(Swastikas in Ancient Greece)
Cultural Diversity Loss in Greece
Cultural diversity in Greece has definitely gone downhill in recent years. There are many factors that are responsible for this. First of all, Greece used to be inhabited by first generation immigrants from several different countries around the world. Now, however, that there are no more first generation immigrants, most people in Greece- approximately ninety five percent, in fact- would identify themselves with the Hellenic population of Greece. (Dascalopoulos).
There is cultural diversity present in Greece. However, the diversity is not always respected and emphasized throughout the country. There are so many different languages spoken in Greece, that they have implemented an official language. This language, called “katharevousa”, is a way of merging all of the subcultures of Greece together into one united being. (Dascalopoulos). While this could definitely be considered a positive thing in uniting the country and creating one culture for all of Greece, it can also have a negative connotation in terms of cultural diversity. Within Greece, there are several different cultures that coexist. However, in doing things like this to unite the country as one culture, the cultural diversity is actually being taken away.
There has been a major shift in the religious aspect of Greek culture since the ancient times. For example, Greece has always been an extremely religious country. However, in ancient Greece, culture was dominated by a monotheistic religious practice. The Greeks worshipped several gods, and the myths of them were a huge part of Greece’s culture, beliefs, art, etc. (Culture). Nowadays, however, majority of people in Greece practice Greek Orthodox Christianity. (Greece Culture). In the ancient times, when there were many different gods and goddesses worshipped in Greece, different areas of the country all focused on different deities. This led to much cultural diversity, as each area of the country was a little different. Now, however, with one religion dominating a great majority of the country, there is far less cultural diversity in terms of religious beliefs. Practicing religion is still very important to Greek culture, but since it is done differently, it is a less diverse practice.
Greece continues to have its own unique culture and society. However, in today’s times, it is not quite as diverse as it used to be in ancient Greece, when the country was first founded. Greece used to be separated off into several different groups and subcultures. Now, the country has one united culture that everyone practices. While they are different from other parts of the world, there is not much diversity within Greece itself.
Sources:
Culture in Greece and society today - Greeka.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2014.
Dascalopoulos, S. (n.d.). Multicultural and "Plural": In the Case of Greece. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
Greek Culture. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2014.
Swastikas in Ancient Greek Culture | Falun Dafa - Minghui.org. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2014.
Cultural diversity in Greece has definitely gone downhill in recent years. There are many factors that are responsible for this. First of all, Greece used to be inhabited by first generation immigrants from several different countries around the world. Now, however, that there are no more first generation immigrants, most people in Greece- approximately ninety five percent, in fact- would identify themselves with the Hellenic population of Greece. (Dascalopoulos).
There is cultural diversity present in Greece. However, the diversity is not always respected and emphasized throughout the country. There are so many different languages spoken in Greece, that they have implemented an official language. This language, called “katharevousa”, is a way of merging all of the subcultures of Greece together into one united being. (Dascalopoulos). While this could definitely be considered a positive thing in uniting the country and creating one culture for all of Greece, it can also have a negative connotation in terms of cultural diversity. Within Greece, there are several different cultures that coexist. However, in doing things like this to unite the country as one culture, the cultural diversity is actually being taken away.
There has been a major shift in the religious aspect of Greek culture since the ancient times. For example, Greece has always been an extremely religious country. However, in ancient Greece, culture was dominated by a monotheistic religious practice. The Greeks worshipped several gods, and the myths of them were a huge part of Greece’s culture, beliefs, art, etc. (Culture). Nowadays, however, majority of people in Greece practice Greek Orthodox Christianity. (Greece Culture). In the ancient times, when there were many different gods and goddesses worshipped in Greece, different areas of the country all focused on different deities. This led to much cultural diversity, as each area of the country was a little different. Now, however, with one religion dominating a great majority of the country, there is far less cultural diversity in terms of religious beliefs. Practicing religion is still very important to Greek culture, but since it is done differently, it is a less diverse practice.
Greece continues to have its own unique culture and society. However, in today’s times, it is not quite as diverse as it used to be in ancient Greece, when the country was first founded. Greece used to be separated off into several different groups and subcultures. Now, the country has one united culture that everyone practices. While they are different from other parts of the world, there is not much diversity within Greece itself.
Sources:
Culture in Greece and society today - Greeka.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2014.
Dascalopoulos, S. (n.d.). Multicultural and "Plural": In the Case of Greece. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
Greek Culture. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2014.
Swastikas in Ancient Greek Culture | Falun Dafa - Minghui.org. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2014.
Greece is a country that for the most part does well, and is pretty well off. There are many different examples of this. First of all, in regards to the economy, Greece does well financially. Greece is not one of the countries that appears under the poverty line. However, when you view a map of billionaires, Greece is a place that has a fairly good number of them, as of the year 2007. (See Fig. 1). Secondly, as far as population and health, Greece is again doing pretty well. The rate of child deaths in Greece is currently very low. Since the year 1950, the number has continually decreased, and remains low. (See Fig. 2). Lastly, Greece does very well in terms of education. The number of literate adults (over age 15) in Greece from the year 1981 to the year 2011 increased, all the while staying above the 90th percentile line the entire time. (See Fig. 3). These statistics illustrate the fact that Greece does well economically, in terms of health, and in education.
Fig 1: Shows dollar billionaires in Greece as of the year 2007. (via Gapminder)
Fig. 2: Shows child deaths in Greece annually (2014). (via Gapminder)
Fig. 3: Shows literacy rate of adults between 1981 and 2011 in Greece. (via Gapminder)
Greece in the year 1950: the population was 2,525,778,000. A large percentage of the population were very young children, and the population decreased drastically with age. Numbers of males and females were pretty even.
Greece in the year 2010: the population was 6,916,183,000. In 2010, there were a greater number of young children, as well as a great number of people ages 20-24. As age went up, population went a little bit up and down, eventually starting to evenly decline. Numbers of males and females were pretty even.
History of Greece The history of Greece dates back thousands of years. The first known permanent settlements in Greece occurred in the period between 3200 BC and 1100 BC. At this time, people were living on the Cycladic Islands of Greece. The area was fairly small, and lacked sufficient soil for plant and crop growth. Therefore, the main source of economy at the time came from fishing.
Over time, more people began to settle in Greece, coming from Europe and Western Asia. There was not one specific site of settlement at this point. People were scattered across the land, in different places. They lived in small villages together. Here, farming became more popular. Greece has many mountains and hills, which also creates small, separated valleys. At this time, the people lived in these areas, somewhat segregated from others.
In the period between 800 BC and 500 BC, Greece became more advanced in technology and settlements. The city-state, which the people of Greece called a “polis”, was introduced, and began to spread rapidly. Some of the poleis, such as Sparta and Athens, where very large, taking up hundreds of miles. On the other hand, some where very small, both in size and in population. By this time, the city-states were all relying on agriculture for their economies.
Over time, colonization spread to the west, from the Mediterranean Sea to Asia Minor. Guns, Germs, and Steel gives many examples of the spread of settlements to the east and west, and the settlement of Greece proves this to be true. There were now over a thousand individual city-states. Each of the poleis were self-governed, so though they were very similar, they remained somewhat separate. As time went on, trade of pottery, art, and other resources became a big source of economy in Greece. Then, the government shifted from self-governed poleis to a more democratic system.
Throughout the history and settlement of Greece, there were many wars and disputes over land and government. However, out of it came a larger, more colonized area that is Greece today. After World War II, Greece fought a civil war and afterwards split into two very distinct political parties. In 1975, the monarchy was abolished and a parliamentary system was put into place. Today, the islands of Greece are governed by a Prime Minister, and continue to thrive off of trade and land.
Sources
Ancient Greece. (2014, January 1). Retrieved September 16, 2014.
History Database Search - Home. (2008, January 1). Retrieved September 16, 2014.
The History of Greece. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2014.
Additional Resources:
http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Main_Page/
This is a great site to research more about the history and settlement of Greece. The website is divided into categories, including history, wars, culture and society, geography, and more. There is a lot of good information on the settlement of Greece, as well as information about present day Greece, art, olympics, and various other aspects of the country's history and culture.
http://greekdemographics.weebly.com/settlement-patterns.html
This website is another great source, because it focuses more on the geographical element of Greek settlement. The website includes specifics on the settlement patterns, population, and demographics. This is a great resource and has a lot of information.
Over time, more people began to settle in Greece, coming from Europe and Western Asia. There was not one specific site of settlement at this point. People were scattered across the land, in different places. They lived in small villages together. Here, farming became more popular. Greece has many mountains and hills, which also creates small, separated valleys. At this time, the people lived in these areas, somewhat segregated from others.
In the period between 800 BC and 500 BC, Greece became more advanced in technology and settlements. The city-state, which the people of Greece called a “polis”, was introduced, and began to spread rapidly. Some of the poleis, such as Sparta and Athens, where very large, taking up hundreds of miles. On the other hand, some where very small, both in size and in population. By this time, the city-states were all relying on agriculture for their economies.
Over time, colonization spread to the west, from the Mediterranean Sea to Asia Minor. Guns, Germs, and Steel gives many examples of the spread of settlements to the east and west, and the settlement of Greece proves this to be true. There were now over a thousand individual city-states. Each of the poleis were self-governed, so though they were very similar, they remained somewhat separate. As time went on, trade of pottery, art, and other resources became a big source of economy in Greece. Then, the government shifted from self-governed poleis to a more democratic system.
Throughout the history and settlement of Greece, there were many wars and disputes over land and government. However, out of it came a larger, more colonized area that is Greece today. After World War II, Greece fought a civil war and afterwards split into two very distinct political parties. In 1975, the monarchy was abolished and a parliamentary system was put into place. Today, the islands of Greece are governed by a Prime Minister, and continue to thrive off of trade and land.
Sources
Ancient Greece. (2014, January 1). Retrieved September 16, 2014.
History Database Search - Home. (2008, January 1). Retrieved September 16, 2014.
The History of Greece. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2014.
Additional Resources:
http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Main_Page/
This is a great site to research more about the history and settlement of Greece. The website is divided into categories, including history, wars, culture and society, geography, and more. There is a lot of good information on the settlement of Greece, as well as information about present day Greece, art, olympics, and various other aspects of the country's history and culture.
http://greekdemographics.weebly.com/settlement-patterns.html
This website is another great source, because it focuses more on the geographical element of Greek settlement. The website includes specifics on the settlement patterns, population, and demographics. This is a great resource and has a lot of information.