grekerna

Grekerna, or Greeks, are the ethnolinguistic group native to Greece and Cyprus. They share a common history, language, culture, and national identity. The Greek language has a long and documented history, stretching back over 3,500 years, making it one of the oldest attested Indo-European languages. Modern Greek is the official language of Greece and Cyprus.

Greek culture has profoundly influenced Western civilization, particularly in the fields of philosophy, art, architecture, literature, and politics. Ancient Greek thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle laid the foundations for Western philosophy. Greek mythology and literature, including the epic poems of Homer, have been influential for centuries. The concept of democracy originated in Athens, ancient Greece.

Historically, Greeks have inhabited the southern Balkan Peninsula, the Aegean Islands, parts of Asia Minor, and the Black Sea region. The Byzantine Empire, a continuation of the Roman Empire in the East, was largely Greek-speaking and Orthodox Christian. The Ottoman conquest of the Byzantine Empire led to centuries of foreign rule for many Greeks, culminating in the Greek War of Independence in the early 19th century.

Today, the majority of Greeks reside in Greece and Cyprus. There are also significant Greek diaspora communities in countries such as the United States, Australia, Germany, and Canada, remnants of historical migrations and economic opportunities. Greek Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion for most Greeks, playing a significant role in their cultural identity.