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History Of Greece
It is in Greece we have proof of the earliest advanced European civilizations, the Cycladic culture spanned approximately 3000 BC until 2000 BC. They were followed by various Greek civilizations that expanded the territory, excelled in trade and developed fine arts and science. Athens and Sparta were two, later the Macedonians under Alexander the Great (356 BC - 323 BC) conquered the Persians and expanded the empire all the way into modern day China and Egypt. The Romans emerged as the new power, by 146 BC Greek was theirs. When the Roman Empire got divided the East Roman Byzantine Empire was created, this was in 330 AD. It emerged as a mixture of Roman, Greek and Arab cultures spiced with a new type of Christianism called the Orthodox. The Byzantine Empire, with Greece as a part of it, lasted until 1453 when it was finally conquered by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Resistance against the Turks was always strong with quite a few uprisings, a revolutionary independence war lasted between the years 1821 to 1829, the Greek forces emerged victorous and a official recognition of a Greek republic state was made in 1830. In 1833 it turned into a monarchy, 1924 a republic, 1935 a monarchy, in 1973 it was finally declared a republic which it has been until today. Greece participated in the Balkan Wars and gained substantial territory. After a lot of squabbling they joined the Entente in 1917 during the First World War. After WWI they fought against the Turks again, more was lost than gained. In the aftermath millions of people migrated from both sides. During WWII Greece successfully fought the Italians to finally be conquered by the Germans. After WWII the country split up in communist and anti-communist fractions and a civil war broke out, the latter came out on top, many Greeks emigrated as a result. The Third Hellenic Republic was declared in 1975, this marked the start of a more stable era. Greece joined the EU in 1981. Tensions with Turkey have gradually lessened.
Olives have been commercially grown in Greece for
thousands of years. Photo by Aristides Papadakis.
Greek Cuisine
Greek food recipes have developed over millenia. Even though the ancient Greek were great warriors, their empire thrived on trade. They exported wine and olives and in return received many goods often from far away. Such an empire is always prone to exchange cultures and thus cuisines. Ingredients and dishes from all over the known world reached Greece and became absorbed into the cuisine. Greek food recipes are typically Mediterranean; fresh vegetables, white cheese and olive oil are some of the main components. They share many traits with cuisines of Balkan, Italy and Mediterranean Asia. A list of common ingredients could be: olive oil, wine, wheat, fava beans, oregano, basil, mint, zucchini, potato, cucumber, tomato, yellow onion, garlic, yogurt, chicken, pork, mutton, olives, aubergine, nuts, honey and feta cheese. Meze is a common appetizer assortment, many small dishes like olives, humus, feta cheese, vegetables and various types of meat and fish served with wine or ouzo. The Greek kitchen is typically rural, simplicity is favoured.
Some Examples Of Greek Ingredients And Dishes
Pita In Greece pita is a filled pie made from filo dough. Can be sweet as a starter, dessert or main course.
Filo dough A kind of a leafy wheat dough used for pastries.
Tzatziki A yogurt, garlic and cucumber dip. Very popular to dip bread in.
Fava Split pea paste
Halloumi Semi-hard white cheese made from goat's and sheep's milk. Of cypriot origin. eaten in salads, grilled or as it is. Can be matured.
Feta A hard white cheese in brine. Used in salads, grilled or on bread. Made from sheep's or goat's milk.
Fasolada A vegetable and bean soup cooked in lots of olive oil. Sometimes referred to as Greece's national dish.
Souvlaki Charcoaled grilled pieces of lamb, pork and chicken on a skewer. Often served in flat hollow wheat bread with fresh vegetables. Known in the Middle East as shish kebab. Very common.
Spanakopita A kind of spinach pie made with filo dough.
Pasteli Sesame seed candy.
Stifado Rabbit or hare stew. Cooked with red wine.
Loukaniko A dried pork sausage. Roman origin.
Gyros Thinly sliced roasted meat served in hollow wheat bread often with vegetables and tzatsiki.
Avgotaraho Cured fish eggs.
Moussaka Oven baked eggplants, potatoes and minced meat. Middle Eastern origin.
Keftedes Meatballs, known in Asia as kofta.
Dolma Grape vine leaves filled with rice, vegetables and/or meat. Turkish origin.
Horiataki In English 'Greek Salad'. Tomaotoes, olives, onion cucumber and olive oil. Eaten as a side dish with many meals.
Kalamari Deep fried battered rings of squid.
Skordalia Potato and garlic mash.
Revithia Chickpea soup
Gemista Oven baked stuffed peppers or tomatoes. The filling is often minced meat and rice.
Halva A hard sweet sesame paste. Middle Eastern origin.
Baklava Sweet bread made of filo pastry and filled with nuts. Sweetened with honey. Turkish origin.
Loukomi 'Turkish delight. Nuts and dried fruits in sugar gel.
Greek Beverages
Ouzo Anise flavoured liquer, the national drink. Retsina is a pine flavoured wine. Metaxa is a brandy. Wine has been procuced since ancient times, in Greece, it is argued that it actually was invented there. In the 20th century wine production was focused on cheap table wines, of late some vineyards have started to produce better quality wines.
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