Greece

c. 3000 BCE – Minoan civilization flourishes on the island of Crete

c. 1200 BCE – Mycenaean civilization rises and falls

776 BCE (Friday, July 6) – First Olympic Games held in Olympia

431–404 BCE – Peloponnesian War: Conflict between Athens and Sparta

336 BCE (Monday, October 13) – Alexander the Great becomes king

146 BCE (Monday, June 2) – Greece falls under Roman rule

330 CE (Sunday, May 11) – Byzantium becomes Constantinople, marking the start of the Byzantine Empire

1453 (Tuesday, May 29) – Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire

1821 (Monday, March 25) – Greek War of Independence begins against the Ottoman Empire

1830 (Tuesday, February 6) – Greece officially becomes an independent state

1912–1913 (Tuesday, October 8) – Balkan Wars: Greece expands its territory

1940 (Saturday, October 28) – Italo-Greek War begins as Italy invades Greece during World War II

1941 (Tuesday, April 6) – German invasion of Greece: Nazi Germany occupies Greece

1944 (Friday, October 12) – Liberation of Athens from Nazi occupation

1974 (Saturday, July 20) – Turkish invasion of Cyprus after a Greek-led coup in Cyprus

1981 (Sunday, January 1) – Greece joins the European Economic Community (EEC)

2004 (Sunday, August 8) – Athens Summer Olympics: Greece hosts the Olympic Games

2007 (Saturday, August 24) – Wildfires: Forest fires devastate large parts of the Peloponnese and Evia

2009 (Tuesday, October 4) – Greek debt crisis begins

2010 (Wednesday, May 5) – Austerity measures: Greece begins implementing harsh austerity measures due to debt crisis

2015 (Sunday, July 5) – Greek bailout referendum: Voters reject austerity measures in a referendum

2019 (Thursday, July 18) – Wildfires in the Attica region: Massive wildfires spread near Athens, causing dozens of casualties

2020 (Saturday, January 11) – Severe flooding in western Greece, displacing thousands

2021 (Monday, August 2) – Wildfires in northern Greece, especially near Evia Island

2023 (Wednesday, September 6) – Earthquake in the Aegean Sea causes minor damage along the coast

2024 (Thursday, May 16) – Heatwave causes severe wildfires in several regions across the country

Continent: Europe (Southern Europe)
Location: Located in Southeastern Europe, bordered by Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, Turkey to the east, and the Aegean Sea to the east, Ionian Sea to the west, and Mediterranean Sea to the south.
Capital: Athens
Language: Greek (official)
Currency: Euro (€)
Population: ~10.5 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2) / Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, UTC+3)

Borders: Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey
Landscape: Rugged mountains, islands, and coastal plains
Major Rivers: Aliakmon River, Mesta River, Evros River, Vardar River
Major Mountains: Mount Olympus (highest point), Pindus Mountain Range, Mount Taygetus, Mount Athos
Deserts: None
Lakes: Lake Prespa, Lake Trichonida, Lake Kerkini
Volcanoes: Santorini (Thira), Nisyros, Methana
Highest Point: Mount Olympus – 2,917 m (9,570 ft)
Lowest Point: The Aegean Sea – 0 m (sea level)
Climate: Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The northern regions are more continental with cold winters and hot summers, while the islands enjoy a mild Mediterranean climate.
Geological Features: Greece is located at the meeting point of several tectonic plates (Eurasian, African, and Aegean plates), making it seismically active. The country has many mountains, volcanic islands, and earthquake-prone areas.

Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Greek (~93%), with minorities of Albanians, Macedonians, Armenians, and others
Religion: Greek Orthodox Christianity (~98%), Islam (~2%)
Urban Population: ~79% (last updated: 2023)
Population Notes: Greece has a rich cultural history, with a significant population living in major cities such as Athens, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion. It is known for its diverse cultural heritage, including ancient Greek, Byzantine, and Ottoman influences.

Famous For: Ancient civilization, philosophy, democracy, mythology, and the arts
Cuisine: Moussaka, Souvlaki, Tzatziki, Greek salad, Baklava, Olives
Arts: Classical art, philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), mythology, ancient Greek theatre, Byzantine art
Sports: Football (soccer), basketball, volleyball, athletics, water polo
Music: Folk music (Rebetiko), traditional music, Byzantine chant, modern popular music

Economy Type: High-income, mixed economy
GDP: Approx. $485 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Tourism, shipping, agriculture, food and beverages, textiles, construction, pharmaceuticals
Key Exports: Petroleum products, machinery, agricultural products, clothing, pharmaceuticals
Unemployment Rate: ~9.5% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Major economic centers in Athens and Thessaloniki, with agricultural activity centered in the fertile plains of Thessaly, the Peloponnese, and Crete.

Head of State: President Katerina Sakellaropoulou (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Unicameral Hellenic Parliament
Constitution: Constitution of Greece, adopted in 1975

Athens: Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora, Temple of Olympian Zeus
Santorini: Whitewashed buildings, volcanic beaches, and sunsets
Crete: Knossos Palace, Elafonissi Beach, Samaria Gorge
Mykonos: Famous for its beaches, nightlife, and windmills
Rhodes: Medieval Old Town, Lindos Acropolis
Meteora: Monasteries perched on rock formations, UNESCO World Heritage site
Thessaloniki: White Tower, Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki