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Greece is one of the oldest
civilizations, dating back over 5000 years.
Population:
10 million people.
Geographic size: 51,000 square miles.
Capital: Athens.
Major cities and population: Athens, Patra, Piraeus,
Larisa and Salonica. |
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Much of Greece is
mountainous and rocky terrain, with the occasional plain.
The Pindus Mountains start in northern Greece and stretch
south to the Gulf of Patra. In the southern part of
Greece are the Peloponnesus Mountains.
About 20% of
Greece is made up of islands. Crete is a large island
located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a popular tourist
area for its beautiful mountains, coastline, and many
ancient ruins. |
 Most of the people in Greece
live along the coast, or along rivers and harbors. |
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 The people of Greece were
one of the earliest civilizations. Greece still has many
ancient ruins, some over 4000 years old. Greece also has
many medieval churchs. This makes Greece a very popular
tourist area. |
 Greece is also well known
for its sculptures, paintings, pottery, poetry and
playwriting. |
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The land within Greece is
not very productive for farming. The Greeks have
struggled to build a strong economy. The standard of
living in Greece is lower than other European countries.
Manufacturing
is becoming one of the key industries. Tourism is also
very important, particularly along the Aegean Sea coast.
Some farming includes wheat, fruits, vegetables,
olives and grapes. Some areas support goat and sheep
ranching.
Fishing also continues to be an important industry. |
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| Ancient Greece is considered
the birthplace of European civilization, dating back over 5000 years. Many
of the ancient ruins date back over 4000 years, with some caves showing
signs of life over 10,000 years ago. The ancient greek people may have come
from northern Africa.
Ancient
Greece produced many philosophers and scholars, such as
Socrates and Plato. These Greeks contributed
significantly to our current culture. They created the
first democratic government, discovered many scientific
principles, and created mathematics. The Greeks also
contributed to the artistic community with Homer, who
wrote the Iliad and The Odyssey, and other artisans
creating sculptures, paintings, pottery, poetry and
playwriting.
Competitive sports were a major part of Greek life.
The first Olympic Games were held in Greece in 776 BC.
The ancient Greeks did not have a strong, unified
military force. This made them an easy target for other
invading people. In ancient times, Greece was conquered
by the Romans. Others controlled Greece at various times.
In the 15th century, the Turks invaded Greece and ruled
for about 400 years. The Greeks finally got their
independence in the early 1800s.
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 Nearly all of the people in Greece are still of Greek decent. Two thirds of the population lives in urban areas such as Athens.
Greek culture is still heavily influenced by its ancient history. |
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| Most of Greece
has a mild climate. Summers are warm and dry,
particularly in the southern coastal areas. Rain is heavy
during the winter months, with some mountain areas
getting snow. |
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