]], following a referendum to confirm the deposition of King [[Constantine II of Greece|Constantine II]], a democratic republican constitution came into force. Another previously exiled politician, [[Andreas Papandreou]] also returned and founded the [[socialist]] [[PASOK]] party, which won the elections in [[1981]] and dominated the country's political course for almost two decades.

Since the restoration of democracy, the stability and economic prosperity of Greece have grown. Greece joined the [[European Union]] in [[1981]] and adopted the [[Euro]] as its currency in [[2001]]. New infrastructure, funds from the EU and growing revenues from tourism, shipping, services, light industry and the telecommunications industry have brought Greeks an unprecedented standard of living. Tensions continue to exist between Greece and [[Turkey]] over [[Cyprus]] and the delimitation of borders in the [[Aegean Sea]] but relations have considerably thawed following successive earthquakes - first in Turkey and then in Greece - and an outpouring of sympathy and generous assistance by ordinary Greeks and Turks.

The [[2004 Summer Olympics]] took place in the country of their birth to widespread praise and satisfaction.

== Politics ==

''Main article: [[Politics of Greece]]''

[[Image:hellenicparliament.jpg|thumb|left|The Parliament in Athens, Greece]]

The [[1975]] [[constitution]] includes extensive specific guarantees of civil liberties and vests the powers of the [[head of state]] in an indirectly-elected president, who is advised by the Council of the Republic on an ''ad hoc'' basis. The Council of the Republic consists of the incumbent Prime Minister, the leaders of all parliamentary parties, and all former Prime Ministers that have received a parliamentary vote of confidence (see "''dedilomeni''" below) at least once. The Council's advice is not binding.

The [[prime minister]] and [[cabinet (government)|cabinet]] play the central role in the political process, while the president performs some governmental functions in addition to ceremonial duties. The parliament elects the president for a five-year term and can be re-elected once.

Greeks elect the 300 members of the country's [[unicameral]] parliament (the ''Vouli ton Ellinon'') by secret ballot for a maximum of four years, but elections can occur at more frequent intervals. Greece uses a complex reinforced [[proportional representation]] electoral system which discourages splinter parties and ensures that the party which leads in the national vote will win a majority of seats. A party must receive 3% of the total national vote to gain representation.

Greek parliamentary politics hinge upon the principle of the "''dedilomeni''", i.e. the "declared confidence" of Parliament to the Prime Minister and his/her administration. This is achieved if Parliament approves a new administration's political platform by a majority "plus one" (i.e. 151 votes), and is renewed yearly by voting on the new [[budget]]. An administration may label any particular parliamentary vote a "vote of confidence", and conversely the opposition may designate any vote as a "vote of reproach". Both are rare occurrences with usually predictable outcomes as voting outside the party line happens very seldom.

For a list of Greek political parties, see [[List of political parties in Greece]].

== Local government ==

''Main article: [[Peripheries of Greece]]''

[[Image:meteora.jpg|thumb|right|The Meteora region in Central Greece]]

[[Image:Gr-map.png|thumb|right|Map of Greece]]

Greece consists of 13 administrative regions known as peripheries, which subdivide further into the 51 [[Prefectures of Greece|prefecture]]s (''nomoi'', singular - ''[[nomos]]''):

<table><tr valign=top><td>

*[[Attica (periphery)|Attica]]:

**[[Attica, Greece|Attica]]

*[[Central Greece]]:

**[[Euboea]]

**[[Evritania]]

**[[Fokis|Fokitha]]

**[[Fthiotis|Fthiotitha]]

**[[Viotia]]

*[[Central Macedonia]]

**[[Chalcidice|Khalkidhiki]]

**[[Imathia]]

**[[Kilkis]]

**[[Pella]]

**[[Pieria]]

**[[Serres prefecture|Serres]]

**[[Thessaloniki Prefecture|Thessaloniki]]

</td><td>

*[[Crete]]

**[[Chania]]

**[[Heraklion|Heraklio]]

**[[Lasithi]]

**[[Rethymno]]

*[[East Macedonia and Thrace]]

**[[Drama, Greece|Drama]]

**[[Evros Prefecture|Evros]]

**[[Kavala]]

**[[Rodhopi]]

**[[Xanthi]]

*[[Epirus]]

