Country Study: Greece
Greece
The country of Greece is one of the oldest in the world, ranging back to 3,000 B.C. when inhabitants settled in its lands; the ancient Greek language dates back even older by 500 years, in which the modern Greek language evolved from. Greece shaped the ancient and modern worlds as we know it, especially in the context of western civilization and thought, and with a direct impact on the governing concept of democracy. This paper will explore an outline of Greek history, its people, and politics throughout the ages it has existed. Greece is the name commonly referred to when speaking of the country, but it actually has a conventional long form called the “Hellenic Republic.” The country has also been referred to as the Kingdom of Greece when it was ruled by a monarch. As of 2013, there are 10,722,967 inhabitants living in the country of Greece while most are residing in the capital city of Athens, of around 3,168,000 of the population. Athens has a long standing history in the ancient world, as it was one of the largest city-states in ancient times and was the first state to develop the concept of a democratic government. Citizens were encouraged to participate directly in politics and even on judicial matters within the state. When the word citizen is used here, it is talking about adult males, as women and children were not allowed to participate in matters of the state.
This is the beginning concept of a republic and allowing the citizens of a state to participate and have a voice within their government. This political structure became the archetype of what we see in democracies in the modern world, all starting within Greece thousands of years ago and evolving into what we have today in the United States and many other countries. In ancient times, Greece was broken up among several cities that governed their own selves in the way they saw befitting, their was no national governing structure but there was still a sense of nationalism.
The country of Greece is one of the oldest in the world, ranging back to 3,000 B.C. when inhabitants settled in its lands; the ancient Greek language dates back even older by 500 years, in which the modern Greek language evolved from. Greece shaped the ancient and modern worlds as we know it, especially in the context of western civilization and thought, and with a direct impact on the governing concept of democracy. This paper will explore an outline of Greek history, its people, and politics throughout the ages it has existed. Greece is the name commonly referred to when speaking of the country, but it actually has a conventional long form called the “Hellenic Republic.” The country has also been referred to as the Kingdom of Greece when it was ruled by a monarch. As of 2013, there are 10,722,967 inhabitants living in the country of Greece while most are residing in the capital city of Athens, of around 3,168,000 of the population. Athens has a long standing history in the ancient world, as it was one of the largest city-states in ancient times and was the first state to develop the concept of a democratic government. Citizens were encouraged to participate directly in politics and even on judicial matters within the state. When the word citizen is used here, it is talking about adult males, as women and children were not allowed to participate in matters of the state.
This is the beginning concept of a republic and allowing the citizens of a state to participate and have a voice within their government. This political structure became the archetype of what we see in democracies in the modern world, all starting within Greece thousands of years ago and evolving into what we have today in the United States and many other countries. In ancient times, Greece was broken up among several cities that governed their own selves in the way they saw befitting, their was no national governing structure but there was still a sense of nationalism.
Bibliography: 2012. “Government Structure.” Greece Country Review 77-82. Business Source Premier, EBSOhost (accessed April 15, 2014). 2013. “Government Functions.” Greece Country Review 87-89. Business Source Premier, EBSOhost (accessed April 15, 2014). 2005. “Background Note: Greece (Cover Story).” Background Notes on Countries of the World: Greece 1. MasterFILE Premier, EBSOhost (accessed April 17, 2014). 2014. “Greece.” Political Risk Yearbook.: Greece Country Report U-1-12. Business Source Premier, EBSOhost (accessed April 17, 2014). Tahir, Izza, Kim Naggy, and Jennifer Eastman. 2013. “Greece.” Salem Press EncyclopediaReasearch Starters, EBSCOhost (accessed April 15, 2014). “CIA World Factbook.” last updated April 11, 2014.https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gr.html.