Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Greece

Greece can in many ways be seen as the cradle and birthplace of European civilization. To understand this and more, we bring you the 10 things you didn’t know about Greece.

10: Economic Doldrums of Greece

Greece has the worst economy in Europe and it’s been suffering catastrophic financial losses and stagnation for years now. Greece has been artificially inducted into the eurozone despite it not actually meeting the economic requirements.

The Greek government debt crisis began in 2008 and this led to a crisis of confidence. Which saw a widening of bond yield spreads and rising costs of risk insurance on a credit default swaps compared to other eurozone countries. The Greek government implemented 12 rounds of tax increases, spending cuts and reforms. This was done between the years of 2010 and 2016 in an effort to bring the economy under control. Instead, this led to local riots and nationwide protests. Despite these efforts, Greece still requires bailout loans in 2010, 2012 and 2015 from the international monetary fund, Euro group and the European central bank.

9: Golden Dawn of Greece

The golden dawn is one of the great political organizations that have arisen as a consequence of Greece’s near-permanent state of economic and social turmoil. The golden dawns inception can be traced back to the early 1980s when it was a small and relevant group of malcontents. Most people never paid attention to but events in the last decade in Greece have changed its relevance and people’s perception of the group immensely with mass unemployment and government failure. People often turn to extreme measures and look for other ways of finding hope and the golden dawn. A far-right leaning and in some ways the fascist organization is the political organization that promises to bring back Greece’s glory and bring stability to the country.

Unfortunately, in terms of bringing Greece back from the brink of economic and social debt, the golden dawn has been less than successful. Instead, its policies have alienated the great majority, as they seem to be consistently xenophobic and even fascistic in many ways. People outside of Greece are increasingly giving Greece a wide berth due to the popularity of the golden dawn. The golden dawn as opposed to refugee’s immigrants. Anything being poor and to Greek interests and in some instances, has even resorts of violence in an effort to keep these forces at bay and is invoked the use of Nazi iconography in its own immaturity. The future of Greece is bleak and for this reason, the golden dawn is not only likely to stay could grow influence and power as a consequence.

8: Glorious Past of Greece

Things were not always bleak in Greece at one point in time. More than two millennia ago, Greece was at the forefront of just about every discipline of relevance in the world. Including, but not limited to philosophy, science, literature, theatre, historiography, medicine, mathematics, political theory and more. Modern Greece might be a place of squalor and failure, but ancient Greece has left a legacy that few if any other place in the world has done.

In addition to the countless foundations of knowledge of ancient Greece left to us, the language itself has become part of the essential vocabulary of virtually every European language. Particularly in the rounds of philosophy, politics, science and all other matters of intellectual importance, whatever the current and future degradation of modern Greece, Greek people can always look to the past, and revel in its glory.

7: Sparta

Due in large measure to the film “300” many people have heard at least superficial accounts of the ancient Greek, polity called Sparta. As exaggerated the some of the film was, much of it was in principle based on a good measure of truth. Brutally efficient and cruel by all modern standards, the Spartan methods knew no mercy. The Spartan military philosophy was first developed by the near-mythical Spartan legislator by surges describing Sparta’s having a “wall of men” instead of bricks and stone. He sought to reform Spartan society by creating a military focus lifestyle in accordance with traditional virtues, such as equality for all male citizen, austerity, strength and fitness.

A Spartan man’s involvement with the army began in infancy. Who had proven their merit throughout their lives? If the baby was found weak or disabled, he was loft at mount ages to die. Since the world of the Spartans was no place for those who don’t fend for themselves. These brutal methods sound alien to us in the modern age. But formed the bedrock of Spartan society. Which made the Spartan military a virtually unstoppable force in the ancient world. The legend of the 300 comes from an allegedly true story of 300 Spartans soldiers holding off a pass against more than 300.000 Persian soldiers. Who knows maybe it’s true, deservedly anyone could have done it, it would have been the Spartans.

6: Greek Food

Greek food is probably Greece’s greatest asset in these modern times of turmoil and economic hardship. This food is a symbol of culture, it indoors when all else falls apart. Famously delicious stuffed grape leaves, Fasolakia, fresh green beans stewed with potatoes, zucchini and tomato sauce, sutzukakia, long shaped meatballs with cumin cinnamon and garlic. Boil the tomato sauce with whole olives often serve with rice or mashed potatoes, fresh salads and more. The key to great cuisine is in the consistent use of fresh ingredients for each and every dish. These cuisines have more than just a few things for the sweet juice as well. Such as baklava, final pastry layers filled with nuts and drenched in honey. Querido pita, a cake of crushed walnuts soaked in syrup, cool rakia or olive oil cookies and more. Whatever your taste, Greek food a sure only accommodated but surpass it.

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