Greeks - Revision history

Irlandos at 12:02, February 8, 2008

2008-02-08T12:02:00Z

Irlandos: /* Timeline of Greek migrations */

2006-08-16T15:31:54Z

Timeline of Greek migrations

Irlandos: /* Names used for the Greek people */

2006-03-21T08:33:23Z

Names used for the Greek people

Irlandos at 08:31, March 21, 2006

2006-03-21T08:31:44Z

Show changes

Lazarus: /* Greeks around the world */

2005-10-28T13:26:44Z

Greeks around the world

Lazarus: /* Modern independence */

2005-07-28T22:46:21Z

Modern independence

Lazarus: /* Modern independence */

2005-07-23T17:03:04Z

Modern independence

Lazarus at 22:24, July 22, 2005

2005-07-22T22:24:30Z

Lazarus at 22:23, July 22, 2005

2005-07-22T22:23:02Z

New page

''For other uses of the name "Greek", see [[Greek (disambiguation)]]''
----

The '''Greeks''' are a [[nation]] and [[ethnic group]], who have populated [[Greece]] from the [[17th century BC]] until the present day.

== Identity of the Greek people ==

=== Classical and Roman ===
[[Herodotus]] says that the [[History of Athens|Athenians]] declared, before the [[battle of Plataea]], that they would not go over to [[Mardonius]], because in the first place, they were bound to avenge the burning of the [[Acropolis]]; and, secondly, they would not betray their fellow Greeks, to whom they were bound by

* A common language (the use of one of the dialects of the [[Greek language]])
* Common blood (descent from [[Hellen]], son of [[Deucalion]])
* Common [[shrine]]s, [[statue]]s and [[sacrifice]]s (practice of the [[ancient Greek religion]]) and
* Common habits and customs. 

This notion that the Greeks had a common descent was then comparatively recent. As [[Thucydides]] observes, the name of [[Hellas]] spread from a valley in [[Thessaly]] to the Greek-speaking peoples after the formation of the text of [[Homer]] (the ''Panellenes'' of [[Iliad|Il.]] 2.530 are the troops of Thessaly, contrasting with the [[Achaeans]]), not long before his own time. This places the idea in the [[Archaic period in Greece|Archaic period]], when Greek-speakers discovered that the world was wider, wealthier, and more cultured than they had hitherto imagined. Homer's [[Trojan War]] is, indeed, a conflict among Greeks: the [[Trojans]] speak Greek, bear Greek names, and worship the Greek gods; and [[Priam]] is descended from [[Zeus]] (see [[Alaksandus]]). The [[Caria]]ns are the only people Homer considers ''barbarophonoi''.

Nor did the late and schematic myth of the sons of Hellen ever convince other [[mythographer]]s to comply with it. [[Theseus]] is descended from [[Erechtheus]], son of the [[Earth]]; [[Oedipus]] from the [[Phoenicia]]n [[Cadmus]]; [[Agamemnon]] from [[Phrygia]]n [[Pelops]]; [[Heracles]] and [[Perseus]] from [[Egypt]]ian [[Danaus]]. Whole cities were not descended from Hellen: [[Athens]], [[Lemnos]], and the [[Crete|Cretans]] were [[Pelasgian]]; and [[1 Maccabees]] 12:21 attests that the [[Sparta]]ns are children of [[Abraham]].

The myth of [[Hellen]] combined into one group the smaller tribes that participated in the [[Amphictyonic_League|Delphic Amphictyon]], such as the [[Aeolians]], the [[Achaean]]s, and the [[Dorian]]s. Traces of the older distinctions remained; Dorians were forbidden in the [[Parthenon]]; although the Spartan king [[Cleomenes I]] claimed this did not apply to him — as a descendant of [[Heracles]], ''he'' was an Achaean. (As in this example, the Greeks almost always reckoned descent only through the male line.)

So the exact nature of Greek identity has been an open question since ancient times. It has not become clearer with time: descent is at best a matter of tradition, and the Greeks have altered their language, religion, and customs since Herodotus. Nevertheless, there has been, in practice, a continuous Greek identity since ancient times, containing at least those who chose to be Greek and who had citizenship in a Greek city, or membership of a Greek community.

As early as the [[5th century BCE]], [[Isocrates]], after speaking of common origin and worship, says: "the name Hellenes suggests no longer a race but an intelligence, and... the title Hellenes is applied rather to those who share our culture than to those who share a common blood". [[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0144:speech=4:section=50|''Panegyric'' 4.50]].

After the 4th century BCE, Greek became the lingua franca of the East [[Mediterranean]] region and was widely spoken by educated non-Greeks. After the [[4th century]] CE, Greeks became Christian. (In the Judeo-Christian tradition, Greeks are descended from [[Javan]], son of [[Japheth]]).

=== Byzantine and Ottoman ===
After the creation of the [[Eastern Roman Empire]], Greek culture shifted from Hellenic (Greek pagan) to Romaic (Greek [[paganism]] fused with Christianity), and the word "Hellene" became associated with the pagan past. All Roman citizens, and thus all subjects of the [[Byzantine]] Emperor, were Romaic. Distinctions between nationalities among the citizens of the Eastern Roman Empire did not become extinct, but became secondary to religious considerations as the renewed Empire used Christianity to maintain its cohesion. It was religion that divided the Empire from the Muslims; and, along different lines, it came to divide the Empire from the Franks, Armenians, Copts, and Syrians.

Greek nationalism was reborn after the fall of [[Constantinople]] to the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade in 1204, and the establishment of a number of Greek kingdoms (such as the [[Empire of Nicaea]] and the [[Despotate of Epirus]]). When the empire was revived in [[1261]], it became essentially a Greek national state. Adherence to [[Greek Orthodox]] rites became the defining characteristic of the Greek people.

During the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule of Greece, Greek Orthodox Christianity was the only Greek community; the Ottomans considered religion to be the defining characteristic of "national" groups (''[[Millet (Ottoman Empire)|millet]]''). Greeks who adopted Islam during that period were considered 'Turks'. Following this definition, [[Alexander Ypsilantis]] expected the Moldavians and Wallachians, being Greek Orthodox, to rise for [[War of Greek Independence|Greek independence]]; but they did not.

=== Modern independence ===
This strong relation between Greek national identity and Greek Orthodox religion continued after the creation of the modern Greek state in [[1830]] and when the Treaty of Lausanne was signed between Greece and [[Turkey]] in [[1923]], the two countries agreed to use religion as the determinant for ethnic identity. However, in many important respects, the Greek state adhered from its founding to remarkably [[secular]] principles. For instance, [[Jews]] were granted full citizens rights in [[1830]], the year Greece's independence was formally recognized, thus making Greece the second state in Europe (after France) with an emancipated Jewish community.

Today, the diminishing role of the Orthodox church in modern Greece, the deeper integration of Greece into the Western strategic system and the effects of migration (both emigration from Greece in the 1950s and 1960s, and immigration into Greece in more recent years) have led to a perception of Greek national identity similar to that of other Western European nations. The old notion that "Greek equals Greek Orthodox" is only held to be true by a very conservative minority of the population.

== Modern vs ancient Greeks ==
Many Greek [[nationalists]] insist that the modern Greeks are pure descendants of the ancient Greeks; at the other extreme are those that believe that the ancient Greeks genetically disappeared at some point. Modern ethnologists consider genetics irrelevant, but agree that there is a strong and continuous tradition linking ancient and modern Greeks [[linguistic]]ally and [[cultural]]ly over the millenia, though, of course, there have also been significant contributions to Greek language and culture from other peoples.

== Names used for the Greek people ==
''Main Article: [[Greek (name)|Names of the Greeks]]''.

Throughout the centuries, the Greeks have been known by a number of names, including:

*'''Hellene''' (pl. Hellenes) ({{polytonic|Ἕλλην}}) was the word used by Greeks themselves during the [[Classical Greece|classical period]]. The [[Demotic Greek]] form is pronounced '''Ellinas''' ({{polytonic|Έλληνα&sigmaf;}}) (pl. Ellines). In English, the word has archaic or romantic overtones, though it is used by some Greeks in preference to '''Greek'''.
*'''Grekos''' (pl Greki) from the [[Latin]] ''Græcus'', in turn from the Greek {{polytonic|Γραικό&sigmaf;}} is often used colloqually. Most European languages similarly terms derived from the latin Græcus, including the [[English language|English]] word '''Greek'''.
*'''Romios''' (pl. Romii) {{polytonic|Ρωμιοί}}, literally 'Roman', referring to the [[Byzantine Empire|Eastern Roman Empire]], is often used in a familiar or fraternal way. The derivative term ''Rum'' is used in [[Turkish language|Turkish ]] to refer to Greeks living in Turkey.
*'''Yaunan''' is an ancient Persian word that derives from the geographical term [[Ionia]]. Derivative words are still used in Turkish (Yunan), Hebrew (Yavan), Persian, Arabic, and other [[Middle East]]ern languages.
*'''[[Achaean]]''', '''[[Argive]]''', and '''[[Danaans|Danaan]]''' are names used in [[Homer]], and sometimes used poetically.

