: Overview

Name ______Date ______

Greece

Greece, which is officially named the Hellenic Republic, is a country in the Mediterranean. To the north of Greece lie , Bulgaria, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of . To the east is Turkey. Greece has miles and miles of beautiful coastline, and no matter where you are in Greece, you are always close to the sea. To the southeast of Greece is the , to the south is the , and to the west is the . Surrounding Greece are about 1400 islands, 169 of which are inhabited. The largest islands in Greece are and Evia. Most of Greece is mountainous, and most of the land is over 1500 meters above sea level. Northern Greece has dense forests, but the majority of the southern hills are covered in shrubs, wildflowers and wild oregano, basil and thyme. The is regulated by the Mediterranean Sea. The winters are mild and wet, although the temperatures in the mountains can be quite cold. The summers in Greece are dry and hot. Spring and fall are the nicest times to visit Greece, as the weather is warm, but not too hot, and the sun is shining. About 10.6 million people live in Greece. The capital city is , and approximately 2.7 million people live in Athens. The main language is obviously Greek, probably the oldest language in , but most people also speak English. About 98% of the Greek people are Greek Orthodox, but the rest are split between the Roman Catholic, Jewish and Muslim faiths. There are many holidays and festivals in Greece, most of which are religious holidays. After New Year’s Day, the first holiday of the new year occurs on January 8th, and is called Gynaikratia. On this day the traditional roles of the people in northern Greek villages are reversed. Men stay at home and do the housework, such as cooking, cleaning, and looking after the children, and the women spend the day drinking coffee in the cafes! The Greek Carnival season lasts for three weeks in February and March, just before the beginning of Lent. During the Carnival, people dress up in fancy costumes, and there are feasts, parades, dances and a general party atmosphere! Easter is the most significant festival in the Greek year. At Easter time, there are candle-lit processions through the streets, more feasting, and fireworks. Summer festivals are common in Greece, and the biggest of these is the Hellenic Festival from mid-June until late September. During the Hellenic Festival, there are music concerts featuring traditional and music styles, as well as performances, all occurring in the ancient theatres. is well known throughout the world. There are four major forms of Greek art, and they are architecture, painting, sculpture, and pottery. Paintings and sculptures were often of the gods, or beautiful young men and women. Greek culture, in the form of literature and drama, has also had a great influence on western culture. Some Greek tragedies are still performed and read today! One of these plays was written by Sophocles, and is called the King. This play is over 2400 years old! Homer, who lived in the 9th century B.C., wrote the Illiad and the Odyssey, and is considered ’s greatest writer. The first travel writer in Greece, Pausanias, wrote “The Guide to Greece” about 2200 years ago. Greek history goes back to the Bronze Age, between 3000 and 1200 B.C. In the Golden Age or Classical Age of ancient Greece, many of the Greek masterpieces were constructed. This is the time that the Parthenon was built in Athens, and Sophocles wrote Oedipus the King. It was also during this time that the beginnings of democracy (control by the people) started in Greece. Modern democracy, the form of government in many countries of the world, came from the government in ancient Greece.

©2004abcteach.com Greece: Overview

Name ______Date ______

Questions on Greece

1. What is the official name of Greece? ______

2. What countries and seas surround Greece? ______

3. What is the climate like in Greece? ______

4. What city is the capital of Greece? ______

5. What do you know about the Greek people? (population, religion, language) ______

6. Do you think the Greek people like to celebrate? Why? ______

7. What is the holiday of Gynaikratia? ______

8. When is the Greek carnival season? ______

9. What are the four major forms of Greek art? ______

10. What is the name of the Greek tragedy that is still popular today? Who wrote it, and about how old is it? ______

11. When was the first “Guide to Greece” written? ______

12. Other than through art, in what way has ancient Greece influenced the modern world? ______

©2004abcteach.com Greece: Overview

Name ______Date ______

Answers to Greece 1. The official name of Greece is the Hellenic Republic. 2. To the north of Greece lie Albania, the Former Yugoslave Republic of Macedonia, and Bulgaria. To the east lies Turkey and to the southeast is the Aegean Sea. To the south is the Mediterranean Sea, and to the west is the Ionian Sea. 3. The climate is regulated by the Mediterranean Sea. The winters are wet and mild, and the summers are hot and dry. 4. The capital of Greece is Athens. 5. The population of Greece is about 10.6 million people. The main language is Greek, although most people speak English as well. 98% of the population is Greek Orthodox. The rest of the population is a mix of Roman Catholic, Jewish and Muslim faiths. 6. The Greek people do seem to like to celebrate! This can be seen in the many holidays and festivals. 7. Gynaikratia is on January 8th, the first holiday after New Year’s Day. It is a day of traditional role reversal in northern villages. The men stay at home and do the housework, while the women spend the day drinking coffee and chatting in local cafes. 8. The carnival season lasts for three weeks in February and March, just before Lent. 9. The four major forms of Greek art are: architecture, painting, sculpture and pottery. 10. Sophocles wrote Oedipidus the King about 2400 years ago, and it is still popular today! 11. The first ‘Guide to Greece’ was written about 2200 years ago! 12. The ancient first started the form of government called “democracy”. Many governments of the modern world are based on this ancient form. In this way, the Greek civilization has influenced the modern world.

©2004abcteach.com