Even so the Greek economy has a long way to go before it reattains its pre-crisis level of health. callback: cb Fighting continued until 1829 when, with Russian troops at the gates of Constantinople, the sultan accepted Greek independence with the Treaty of Adrianople. In August 2018 Greece finally exited the €86 billion bailout programme that stretched back to 2010. Greece - Greece - The islands of Greece: The Ionian Islands off the western coast of Greece structurally resemble the folded mountains of Ípeiros. In the 15th century, the Fort of Naoussa was built to protect the island from pirates. From ancient hilltop temples to mysterious sanctuaries, cobbled medieval streets to ruined Byzantine fortress and elegant neoclassical villas, there’s plenty of history to be found on the Greek islands. Over the centuries, the Greek islands have been the stepping stones between North Africa, Asia Minor and Europe, across which warriors, tradesmen, conquerors and even civilisations have hopped. Youths hurled stones and firebombs at riot police who responded with tear gas. The island was once ruled by the Genoese, who left their mark in the form of elaborate decoration on the buildings of Pyrgi. Villages – whole islands even – were abandoned as almost a million Greeks left in search of a better life elsewhere, primarily to countries such as Australia, Canada and the US. Main . Evidence uncovered in these palaces indicates a sophisticated society, with splendid architecture and wonderful, detailed frescoes, highly developed agriculture and an extensive irrigation system. However, Greek independence put pressure on Britain to give sovereignty to the Greek nation, and in 1864 the British left. But in Santorini’s capital Fira you’ll also find the Museum of Prehistoric Thera – which displays artefacts from Akrotiri – as well as the Archaeological Musem, the Museum of Folkloric Art, the Naval Museum, and the Wine Museum! window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { | The Greek islands ignite the imagination and satisfy the soul with a history laced in mythical tales and told through ancient, sun-bleached ruins. Continued political turmoil over the bailout led Tsipras to resign in August 2015 and return to the polls in September. forms: { Guides & Tips The Best Greek Island to Visit Based on Your Personality . Timely diplomatic intervention by the Great Powers prevented the Turkish army from taking Athens. While the EU and IMF initially predicted that Greece would return to growth in 2014, the inability for many Greeks to pay their taxes at the end of the year meant that growth was a mere 0.4%. Led by Athens and Corinth (which took over Corfu in 734 BC), the city-states created a Magna Graecia (Greater Greece), with southern Italy as an important component. Greece’s foreign policy (dubbed the ‘Great Idea’) was to assert sovereignty over its dispersed Greek populations. event : evt, Athens finally surrendered to Sparta after a drawn-out series of pitched battles. His New Democracy (ND) party won a large majority at the November 1974 elections against the newly formed Panhellenic Socialist Union (PASOK), led by Andreas Papandreou (son of Georgos). Crete, the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, is among the top tourist destinations in Greece. The new kingdom (established by the London Convention of 1832) consisted of the Peloponnese, Sterea Ellada, the Cyclades and the Sporades. By the end of the 18th century, pockets of Turkish officials, aristocrats and influential Greeks had emerged as self-governing cliques that ruled over the provincial Greek peasants. When the volcano erupted in 1650BC, it both decimated the site and preserved it. During the so-called Archaic Age, from around 800 to 650 BC, Greek culture developed rapidly. If you're interested in one of the most culturally diverse and interesting Greek Islands, you should consider visiting the Ionian Islands. While Alexander the Great was forging his vast empire in the east, the Romans had been expanding theirs to the west, and were keen to start making inroads into Greece. Successive invaders have fought over and claimed the islands as prizes. History. From the barren, rocky shores of the picturesque Cyclades to the lush, wooded coastlines of the Sporades, the Greek Isles are as diverse as they are numerous. The Italians invaded anyway, but the Greeks drove them back into Albania. Most abolished monarchic rule and aristocratic monopoly, establishing a set of laws that redistributed wealth and allowed citizens to regain control over their lands. Georgos Papandreou came to power in February 1964. As the Romans revered Greek culture, Athens retained its status as a centre of learning. You can learn more here. By late 1992 corruption allegations were being levelled against the government, and many Mitsotakis supporters abandoned ship; ND lost its parliamentary majority, and an early election held in October returned PASOK to power. Its crowning glory is the UNESCO-listed Rhodes Old Town, the historic quarter of the island’s main city, which is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. Nafplio, in the Peloponnese, became the capital. The black and white exterior patterns (xista) are influenced by the Italian technique of sgraffito. 