**[[Arta]]

**[[Ioannina]]

**[[Preveza]]

**[[Thesprotia]]

</td><td>

*[[Ionian Islands]]

**[[Corfu]]

**[[Kefallinia]]

**[[Levkas|Levkatha]]

**[[Zakinthos]]

*[[North Aegean]]

**[[Chios]]

**[[Lesbos]]

**[[Samos]]

*[[Peloponnesos]]

**[[Arcadia]]

**[[Argolis|Argolitha]]

**[[Corinth, Greece|Corinth]]

**[[Laconia]]

**[[Messinia]]

</td><td>

*[[South Aegean]]

**[[Cyclades]]

**[[Dodecanese]]

*[[Thessaly]]

**[[Kardhitsa]]

**[[Larisa]]

**[[Magnesia]]

**[[Trikala]]

*[[West Greece]]

**[[Achaea]]

**[[Aitolia-Acarnania]]

**[[Prefecture of Ilia|Ilia]]

*[[West Macedonia]]

**[[Florina]]

**[[Grevena]]

**[[Kastoria]]

**[[Kozani]]

</td></tr>

</table>

Beyond these one autonomous region exists: [[Mount Athos]] (''Ayion Oros'' - Holy Mountain), a monastic state under Greek sovereignty.

The 51 ''nomoi'' subdivide into 147 ''eparchies'' (singular ''eparchia''), which contain 1,033 municipalities: 900 urban municipalities (''demoi'') and 133 rural communities (''koinotetes''). Before 1999, Greece's local government structure featured 5,775 local authorities: 457 ''demoi'' and 5,318 ''koinotetes'', subdivided into 12,817 localities (''oikosmoi'').

== Geography ==

''Main article: [[Geography of Greece]]''

[[Image:Satellite image of Greece.jpg|thumb|left|Greece from orbit]]

[[Image:Island of Hydra.JPG|thumb|Greece has thousands of islands]]

[[Image:Olympus.jpeg|thumb|Greece has many mountains, most famously Mount [[Olympus]]]]

The country consists of a large mainland at the southern end of the [[Balkans]]; the [[Peloponnesus]] peninsula (separated from the mainland by the canal of the [[Isthmus of Corinth]]); and [[Greek islands|numerous islands]], including [[Crete]], [[Rhodes]], [[Euboea]] and the [[Dodecanese]] and [[Cyclades|Cycladic]] groups of the [[Aegean Sea]]. Greece has more than 14,880 kilometres of coastline and a land boundary of 1,160 kilometres.

About 80% of Greece consists of mountains or hills. Dry and rocky conditions prevail in much of the country, with only 28% of the land classed as arable. Western Greece contains lakes and wetlands. [[Pindus]], the central mountain range, has an average elevation of 2,650 m. [[Mount Olympus]] forms the highest point in Greece at 2,911 m above sea level.

Greece's [[climate]] features mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Temperatures rarely reach extremes, although snowfalls do occur in the mountains and occasionally even in [[Athens]] during the winter.

[[Pinniped|Seals]], [[sea turtle]]s and other rare marine life live in Greek seas, while Greece's forests provide a home to Western Europe's last [[brown bear]]s and [[Lynx (cat)|lynx]].

<br clear=all>

== Economy ==

''Main article: [[Economy of Greece]]''

[[Image:greekships.jpg|thumb|left|Greek owners control the largest merchant fleet in the world]]

Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about half of [[Gross Domestic Product|GDP]]. [[Tourism]] has great importance, providing a large portion of GDP and foreign exchange earnings. Greece also counts as a world leader in [[shipping]] (first in terms of ownership of boats and third by flag registration) [http://www.marad.dot.gov/MARAD_statistics/Country-MFW-7-04.pdf]. Greece figures prominently as a major beneficiary of [[EU]] aid, equal to about 2.4% of GNP. The export of manufactured goods, including telecommunications hardware and software, foodstuffs and fuels accounts for the rest of Greek income.