== History of the Greeks ==
The history of the Greek people is closely associated with the [[history of Greece]] itself. While Greeks have migrated away from Greece for many centuries, historically these colonists or emigrants remained close to their homeland.

During the Ottoman rule of Greece, a number of Greek enclaves around the [[Mediterranean]] were cut off from the the core, notably in Southern Italy, the Caucasus, Syria,and Egypt.

During the [[20th century]], a huge wave of migration to the [[Greek American|United States]], [[Greek Australian|Australia]], [[Greek Canadian|Canada]],and elsewhere created a [[Greek diaspora]] which, in many ways, has developed a cultural identity separate from that of the Greeks who remained home.

==Greeks around the world==
Outside Greece and [[Cyprus]], large Greek communities can be found in a number of countries:

*United States: 1,153,295 (self-reported heritage); 365,435 speak Greek at home. (2000 Census). See [[Greek American]].
*Germany: 363,000 (1995, based on citizenship)
*Canada: 203,354 born in Greece[[#Footnotes|1]] (1996 Census); total approx. 320,000 Canadians of Greek heritage (2003 community estimates)
*Australia: 260,000 speak Greek at home (1996 Census); 336,782 self-reported Greek origin (1986 Census[http://www.hellenism.net/cgi-bin/display_article.html?s=49&a=172])
*Albania: Approx. 200,000 remain in Albania; another 150,000 have migrated to Greece (2004, figures not reliable).
*Former Soviet Union: Approx. 200,000 remain; 300,000 have migrated to Greece (2003, figures not reliable).

Significant Greek communities can also be found in the [[United Kingdom]] (mostly Greek Cypriots), Argentina, Sweden and South Africa.

== Timeline of Greek migrations ==

* '''[[20th century BCE]]''' — Greek tribes migrate into [[Macedonia]] (most likely from the [[Caucasus]] region), and establish some settlements in peninsular Greece.
* '''[[17th century BCE]]''' — Decline of [[Minoan civilization]], possibly due to the eruption of [[Santorini|Thera]]. Greek tribes ([[Achaeans]], [[Ionians]]) enter southern Greece, establishing the [[Mycenaean civilization]]. [[History of Greece|Greek history]] begins.
* '''[[13th century BCE]]''' — First [[colonies]] established in [[Asia Minor]].
* '''[[11th century BCE]]''' — [[Doric]] tribes move into peninsular Greece.
* '''[[9th century BCE]]''' — Major colonization of [[Asia Minor]].
* '''[[8th century BCE]]''' — First colonies established in [[Sicily]] and [[Southern Italy]].
* '''[[6th century BCE]]''' — Colonies established across the [[Mediterranean]] and the [[Black Sea]]
* '''[[4th century BCE]]''' — Campaign of [[Alexander the Great]]; colonies established in Egypt and the Middle East.
* '''[[2nd century BCE]]''' — Conquest of Greece by the [[Roman Empire]].
* '''[[4th century]] CE''' — Establishment of [[Eastern Roman Empire]]. Migrations of Greeks throughout the Empire, and of non-Greeks into Greece over the next 6 centuries.
* '''[[13th century]] CE''' — Dissolution of Eastern Roman Empire. Re-emergence of Greek nationalism.
* '''[[14th century]] CE''' — Eastern Roman Empire recreated and refashioned as a Greek state.
* '''[[15th century]] CE''' — Conquest of Greece by the [[Ottoman Empire]] . Greek diaspora into [[Europe]] begins. Turkish settlements in Greece.
* '''[[1830s]]''' — Creation of the [[History of Modern Greece|Modern Greek State]]. Immigration to the New World begins.
* '''[[1913]]''' — Macedonia partitioned; Population exchange with Bulgaria; Greek presence in Bulgaria and presence of Slavic peoples in Greece practically end.
* '''[[1910s]]''' — Genocide of Pontian Greeks; approximately 350,000 killed.
* '''[[1923]]''' — Treaty of Lausanne. 1.3 million Greeks removed from the newly created Republic of Turkey; 500,000 Turks and other Muslims removed from Greece. Muslim Greeks remain in Turkey. 50,000 Christian Greeks in [[Constantinople]] and a number of Muslims in Greek (Western) [[Thrace]] excluded from the exchange.
* '''[[1948]]''' — [[Greek Civil War]]. Tens of thousands of Greek [[communist]]s and their families flee into Eastern Block nations. Thousands settle in Tashkent.
* '''[[1950s]]''' — Massive emigration of Greeks to West Germany, the United States, Australia, Canada, and other countries. Large Greek community in Alexandria flees Naser's regime in Egypt.
* '''[[1955]]''' — Violent riots against Greeks in [[Constantinople]]. Exodus of Greeks from the city begins; less than 2000 remain today.
* '''[[1960s]]''' — [[Republic of Cyprus]] created, as a joint Greek–Turkish state. Economic emigration continues.
* '''[[1974]]''' — Turkish invasion of [[Northern Cyprus]]. Almost all Greeks living in northern Cyprus flee to the south; many flee to the United Kingdom.
* '''[[1980s]]''' — Civil war refugees allowed to remigrate to Greece. Reverse migration of Greeks from Germany also begins.
* '''[[1990s]]''' — Collapse of Soviet Union. Approx. 300,000 ethnic Greeks migrate from Georgia, Armenia and southern Russia to Greece. Approx 150,000 ethnic Greeks migrate from Albania to Greece.
*'''[[2000s]]''' — [[Schengen Treaty]] increases population mobility within the [[European Union]]. Numbers indicate a trend of reverse migration of Greeks from the United States and Australia beginning.