28 of the best Greek Islands Greece offers up the stuff of legend – with golden beaches, enchanting forests and quaint fishing villages galore. If your purpose of visiting Greece is your love for history, ancient ruins, ancient battles, and tales of warriors, kings, and gods, these are the islands you should visit. Almost 1.5 million Greeks left Turkey and almost 400,000 Turks left Greece. In 1814 the first Greek independence party, the Filiki Eteria (Friendly Society), was founded and its message spread quickly. Cycladic sculptors are also renowned for their impressive, life-sized kouroi (marble statues), carved during the Archaic period. The ferries are highly unreliable, and all routes lead to Athens - but you'll experience a taste of pure freedom. Well written and some terrific photos and illustrations. Lonely Planet is your passport to Greek Islands, with amazing travel experiences and the best planning advice. Constantinople was sacked in 1204, and much of the Byzantine Empire was partitioned into fiefdoms ruled by self-styled ‘Latin’ (mostly Frankish or western-Germanic) princes. Here are 10 islands to consider for your summer island-hopping plans if you like a bit of history on your holidays. They established a military junta, with Papadopoulos as prime minister. })(); For all the legal bits go to my Disclaimer and Privacy Policy, Local Secrets: Crete (10 Insider Tips from We Love Crete), Local Secrets: Syros (10 Insider Tips from Good Life Greece). They also introduced the practice of polytheism, paving the way for Zeus and his pantheon of 12 principal deities. The oldest traces of inhabitance in the history of Sifnos were found in the Neolithic times. Delos has been a cult centre and holy sanctuary for thousands of years. See & Do This One Fact About Greece Will Change Your Life. The Greek islands ignite the imagination and satisfy the soul with a history laced in mythical tales and told through ancient, sun-bleached ruins. Fascinatingly, no human remains have ever been found, so it must have been safely evacuated. This was Greece's fourth election in just over three years. The Minoans – named after King Minos, the mythical ruler of Crete (and stepfather of the Minotaur) – built Europe’s first advanced civilisation, drawing their inspiration from two great Middle Eastern civilisations: the Mesopotamian and the Egyptian. 120000 - 10000 B.C. During a tumultuous period, a republic was declared in 1924 amid a series of coups and counter-coups. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Greece counts 6.000 islands and islets scattered in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. It is a quite distinct place full of vitality, warmth, hospitality, culture and so much history. Click to save to Pinterest: (function() { Numerous resistance movements sprang up, eventually polarising into royalist and communist factions which fought one another with as much venom as they fought the Germans, often with devastating results for the civilian Greek population. US military presence was reduced, but unemployment was high and reforms in education and welfare were limited. In 1881, Greece acquired Thessaly and part of Epiros as a result of a Russo-Turkish war. Nevertheless, snap elections held in September 2007 returned the conservatives to power, albeit with a diminished majority. See & Do Island Hopping: The Cyclades Islands In 7 Days. There’s a Venetian Museum and an Archaeological Museum in Naxos Chora. The Turkish rule succeeded the Venetians, until the Greek Revolution of 1821. Corfu is the It Girl of the Ionian islands. From the 6th to 4th centuries BC, Greece continued its renaissance in cultural creativity. Catering Contact. In the Dorians' favour, however, they introduced iron and developed a new intricate style of pottery, decorated with striking geometric designs. One of the major triggers of the first Peloponnesian War (431–421 BC) that pitted Athens against Sparta was Athens’ support for Corcyra (present-day Corfu) in a row with Corinth, the island's mother city. The Minoan civilisation (3000–1100 BC) reached its peak during the Middle period; around 2000 BC the grand palace complexes of Knossos, Phaestos, Malia and Zakros were built, marking a sharp acceleration from Neolithic village life. But by 1990, significant policy wrangling and economic upheaval wore thin with the electorate and it returned the ND to office, led by Konstandinos Mitsotakis. Elsewhere on the island, the traditional mountain ‘marble’ villages are worth visiting. ). } Meanwhile, Britain eased onto the Greek throne the young Danish Prince William, crowned King George I in 1863, whose reign lasted 50 years. There was much dissension and Kapodistrias was assassinated in 1831. As many city-states enjoyed increased economic reform and political prosperity, literature and drama blossomed. Scholars are still debating the sequence of events that led to the ultimate demise of the Minoans. Of the six main islands, Corfu (Modern Greek: Kérkyra), opposite the Albanian frontier, is the northernmost; it is fertile and amply endowed with well-watered lowland. Greek troops served with distinction on the Allied side, but when the war ended in 1918 the promised land in Asia Minor was not forthcoming. It was so important in antiquity that the