The economy has improved steadily over the last few years, as the government tightened policy in the run-up to Greece's entry into the zone of the EU's single currency, the [[euro]], on [[January 1]], [[2001]]. Average ''per capita'' [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] in 2004 was estimated at $21,300 [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2004.html CIA World Factbook]. Greece has an expanding services sector and telecommunications industry and has become one of the largest investors in the region. Moreover, Greece now operates as a net importer of labour and foreign workers (mainly from the Balkans, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Pakistan, and equatorial Africa) now account for 10% of the total population.

[[Image:Beach - Crete.jpg|thumb|Part of the economy relies on tourism]]

Major challenges remaining include the reduction of [[unemployment]] and further restructuring of the economy, including [[privatisation|privatising]] several state enterprises, undertaking social security reforms, overhauling the tax system, and minimising bureaucratic inefficiencies. Forecasts predicted economic growth of 4 - 4.5 % in [[2004]]. Reducing the government deficit also remains a major challenge, as it is currently running at nearly twice the Eurozone target (of 3% of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]]). The new conservative government claimed to [[Eurostat]] that the previous figures supplied, which were the basis of Greek entry into the Eurozone, were [[Greek Financial Audit, 2004|incorrect]].

The [[Bank of Greece]], now a subsidiary of the [[European Central Bank]], functions as the national central bank of Greece; distinguish this from the "[[National Bank of Greece]]", a commercial bank.

== Demographics ==

''Main article: [[Demographics of Greece]]''

According to the [[2001]] census, Greece had a population of 10,964,020. Of those, 58.8% lived in urban areas, whereas only 28.4% lived in rural areas. The population of the two largest cities in Greece, [[Athens]] and [[Thessaloniki]], reached almost 4 million. Although the population of Greece continues to grow, Greece faces a serious demographic problem: for the first time in [[2002]] the number of deaths surpassed the number of births.

A large number of immigrants live in Greece today, estimated at over one million. About 65% have come from [[Albania]], and large-scale Albanian migration to Greece since the fall of Communism in Albania has become a source of controversy in Greece, exacerbated by the lack of a coherent government policy on immigration. A minority of Albanians are regularly implicated in highly publicised criminal activities and, as a result, Albanians in general are often stigmatised. The Albanians also occasionally suffer from discrimination and exploitation in Greece. Nonetheless most Greeks nowadays recognise their contribution to the Greek economy. Several prominent Greek sportsmen immigrated to Greece as ethnic Greeks from Albania and Georgia in the 1990s, including legendary weightlifters [[Pyrros Dimas]] and [[Kakhi Kakhiashvili]]. Smaller numbers of immigrants came from [[Bulgaria]], [[Serbia]], [[Romania]], [[Pakistan]], [[Ukraine]], [[Belarus]], [[Poland]], [[Egypt]], [[Palestinian territories|Palestine]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Bangladesh]], [[China]] and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Russia]]. The exact number remains unknown, since the majority live illegally in Greece. As a result of the illegal immigrants residing in Greece,[[xenophobia]]/[[racism]] has risen significantly. Currently, right-wing [[nationalist]] political forces are calling for the expulsion of all illegal immigrants and the strengthening of Greek borders.

Greece has traditionally had various, if not numerous, linguistic and cultural minorities. A non-comprehensive list of these would include [[Pomaks]], various [[Roma (people)|Roma]] groups, [[Turkic languages|Turkic]]-speakers, [[Slavic languages|Slavic-speakers]], [[Vlachs]] and [[Arvanites]]. A number of religious minorities exist, with Muslims forming the largest such minority.

=== Religion ===

Greece, before the Ottoman rule, was part of the [[Eastern Roman Empire]] or as it is commonly known the [[Byzantine Empire]]. The civil and religious capital of the [[Roman Empire]] was moved to [[New Rome]] or [[Constantinople]] (modern day Istanbul) by [[Constantine the Great]]. From this time onwards the Orthodox Christian faith has flourished and spread throughout Eastern Europe. Even under [[Turkish]] rule and repeated attempts at being proselytised firstly by the [[Jesuits]] and then by the Protestants, [[Orthodox Christianity]] survived and flourished.

The role of the [[Church of Greece|Orthodox Church]] in maintaining Greek ethnic and cultural identity during the 400 years of Ottoman rule, has strengthened the bond between religion and government. Most Greeks, even many of the non-practicant Christians, revere and respect the Orthodox Christian faith, attend Church and Major Feast days, and are emotionally attached to [[Orthodox Christianity]] as their 'national' religion.