== Footnotes==

1Includes non-Greeks born in Greece; excludes Greeks not born in Greece; excludes second-generation Greek-Canadians.

==External links==
* [http://www.chs.harvard.edu/chs_pubs/greekness/ Greeks on Greekness: The Construction and Uses of the Greek Past among Greeks under the Roman Empire], a conference on how Greeks imagined Greekness in relation to the past during the first two centuries of the Roman Empire.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:02, February 8, 2008
Line 102:		Line 102:
	==External links==		==External links==
	* [http://www.chs.harvard.edu/chs_pubs/greekness/ Greeks on Greekness: The Construction and Uses of the Greek Past among Greeks under the Roman Empire], a conference on how Greeks imagined Greekness in relation to the past during the first two centuries of the Roman Empire.		* [http://www.chs.harvard.edu/chs_pubs/greekness/ Greeks on Greekness: The Construction and Uses of the Greek Past among Greeks under the Roman Empire], a conference on how Greeks imagined Greekness in relation to the past during the first two centuries of the Roman Empire.
		+
		+
		+	[[Category:Greece]]

@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 * '''[[1955]]''' &mdash; Violent riots against Greeks in [[Istanbul Pogrom|Constantinople]]. Exodus of Greeks from the city begins; less than 2000 remain today.
 * '''[[1960s]]''' &mdash; Republic of [[Cyprus]] created, as a joint Greek&ndash;Turkish state. Economic emigration continues.
-* '''[[1974]]''' &mdash; Turkish invasion of northern [[Cyprus]]. Almost all Greeks living in northern Cyprus flee to the south; many flee to the United Kingdom.
+* '''[[1974]]''' &mdash; [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus|Turkish invasion]] of northern [[Cyprus]]. Almost all Greeks living in northern Cyprus flee to the south; many flee to the United Kingdom.
 * '''[[1980s]]''' &mdash; Civil war refugees allowed to remigrate to Greece. Reverse migration of Greeks from Germany also begins.
 * '''[[1990s]]''' &mdash; Collapse of Soviet Union.  Approx. 300,000 ethnic Greeks migrate from Georgia, Armenia and southern Russia to Greece. Approx 150,000 ethnic Greeks migrate from Albania to Greece.