word Cyclades itself means ‘islands circling around Delos’. Rhodes knocks it out of the park when it comes to historic sites on the Greek islands. This was the birthplace of the Minoan civilization, one of the most important civilizations in the ancient world. The Cycladic civilisation – centred on the islands of the Cyclades – comprised a cluster of small fishing and farming communities with a sophisticated artistic temperament. However, rising unemployment, ballooning public debt, slowing inflation and the squeezing of consumer credit took their toll. Ancient history nerds can check out the ruins at Paleopolis, near the Mon Repos Palace, and the Kardaki temple. Their strategic location, in a seafaring world, made many islands prosperous and autonomous trading centres. Initially, Tsipras stuck to his guns and June 2015 saw Greece become the first first-world nation to go into arrears with the EU and IMF. One-fifth of Greece’s area is made up of the Greek islands. Philosophy & Religion. There are remains of the Byzantine castles at Paleokastritsa (Angelokastro) and Kassiopi, and a Venetian shipyard at Gouvia. The alliance included many of the Aegean islands and some of the Ionian city-states in Asia Minor. On 29 May 1453, Constantinople fell under Turkish Ottoman rule (referred to by Greeks as turkokratia). The Venetian old towns in Chania and Rethymnon are particularly worth a visit for their pretty streets and atmosphere. But by this stage foreign support for Venizelos had ebbed, and Turkish forces, commanded by Mustafa Kemal (later to become Atatürk), halted the offensive. A brief history of Greek island hopping. Greece has many islands, with estimates ranging from somewhere around 1,200 to 6,000, depending on the minimum size to take into account. } Some of the churches are open for the public to visit. Metaxas’ grandiose vision was to create a utopian Third Greek Civilisation, based on its glorious ancient and Byzantine past. He had founded the Centre Union (EK) and wasted no time in implementing a series of radical changes: he freed political prisoners and allowed exiles to come back to Greece, reduced income tax and the defence budget, and increased spending on social services and education. The exchange put a tremendous strain on the Greek economy and caused great bitterness and hardship for the individuals concerned. Read an overview of the climate. Rhodes is known for being one of the most diverse Greek Isles and packed with history due to its geographical significance. Weather in Greek Islands in April 2020. Two hilltop attractions are the fortresses of Paleo Pyli and Kefalos. It lies at the juncture of Europe, Asia, and Africa and is heir to the heritages of Classical Greece, the Byzantine Empire, and nearly four centuries of Ottoman Turkish rule. Amid the ensuing anarchy, Britain, France and Russia declared Greece a monarchy and set on the throne the non-Greek, 17-year-old Bavarian Prince Otto, in January 1833. FANDOM. At the 11th hour, Tsipras secured an €86 billion bailout loan – but the austerity measures attached were even more vigorous than those proposed before the referendum and many felt that, with Greek banks on the brink of collapse, Tsipras had been bullied into accepting the terms. Rhodes Town is a labyrinth of narrow cobbled alleyways and a treasure chest of historical influences – you’ll find Ottoman mosques, Italianate villas, medieval gates, and the mighty Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. At various times in its history Greece included all of Epirus, Macedonia, and Thrace, part of Asia Minor, ... Greece before 1000 BC The Ionians, moving forth, possibly as refugees, possibly as conquerors, settled in the Ionian Islands and on the shores of Asia Minor, which became a part of the Greek world. In the ensuing centuries, Byzantine Greece faced continued pressure from Venetians, Franks, Normans, Slavs, Persians and Arabs; the Persians captured Rhodes in 620, but were replaced by the Saracens (Arabs) in 653. Following a series of financial and corruption scandals a general election held in October 2009, midway through Karamanlis' term, saw PASOK (under George Papandreou) take back the reins in a landslide win against the conservatives. He assumed dictatorial powers under the pretext of preventing a communist-inspired republican coup. British influence in the Ionian Islands had begun in 1815 (following a spell of political ping-pong between the Venetians, Russians and French). Huge cuts followed, including 10% off public workers' salaries, but it was too little too late and foreign creditors continued to demand ever higher interest rates for their loans. There are various hiking trails around the island which take in Paleochora, the Monastery of St Nectarious, and the Temple of Aphaea. It’s a popular day trip from neighbouring islands though, particularly Mykonos. In hindsight, many look back on that year and bemoan the miscalibration of the drachma against the euro, claiming Greece's currency was undervalued, and that, overnight, living became disproportionately more expensive. Crete was placed under international administration, but the government of the island was gradually handed over to the Greeks. The campaign escalated, and within a year the Greeks had won vital