World Cultures

Unit I Europe
Exploring a European Country Research Activity

Name: Melanie Sammons

Block: 1

Instructions: Using the Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (found through the library database Gale Virtual
Reference Library; username and password is colonials), research a European nation of interest to you and complete the items below
thoughtfully and completely. Be prepared to share what youve learned with your peers.
1.

To what extent was this country ruled by others? Use evidence to support your answer.

From 1453 until the revolution in 1821, Greece was controlled by Ottoman. The revolt began in March 1821 when Alexandros
Ypsilantis, the leader of the Etairists, crossed the Prut River into Moldavia, who were controlled by Turks, with a small force of troops.
He was soon defeated by the Turks, but, in the meantime, on March 25, 1821, scattered revolts against Turkish rule had broken out in
the Peloponnese, in Greece north of the Gulf of Corinth, and on several islands. Within a year, the rebels had gained control of the
Peloponnese. In January 1822, they declared the independence of Greece. The Turks attempted three times, from 1822 to 1824, to
invade the Peloponnese but were unable to retrieve the area.
2.
impact.

Which 20th century events had the greatest influence on this country? Choose two events and explain their

A. Greece fell to the Nazi troops in April 1941, which resulted to the mass destruction of ancient sites, large scale
executions and the extermination of the largest part of the Jewish community who were residing in many Greek towns, such
as Athens, Thessaloniki and Rhodes. This had an impact on Greece because, clearly, it resulted in mass destruction and also,
it eventually led to a civil war between the royalists and communists after Greece was set free from the Germans in 1944.
B. In 1974, Konstantinos Karamanlis, former prime minister, came back to power organizing parliamentary elections
and a referendum for the fate of monarchy in Greece. The monarchy was defeated by a two-third vote and a new
constitution was established in 1975. A parliamentary republic was organized, with a president at the head of the state,
appointed by the legislature. This had a huge impact on Greece because it led to Greece becoming a member of the
European Community in 1981.

3.

Identify the following:

Topic

Details

Well known cities, regions, or

landforms

Inhabited for more than 3,000 years, Athens is widely known as the foundation of
Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. The city presents a confusing blend
of historical and modern features. Athens is famous for its archaeological ruins and
monuments. The Acropolis in Athens is a display of the lifetime of Greek civilization and a
tribute to Greek architecture. The first structures of the Acropolis were constructed in the
5th century before Christ. The most recognizable monument is the Parthenon, which was
a temple built for the Greek goddess, Athena.

Relative size (size in relationship to

another place)

The area occupied by Greece is slightly smaller than the state of Alabama.

Description of natural environment

Greece entirely lies in the Mediterranean biogeographical region, with ecosystems

ranging from semi-desert and maquis, to cold climate mountain forests of birch, scots
pine and spruce. Wetlands (rivers, estuaties, deltas, lagoons, shallow lakes, shallow
marine formations, and marshes) cover a relatively wide area and forests cover nearly
30% of the country's territory. About of the Greek territory is covered by a hilly or
mountainous terrain, with the typical landscape being rugged and steep.

Population size

11.3 million as of 2013.

Degree of diversity (1=homogenous;

10=very diverse) with explanation

1 because Greece has a reputation of being ethnically homogenous: 95% to 98% of it's
10.2 million people (1991) being ethnic Greeks.

Languages/Alphabets

Writing systems and alphabets are Linear B, Cypriot syllabary, Greek alphabet Greek is
the official language of Greece, an official language of Cyprus, officially recognized as a
minority language in parts of Italy, and in Albania, Armenia, Romania and Ukraine.

4.

How does folklore influence the peoples worldview or actions? Explain your answer using specific details.

The ancient Greeks believed that gods and goddesses ruled their fate and could tell the future. Different gods and goddesses were
considered responsible for the different aspects of life. They were believed to communicate with priests and priestesses at shrines
called oracles. The most important oracle was at Delphi. People honored the gods publicly at great festivals, like the Olympics, and
privately at altars in their homes, with offerings of food and wine.

5.

What religion(s) is practiced in this country, and how does it impact the people?

The Greek population in mainland Greece and the Greek islands is Christian Orthodox per 98%. The religion of rest of the population
is Muslims, Catholic and Jewish. The Orthodox Church made a great effort to preserve the Greek language, culture, traditions and the
Orthodox faith. They managed to preserve the religious conscience and the feeling of affiliation.
6.
Are rites of passage in this country similar to or different from rites of passage in the U.S.? Explain your
answer using specific pieces of evidence.
Greek rites of passage are fairly similar to the U.S. in a religious and educational sense. Many of the rites of passage that young
people undergo are religious rituals, such as baptism, first communion, confirmation, and marriage. In addition, many families mark
a student's progress through the education system with graduation parties.
7.
What tips on interpersonal behavior might you give to an American who is about to travel to this country?
Provide at least three.
A. The Greek method of going to the bathroom is to go in the toilet, but to put the paper in the wastebasket located
nearby. The plumbing system is not very good there, so many hotels and restaurants would want you to not flush the toilet
paper.
B. Time is relative in Greece - even when it comes to buses, trains, hydrofoils and ferries. While everyone more or less
expects that such things can run late in normal circumstances, they can also run early in Greece. If you are, or are traveling
with, one of those people who always gets everywhere early, you may find that a valuable trait in Greece.
C. The Greek eating hours are much different that the westerners. The Greeks usually eat lunch at about 3 in the
afternoon and start dinner from 9 in the evening till after midnight. This could be hard to get used to because we eat at
much different times.
D. Although the Greeks drink frequently, they expect you to be decent even if you are drunk. Public displays of
drunkenness are highly disapproved by the Greek society and they may call the police if you get too annoying. This can be
slightly similar to the U.S., but its not to this extent here.
8.
Is the standard of living in this country better, worse, or about the same as that of the U.S.? Justify your
answer with at least three pieces of evidence.
The standard of living is definitely worse in Greece. One reason is because they have one of the lowest economies in Europe. Another
reason is because they owe so much debt, the EU put them in austerity, which means they have to be very strict with their spending.
The last reason is because their plumbing system is very bad. You cant flush toilet paper down the toilet or it will get clogged, so
there is a wastebasket you put it in next to the toilet.
9.

