for the city’s Roman Catholic
churches and monasteries as well as for
private clients. El Greco died in Toledo
on April 7, 1614. He remains one of the
world’s most admired painters.
#More to explore
Painting
El Greco painted Saint John the Evangelist.
El Greco often used secondary colors—
green, purple, and orange—in his paintings.
150 Greco, El BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Greece
In ancient times Greece was a center of
science, philosophy, and art. In the
1900s the country experienced wars and
changes of government. Today Greece
has become an important member of the
European Union. The capital and largest
city is Athens.
Geography
Located in southeastern Europe, Greece
includes a mainland and about 2,000
islands. The Greek mainland shares borders
with Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria,
and Turkey. The Ionian, Mediterranean,
and Aegean seas surround all of Greece.
About 80 percent of Greece consists of
mountains. The Pindus Mountains run
north and south on the mainland.
Greece’s highest peak, Mount Olympus,
is in the east; it rises to 9,570 feet (2,917
meters). Summers are hot and dry, and
winters are mild and rainy. Earthquakes
are common.
Plants and Animals
About one fourth of Greece is forested.
The northern mountains have forests of
chestnut, ash, and beech trees. Firs and
pines grow on the upper slopes. Other
plant life includes evergreen oak and
cypress trees, as well as juniper, myrtle,
and oleander shrubs.
Bears, wolves, wildcats, martens, wild
boars, lynx, and deer live in the
mountain forests. Jackals, wild goats,
and porcupines live in the south.
Greece’s birds include herons, storks,
and pelicans.
People
Ethnic Greeks make up more than 90
percent of the population. There are
small numbers of Macedonians,
Albanians, Turks, and others, but the
Greek government does not view them
as separate groups. Nearly all people
speak modern Greek, a language similar
to ancient Greek. Most Greeks belong
to the Greek Orthodox church, which
is a branch of Christianity. Muslims
form a small religious minority. More
than half of the population lives in
cities.
Economy
Services—including tourism, shipping,
and banking—are the main economic
activities. Each year, Greece’s natural
beauty and ancient ruins draw more
than 10 million tourists.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Greece 151
Manufacturing is also important to the
economy. Factories produce food and
beverages, chemicals, machinery, clothing,
petroleum products, and other
goods. Mines provide bauxite, the raw
material for making aluminum. Greece
also has high-technology and telecommunications
industries.
Agriculture forms a smaller part of the
economy. However, Greece is known
for making wine and olive oil from its
grapes and olives. The grapes and
olives, as well as oranges and lemons,
grow in the warm coastal regions.
Other crops include sugar beets, wheat,
corn, tomatoes, cotton, and tobacco.
The mountain regions are used mainly
for herding sheep and goats. The
fishing industry also provides food for
Greece.
History
Greece became part of the Byzantine
Empire in the late 300s. (For the early
history of Greece, read the article
Greece, Ancient.) In 1453 the Turkish
Ottoman Empire conquered Greece,
along with the rest of the Byzantine
Empire. The Greeks often revolted
against Turkish rule. In 1821 they began
a war of independence. Supported by
Great Britain, France, and Russia,
Greece declared its independence in
1829.
Unification
The new state did not include all of the
territory of ancient Greece. During the
1800s and early 1900s Greece regained
control over much of its historic land. In
1912–13 Greece fought alongside Serbia,
Bulgaria, and Montenegro in the
First BalkanWar against Turkey. In
1913 Greece joined Serbia in the Second
BalkanWar against Bulgaria. As a result
of the BalkanWars, Greece regained
control over Crete and much territory
on the mainland.
Wars with Turkey
In 1917 Greece entered WorldWar I on
the side of the Allies. Turkey sided with
the Germans. Fighting between Greece
and Turkey continued long after the end
ofWorldWar I in 1918. By 1919
Greece had won significant territory
from Turkey, including the city of
Smyrna. In 1921–22 Greece and Turkey
fought another war. Turkey easily
Houses are built on top of lava rock in the
Facts About city of Oia on the Greek island of Thera.
GREECE
Population
(2008 estimate)
11,239,000
Area
50,949 sq mi
(131,957 sq km)
Capital
Athens
Form of
government
Republic
Major cities
Athens, Thessaloniki,
Piraeus
(Piraievs), Patrai,
Peristerion,
Iraklion
152 Greece BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
defeated Greece and reclaimed much of
the land that Greece had taken.
WorldWar II and CivilWar
In 1941, duringWorldWar II, Nazi
Germany invaded Greece. The German
army withdrew from Greece in 1944.
AfterWorldWar II, civil war broke out
in Greece between Communist and
anti-Communist forces. Many Greeks
supported the Communists, who had
played a leading role in the war against
Germany.Worried by the spread of
Communism, the United States and
Britain supported the anti-Communist
forces. The anti-Communists won the
war in 1949.
Postwar Greece
After the war, political problems made