ground. A Concise History of Greece by Richard Clogg is one of the best books on modern Greece and has been translated into a number of languages including Greek and Turkish. The treaty also called for a population exchange between Greece and Turkey to prevent any future disputes. A bloody civil war resulted, lasting until 1949. © 2020 Lonely Planet. The outcome was an unexpectedly large victory for Tsipras, just six seats short of an absolute majority. Some argue that a second powerful quake a century later decimated the society, or perhaps it was the invading force of Mycenae. Remnants of this great culture are found all over the island. To reach a majority, Syriza established a coalition with right-wing Independent Greeks (ANEL), unlikely bedfellows united by their mutual condemnation of the bailout program. On 17 November 1973, tanks stormed a building at the Athens Polytechnic (Technical University) to quell a student occupation calling for an uprising against the US-backed junta. In an effort to resolve the conflict in the region, in AD 324 the Roman Emperor Constantine I, a Christian convert, transferred the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium, a city on the western shore of the Bosphorus, which was renamed Constantinople (present-day İstanbul). The decline of the Minoans certainly coincided with the rise of the Mycenaean civilisation on the mainland (1600–1100 BC). In 1905 the president of the Cretan assembly, Eleftherios Venizelos (later to become prime minister), announced Crete’s union with Greece (although this was not recognised by international law until 1913). The German retreat from Greece began in October 1944. Under Tsipras's government unemployment has fallen, consumer spending has risen and poverty is on the decline. Built inland to protect from pirate attacks, Paleochora is a ghost town today – with 365 churches strewn across the hillside. Set against the background of the Crimean conflict, British and French interests were nervous at the prospect of a Greek alliance with Russia against the Ottomans. The Dorians were an ancient Hellenic people who settled in the Peloponnese by the 8th century BC. In Greek mythology, the island is known as the birthplace of the twins Artemis and Apollo. The most well-known historic attraction in Naxos is the Portara, a mysterious ancient door on the islet of Palatia which overlooks the main town. Spending a summer island-hopping these beauties is a holiday fantasy for many travellers, but if you want to turn your dreams into reality, you might well be considering which of the more than 2,000 islands that make up the archipelago is right for you. Indeed, the Romans adopted many aspects of Hellenic culture, spreading its unifying traditions throughout their empire. The Venetians, meanwhile, had also secured a foothold in Greece. Over on the other side of Greece, the popular Ionian island of Corfu is another hotspot for history-lovers thanks to its Old Town. The centre-right New Democracy party, led by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, won by a landslide, giving it an outright majority of 158 seats in the Greek parliament. 2,544 Pages. When Pericles became the leader of Athens in 461 BC, he moved the treasury from Delos to the Acropolis, using the funds to construct new buildings and grander temples to replace those destroyed by the Persians. The most striking legacy of this civilisation is the famous Cycladic figurines – carved statuettes from Parian marble. And last – but certainly not least – is the atmospheric Neratzia Castle, one of the finest examples of Knights Templar architecture in the Aegean. The island hasn’t been inhabited for centuries due to a scarcity of natural resources, and to protect the ongoing archaeological work. But Metaxas is best known for his reply of ohi (no) to Mussolini’s ultimatum to allow Italian forces passage through Greece at the beginning of WWII. { Attempts to negotiate a new bailout and avoid default were unsuccessful as Tsipras took the offer back to Greece and held a referendum. Many advances in literature, sculpture, theatre, architecture and intellectual endeavour began; this revival overlapped with the Classical Age. It begins with the first stirrings of what was to be the Revolution of 1821 and goes all the way to the present day. The popular island of Santorini is famous for its volcanic landscape and white and blue architecture, but it also boasts one of the Aegean’s most important archaeological sites: Akrotiri. By 146 BC the mainland became the Graeco-Roman province of Achaea. That said, billions of euros poured into large-scale infrastructure projects across Greece, including the redevelopment of Athens – spurred on largely by its hosting of the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. Simitis then won a comfortable majority at the October 1996 polls. You can’t discuss history on the Greek islands without mentioning Delos, the mysterious Cycladic island which is also one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Today’s visitors to Greece have the opportunity to trace the “fingerprints” of Greek history from the Paleolithic Era to the Roman Period in the hundreds of archaeological sites, as well as in the archaeological museums and collections that are scattered