Cradle of the democracy, the territory modern Greece Greek (3 ' 150 ' 000 km2) presents, in a condensed form, the features characteristic of the Mediterranean medium: strong interpenetration of the sea and the ground, hot and dry climate, parcelling out in small natural areas. Highlights of a prestigious past The national ideology is founded on the idea of the continuity of the “Greek nation” (Ellinikon Ethnos) from ancient Greece, although it obvious that such a long history was, during the centuries, is enriched by the contribution of populations and different cultures.
Already during Antiquity, the Hellenism, the world of Greek language and culture, extended well beyond the current borders from the country. The Greek culture was an basic element of the civilization of the Roman Empire. The Byzantine Empire - resulting from the division of the Roman Empire to the IV E century and of the creation of “second Rome” in Constantinople - was gradually transformed into a Christian and hellenized Byzantine Empire. During several centuries, Byzantine civilization, that one can regard as the second great stage of the Greek culture, dominated the Eastern Mediterranean.
Definitively destroyed at the time of the catch of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, the Byzantine Empire made place with an Ottoman Empire; it is within the latter, where she played notable part, which the modern Greek nation saw the day. The Greek Church became an official and influential institution; Phanar (district of the patriarchate in Constantinople) accommodated the Greek intelligentsia, which provides the Door doctors, interpreters, diplomats and governors.
From the XVIIe century, the Greeks benefitted from the Western penetration and the increasing Russian influence to develop their trade and their merchant navy, in particular by the means of the Greek commercial communities which mark out the main roads between the Occident and the East.