Is family important in this country? Why or why not? Use specific details in your response.

Families are very important in Greece. Elders are highly respected, and children care for their elderly parents. Children are
disciplined firmly, but parents (even those who are poor) spend a great deal of their income on feeding, clothing and educating their
children. Men consider it a personal honor and responsibility to care for their family.
10.

Does this country have distinctive traditional clothing? Explain your answer citing specific details.

In everyday life, Western clothing is the norm. The traditional costume, which is a tunic, vest, and tight pants bound at the knee for
men, is seen only during festivals and in rural areas. Women usually wear dresses.
11.

How has globalization impacted food and diet in this country? Explain your answer using specific facts.

Although Greece is part of Europe, the Greek diet has been influenced more by the countries of the Middle East. By Greece getting
ideas of foods from another region, it shows the trait of globalization that is diffusion of knowledge.
12.

How might your educational experience in this country differ from the schooling you receive in the U.S.?

Greeks place great value on learning, and over 90 percent of the population can read and write. Education is free and required for
nine years until the age of fifteen. Three more years of free education, in college-preparatory or technical programs, are optional. At
age eighteen, students may enter the government-run university system or other technical and vocational schools. The difference is
that they only have to go to school for 9 years apposed to 12 and all education is free compared to the U.S. where it can be very
expensive.

13.
three.

What cultural influences or accomplishments is this country best known for? List and describe at least

A. Greece, and especially Athens, is the cradle of democracy in the western civilization. This was initially the start of
the democracy and it is a huge accomplishment because it has been used in many different places over the years, including
the U.S.
B. According to historical records, the first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC. They were dedicated
to the Olympian gods and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia, in the western part of the Peloponnese.
C. The art of ancient Greece has exercised an enormous influence on the culture of many countries from ancient
times until the present. The main physical categories of Greek art are sculpture, pottery, coin design and architecture. You
can tell that this is a huge accomplishment for Greece because art today clearly stemmed from Greek art because of the
similarities and techniques learned.
14.
Summarize the overall economy of this country in 2-3 sentences.
Greece has an open market economy meaning that they can do whatever they want with their money, in any way, which is not a good
idea. Their economy is horrible and is plummeting at a -3.9% growth. Taxes are very high in Greece because it is needed to try and
get their economy back on track again. The unemployment rate is 27.6% which shows that it is an almost poor country.
15.
there?

How do people of this country spend their leisure time? List at least five activities. Would you want to live

A. Regular concerts are held in the cities and on the larger islands, particularly throughout the summer months, with
Greek Pop and Rock, Classical, Greek and Cretan music.
B. Cinema is popular and there are cinemas throughout Greece. There are also open-air summer cinemas. All the
latest film releases are shown. English language films are always shown in English with Greek subtitles.
C. There are a number of plays and productions throughout the year in theatres, particularly in Athens and
Thessaloniki, which are all performed in Greek. There are also ballet, opera and musical recitals.
D. Fishing in Greece is a popular pastime, with opportunities for fishing from the shore or boat, with a flat line or fly,
or spear fishing in the Mediterranean waters. A wide range of fish is available, including tuna, octopus, John Dory, comber,
mullet and bream.
E. Although not traditionally thought of as a skiing destination, there are more than 20 ski resorts in north and central
Greece, as well as in the Peloponnese. With over 75% of its land covered by mountains, Greece is the most mountainous
country in Europe and boasts more than 1,000 mountain peaks of over 2,000m.
16.
List (in order of significance) what you feel are the three biggest problems that this country needs to
resolve.
Number 1 is definitely the countrys economy. 35.7% of the country is at risk of poverty or social exclusion. They are in major debt,
more than any other nation in the world.
Number 2 is the political system. It is fragmented, does not work and is unable to generate new ideas to move the country out of its
misery. There is a recycling of old and unproven ideas, people moving up and down within and across political parties, and core
politicians elevated to leader status with no clear direction in mind for the country.
Number 3 is unemployment. More than 70% of the unemployed have been out of work for more than a year, leaving most to rely on
charity after losing monthly benefit payments and health insurance. The unemployment rate is 27.6%
17.
evidence.

Are all people treated equally in this country? Why or why not? Explain your answer using specific

Not in terms of gender. The employment rate of females in the EU has increased from 50 percent in 1997 to 55 percent in 2001. The
jobless rate for women, however, is higher than for men in all the 15 member states. In Greece, women take home about threequarters what men earn at the same job. More than 50 percent of university graduates in Greece are female, yet women make up
only 37 percent of the country's workforce.
Works Cited
"Ancient Greek Culture and Civilization." Leadership and Management in a Changing World. Athens University of Economics and
Business, 2010. Web. 13 Feb. 2015.
"Countries and Their Cultures." Greeks. EveryCulture, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2015.
Tzilivakis, Kathy. "Equality Still Failing Women in Greece." Equality Still Failing Women in Greece. Hellenic Communication Service, LLC,
n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2015.