Reflecting this, the [[Constitution of Greece|Greek Constitution]] on the one hand guarantees absolute freedom of religion while, on the other hand, it defines the "prevailing religion" of Greece as the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] of Christ. In practice, the [[Church of Greece|Orthodox Church]] as well as the secular state approve jointly any activities related to the building of churches and the Church has succesfully blocked the building of places of worship for other religions in [[Athens]]; priests receive state salaries; the President of the Republic takes an oath on the [[Bible]]; and [[Orthodox Christianity]] is given privileged place in religious studies in primary education. The Church has been allowed to keep its large portfolio of financial assests excempt from taxation and fiscal auditing.

Starting in January 2005, a series of highly publicised corruption scandals involving high rank church officials have led to many calls by secular Greeks for the complete separation of Church from State and greater control of Church assets.

The majority of Greeks (95 to 98%) have at least nominal membership of the Eastern Orthodox Church, although religious observance has declined in recent years. Greek [[Muslim]]s make up about 1.3% of the population, and live mainly in [[Thrace]]. Greece has some [[Roman Catholic]]s: mainly in the [[Cyclades]] islands of [[Syros]], [[Paros]] and [[Naxos, Greece|Naxos]]; some [[Protestant]]s and some [[Jew]]s, mainly in [[Thessaloniki]] (which was once a majority-Jewish city at least until the [[Balkan Wars]]). Some groups in Greece have started an attempt to reconstruct [[Hellênismos]], the old Greek [[paganism|pagan]] religion. See also: [[Greek Orthodox Church]].

One small part of Greece, [[Mount Athos]], is recognised by the Greek constitution as an autonomous monastic republic the foreign relations of which, however, remain the prerogative of the Greek state.

Spiritually, Mount Athos is under the Patriarchate of Constantinople and is therefore in communion with all the monasteries on Mount Athos and with the Orthodox Church based in various countries. Only one monastery has recently broken away and has formed a completely independent schism on the Holy Mountain -- [[Esphygmenou Monastery]]. Esphygmenou is composed of 117 [[Zealot]] monks who stubornly oppose the head of the Church and do not commemorate him any more. They believe that they are the last remaining true Christians in the world and that Orthodoxy has been corrupted by having dialogue with other faiths and object to the lifting of the anathemas against the Roman catholic Church in the 1960's by Patriarch Athenagoras.

== Culture ==

''Main article: [[Culture of Greece]]''

Since the dawn of her history and until today Greece has produced a number of contributors to philosophy, astronomy, science and the arts. For a list of famous Greek women and men see [[List of Greeks]].

See also:

* [[Classics]]

* [[Education in Greece]]

* [[List of folk dances sorted by origin#Greece|List of Greek dances]]

* [[Greek National Holidays]]

* [[Tourism in Greece]]

* [[List of museums in Greece]]

{| align=center

|-

| [[Image:byz6a2.jpg|thumb|right|]]

| [[Image:oelytis.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Nobel prize for literature]] has gone to Greek writers twice. Here [[Odysseus Elytis]] in 1979.]]

| [[Image:kallas.jpg|thumb|right|[[Maria Callas]]]]

|}

<br clear=all>

== Miscellaneous topics ==

*[[History of Greece]]

**[[Ancient Greece]]

*[[Communications in Greece]]

**[[List of Greek language television channels]]

**[[List of radio stations in Greece]]

*[[Transportation in Greece]]

**[[List of Greek roads]]

**[[Rio-Antirio bridge]]

*[[Foreign relations of Greece]]

*[[Military of Greece]]

*[[Postage stamps and postal history of Greece]]

*[[Conscription in Greece]]

==Sport in Greece==

* [[Summer Olympics]] of [[1896 Summer Olympics|1896]], [[1906 Summer Olympics|1906]] & [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004]]

* [[Greece national football team]] (Euro 2004 Cup Winners)

The Greek goverment built a world class sport infrastructure, specifically for the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]. Unfortunately, less than a year later, that infastructure has fallen almost completely into disuse. 85% of the fields, e.g. the Volleyball field and the baseball field, which were built exclusively for the 2004 Summer Olympics, closed down immidiately after the end of the event due to the innability of the Greek goverment to pay for maintance and security personel. There are no immediate plans for re-opening the fields.