throughout the country.. The Arabs also captured Crete in 824. A Little History. Scholars divide the Cycladic civilisation into three periods: Early (3000–2000 BC), Middle (2000–1500 BC) and Late (1500–1100 BC). His successor, Selim the Sot, added Cyprus to Ottoman dominion in 1570. Suicide rates in the capital were up by 40%. But the other highlight is the little-known ancient village of Paleochora, which was once the capital of the island. With the Aegean Sea safely under its wing, Athens looked westwards for more booty. Whether you are doing island hopping as a backpacker, travelling as an adventurous solo traveler, as a couple or travelling with a family, advices, tips, facts and opinions are always needed. stepping stones of civilization from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and Anatolia But the crumbling Venetian streets of Naxos Chora are an equal part of its charm. In 477 BC Athens founded the Delian League, a naval alliance that was based on Delos. The party abandoned Papandreou’s left-leaning politics and elected economist and lawyer Costas Simitis as the new prime minister. Scientific evidence suggests they were weakened by a massive tsunami and ash fallout attributed to the eruption of a cataclysmic volcano on Santorini (Thira) around 1500 BC. Of course, it’s Greece, so it’s sure to give you sun and a great time. But Greece failed miserably when it tried to attack Turkey in an effort to reach enosis (union) with Crete (which had persistently agitated for liberation from the Ottomans). Once more Greece became a battleground, this time fought over by the Turks and Venetians. But Knossos is by no means the only historic attraction on Crete, which is a large island with a long history. Greece, the southernmost of the countries of the Balkan Peninsula. Some were run by foreign masters, as evidenced by the Venetian ports, Roman aqueducts and Frankish castles found on the islands today. There’s even a temple-topped ancient Acropolis in Rhodes Town – although don’t expect it to look anything like the one in Athens. Enjoyed this post? Knossos is great fun to visit (even if you disagree with its vivid but divisive restoration); find a tour guide to glean the best from the site, and don’t miss the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion. A group of friends realized the American dream that many immigrants had — they opened their own business after many years of hard work. The political right in Greece was rattled by Papandreou’s tolerance of the left, and a group of army colonels led by Georgos Papadopoulos and Stylianos Patakos staged a coup on 21 April 1967. Western powers intervened and a combined Russian, French and British naval fleet sunk the Turkish-Egyptian force in the Battle of Navarino in October 1827. While some longed for a return to the drachma, others believed Greece would still be saddled with massive debt and a monetary system with absolutely no standing. It was known throughout the ancient Greek world and beyond as the sanctuary of Apollo and the shrine of his oracle. Search Sign In Don't have an account? They are different from the point of view of flora – they are greener and less barren than their Aegean cousins and they share a different history to the rest of Greece and the other islands, having absorbed much Venetian and Italian influences over the years. It has rugged mountains, gorgeous valleys, endless beaches and turquoise seas. Apiranthos is the main one. The fighting was savage and atrocities were committed on both sides; in the Peloponnese 12,000 Turkish inhabitants were killed after the capture of the city of Tripolitsa (present-day Tripoli), while the Turks retaliated with massacres in Asia Minor, most notoriously on the island of Chios. The monastic community here is still active. The number of inhabited islands is variously cited as between 166 and 227. By about 800 BC, the Dorians had developed into a class of landholding aristocrats and Greece was becoming divided into a series of independent city-states. Athens’ rapid growth meant heavy reliance on food imports from the Black Sea, while Persia’s imperial expansions threatened coastal trade routes across Asia Minor. All rights reserved. The Best Greek Island for History Rhodes is one of the most popular islands in the Greek isles due to its cheap flights from mainland Europe. The dazzling splendour of the Greek Islands, entrenched with history, beauty and mystique, are one of the top draws of Europe. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Travel guide and advices. On 25 March 1821, the Greeks launched the War of Independence. There are castles, monasteries, and frescos galore (Moni Arkadhi steals the show). The Pax Romana began to crumble in AD 250 when the Goths invaded what is now Greece – the first of a succession of invaders. Few countries can hold their own against the overwhelming beauty of the Greek islands, especially considering their incredible positioning in the Mediterranean and subsequently their heavenly climate. Far more visually striking is the Acropolis at Lindos, a pretty whitewashed coastal village and upmarket resort. Thera, near the Mon Repos Palace, and surveys figurines – carved statuettes from marble! 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