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 *'''Hellene''' (pl. Hellenes) (Έλλην) was the word used by Greeks themselves during the [[Classical Greece|classical period]]. The [[Demotic Greek]] form is pronounced '''Ellinas''' (pl. Ellines) (Έλληνας).  In English, the word has archaic or romantic overtones, though it is used by some Greeks in preference to '''Greek'''.
-*'''Grekos''' (pl Greki) from the [[Latin]] ''Gr&aelig;cus'', in turn from the Greek {{polytonic|&Gamma;&rho;&alpha;&iota;&kappa;&#x03cc;&sigmaf;}} is often used colloqually. Most European languages similarly terms derived from the latin Gr&aelig;cus, including the English word '''Greek'''.
+*'''Grekos''' (pl Greki) from the Latin ''Gr&aelig;cus'', in turn from the Greek (Γραικός) is seldom used colloqually. Most European languages similarly terms derived from the latin Gr&aelig;cus, including the English word '''Greek'''.
 *'''Romios''' (pl. Romii) (Ρωμιός), literally 'Roman', referring to the [[Byzantine Empire|Eastern Roman Empire]], is often used in a familiar or fraternal way. The derivative term ''Rum'' is used in Turkish to refer to Greeks living in Turkey.
 *'''Yaunan''' is an ancient Persian word that derives from the geographical term [[Ionia]]. Derivative words are still used in Turkish (Yunan), Hebrew (Yavan), Persian, Arabic, and other Middle Eastern languages.

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 This strong relation between Greek national identity and Greek Orthodox religion continued after the creation of the modern Greek state in [[1830]] and when the Treaty of Lausanne was signed between Greece and [[Turkey]] in [[1923]], the two countries agreed to use religion as the determinant for ethnic identity. However, in many important respects, the Greek state adhered from its founding to remarkably [[secular]] principles. For instance, [[Jews]] were granted full citizens rights in [[1830]], the year Greece's independence was formally recognized, thus making Greece the second state in Europe (after France) with an emancipated Jewish community.
-Today, the diminishing role of the Orthodox church in modern Greece, the deeper integration of Greece into the Western strategic system and the effects of migration (both [[emigration]] from Greece in the 1950s and 1960s, and [[immigration]] into Greece in more recent years) have led to a perception of Greek national identity similar to that of other Western European nations. The old notion that "Greek equals Greek Orthodox" is only held to be true by a very conservative minority of the population.
+Today, the diminishing role of the Orthodox church in modern Greece, the deeper integration of Greece into the Western strategic system and the effects of migration (both [[emigration]] from Greece in the [[1950s]] and [[1960s]], and [[immigration]] into Greece in more recent years) have led to a perception of Greek national identity similar to that of other Western European nations. The old notion that "Greek equals Greek Orthodox" is only held to be true by a very conservative minority of the population.
 == Modern vs ancient Greeks ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:24, July 22, 2005
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	~~''For other uses of the name "Greek", see [[Greek (disambiguation)]]''~~
−	~~----~~

	The '''Greeks''' are a [[nation]] and [[ethnic group]], who have populated [[Greece]] from the [[17th century BC]] until the present day.		The '''Greeks''' are a [[nation]] and [[ethnic group]], who have populated [[Greece]] from the [[17th century BC]] until the present day.

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 *United States: 1,153,295 (self-reported heritage); 365,435 speak Greek at home. (2000 Census). See [[Greek American]].
 *Germany: 363,000 (1995, based on citizenship)
-*Canada: 203,354 born in Greece<sup>[[#Footnotes|1]]</sup> (1996 Census); total approx. 320,000 Canadians of Greek heritage (2003 community estimates)
+*Canada: 203,354 born in Greece<sup>[[#Footnotes|1]]</sup> (1996 Census); total approx. 320,000 Canadians of Greek heritage (2003 community estimates). See [[Greek Canadian]].
-*Australia: 260,000 speak Greek at home (1996 Census); 336,782 self-reported Greek origin (1986 Census[http://www.hellenism.net/cgi-bin/display_article.html?s=49&a=172])
+*Australia: 260,000 speak Greek at home (1996 Census); 336,782 self-reported Greek origin (1986 Census[http://www.hellenism.net/cgi-bin/display_article.html?s=49&a=172]). See [[Greek Australian]].
 *Albania: Approx. 200,000 remain in Albania; another 150,000 have migrated to Greece (2004, figures not reliable).
 *Former Soviet Union: Approx. 200,000 remain; 300,000 have migrated to Greece (2003, figures not reliable).