{| align=center

|-

| [[Image:ceremony4.jpg|thumb|left|Greece hosted the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]]]

| [[Image:GreeceEuro.jpg|thumb|left|Greece won the [[2004 European Football Championship]]]]

| [[Image:velodrome.jpg|thumb|right|A picture of the Athens velodrome]]

|}

<br clear=all>

== See also ==

*[[Seagrass]]

== References ==

*[[Hellenic National Intelligence Service]]

* [[Barthélemy Charles Joseph du Mortier|B. C. J. du Mortier]] (1829). ''Analyse des Familles de Plantes : avec l'indication des principaux genres qui s'y rattachent'', 54. Imprimerie de J. Casterman, Tournay.

*[[National Statistical Service of Greece]]

* W. S. Judd, C. S. Campbell, E. A. Kellogg, P. F. Stevens, M. J. Donoghue (2002). ''Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach, 2nd edition.'' pp. 242-247 (Alismatales). Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Massachusets. ISBN 0878934030.

== External links ==

{{commons|Greece}}

*[http://www.hri.org HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network)] - comprehensive web site

*[http://www.holiday.gr Greece travel guide] Greece for travellers

*[http://www.focusmm.com/greece/gr_anamn.htm The Land of Gods and Goddesses] Focus on Greece

*[http://www.ask4greece.org Ask for Greece] A volunteer community for Q&As about Greece

*[http://www.greece-museums.com Greece Museums] Museum directory of Greece

*[http://www.gr.net GR-Net] Online community

*[http://www.aroundgreece.com Guide for Greece]

*[http://www.greece-athens.com Greece Athens travel guide]

*[http://webcam.deili.info/en,1,8 Greece Webcam]

*[http://www.ert.gr/radio/liveradioTritovraxea.asp Radio Greece live]

*[http://www.travelling-greece.com Travelling Greece and the Greek Islands]

*[http://greece.ianandwendy.com Photos of Greece from a backpacker's trip]

*[http://dmoz.org/Regional/Europe/Greece/ Open Directory Project: Greece]

*[http://www.olympion.de/greek-embassies-worldwide.html A list of Greek Embassies Worldwide]

===Greek Ministries===

*[http://www.ypes.gr/ Ministry of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation]

*[http://www.ypepth.gr Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs]

*[http://www.mfa.gr/english/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

*[http://www.ypan.gr/ Ministry of Development]

*[http://www.ydt.gr/ Ministry of Public Order]

*[http://egov.yen.gr/ Ministry of Mercantile Marine]

*[http://www.ypai.gr Ministry of the Aegean and insular policy]

*[http://www.ministryofjustice.gr/ Ministry of Justice]

*[http://www.culture.gr/ Ministry of Culture]

** online resource center with extensive information about the culture of Greece, its history, archaeological sites, etc.

*[http://www.minagric.gr/ Ministry of Agriculture]

*[http://www.labor-ministry.gr/ Ministry of Employment and Social Protection]

*[http://www.mod.gr/ Ministry of National Defence]

*[http://www.mnec.gr/ Ministry of National Economy and Economics]

*[http://www.ypyp.gr/ Ministry of Health and Welfare]

*[http://www.yme.gr/ Ministry of Transportation and Communications]

*[http://www.mathra.gr/ Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace]

*[http://www.gnto.gr/ Ministry of Tourism - Greek National Tourism Organisation]

===Other official sites===

*[http://www.presidency.gr/en/index.htm President of the Hellenic Republic]

*[http://www.greece.gr/index.htm Greece Now Government sponsored e-zine on Greek life]

*[http://www.primeminister.gr/gr/lang/en/primeminister.asp Prime Minister of Greece]

*[http://www.parliament.gr/english/default.asp Hellenic Parliament]

{{EU_countries}}

{{NATO}}

{{Europe}}

{{Mediterranean}}

[[Category:Greece| Alismatales]]

[[Category:European Union member states]]

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