1. Greek history is divided into the following periods Prehistory Ancient times Hellenistic period Roman period and Byzantine Civilization Ottoman occupation Modern Greece History of Greece

2. The Cycladic civilization has been developed in the islands of Cyclades. According to archeological findings we know that vast areas of Greece have been inhabited since the Paleolithic era,2 millions years back. During the Bronze age three separated civilizations flourished in Greece: the Cycladic, the Minoan and the Mycenaean civilization. All these ancient civilizations were developed in areas near the sea. The small marble Cycladic statues are the most impressive famous findings of this period The prince from the Knossos palace in Crete The third important civilization, which is called Mycenaean, flourished in the Greek mainland and particularly in the peninsula of Peloponnese. The major center is Mycenae The Minoan civilization was developed in Crete,an island of strategic importance in the sea route towards the ancient countries of Middle East.

3. Ancient times (1100 -323 BC) Classical times ( 5 th century BC)-The Golden Age of Pericles  Classical Times in Greece, from 500 BC until the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, are justly considered as one of the highest expressions of the Greek civilization. The ideas and concepts, the art and systems of governing which human mind created during this epoch are of a diachronic value.  Athens has been a city for 3.500 years but its greatest glory was during the classical period of ancient Greece from which so many buildings and artifacts still survive. Athens became the cradle of democracy.  Pericles was an aristocrat that defended the democratic values. He dominated in the political life of Athens for approximately 30 years.  He adopted different political reforms that allowed to the people to actively participate into politics.  He restored the temples destroyed by the barbarians and ordered the construction of magnificent monuments, such as the Acropolis, thus introducing an epoch that is called "The Golden Age of Pericles “ Pericles Currency with the Goddess Athenas’ head

4. Roman period ( 30 BC -323 AD) and Byzantine Civilization (323AD-1453 AD).  In AD 323 the Emperor Constantine transferred the Roman Empire capital from Rome to Byzantium and founded the new eastern capital of Constantinople.By the end of the fourth Century AD, the Roman Empire is officially divided into two parts: the western and the eastern. Rome, the western part, gradually collapses, whereas the eastern part becomes reinforced and is called Byzantine Empire. It will last 11 centuries, until the Fall of the Constantinople in 1453.  The Byzantine Civilization is a combination of Christianity - the new religion – of ancient Greek heritage and Roman tradition in organization and administration matters. Byzantium presented major achievements in the department of science, art, law, philosophy, and literature gave masterpieces to global and European civilization. In 1453 Constantipople was conquered by the Ottomans From the Ottoman period to Modern Greece.  Greece remained under the occupation of the Ottomans for 4 centuries. Hellenistic period (323 BC - 30 BC )  Alexander the great of Macedonia created a vast empire that expanded from India in the east to Egypt in the south. Greek civilization (Greek language, religion, culture) was spread in the world. It lasted from after Alexander’s death in 323 BC until the Roman conquered his empire. Dafni:byzantine nomastery Alexander the great

5.  Nowadays the inhabited area is 30.000 hectares with 3.500.000 people.  The ratio of the urban and suburban green space in the basin of Athens is 2,55 square metres per resident, while the European Organization of the Environment considers the proportion of 10 square meters per individual hardly acceptable.  On 18th September, 1834 Athens was recognized as the capital of Greece.  In those days Athens was 300 hectares and counted 10.000 – 12.000 people. Photo of Athens at the beginning of the 19 th century Small houses, land,dirt road. This Athens has vanished Athens from the air Small houses with red tiles Modern Greece  1830: The independence of Greece was signed.

6. 1834: Athens capital of Greece. 1837 : University built 1862 : Athens was lit up with gas. 1889 : “electricity “ came to Athens 1896 : Olympic games. The first car was launched 1905 : Asphalt covering of the streets. The first telephone 1907 :The first cinema. The population of Athens was 165.000. 1908: Operation of the first organized telephone center with 800 subscribers. There were 12 primary schools and 5 high schools. 1920: 30.000 people. About 80 cars in Athens. 1923: Launch of the first “Citroen” taxis. Minor Asia Destruction: 300.000 refugees from Minor Asia moved to Athens. Serious problems of cleanliness and water shortage surfaced. 1925: The construction of the dam in lake Marathon started that year in order to solve the water supply problem of the capital 1940-1944: German possession, National Resistance. 1997: Athens is in charge of the Olympic Games 2004. 2001: The new airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” is built. 2004: The Olympic Games 13-29 August. Urban history of Athens The basic points of the urban development 100 m..The first event during the Olympic Games of 1896 Athens 1840

7. Environmental Problems:  Air pollution – smog  Excessive use of cars  Lack of open spaces  Vast number of cement constructions and the bad town planning choke the City.  High temperatures in summer Efforts made in recent years:  Car pools round the historical center of the city since 1995  Reformation of some public places, pedestrian zones  Underground parking lots  Improvement of the means of transportation - the metro since 2000  New motorways (Attiki odos)  Tree plantations Olympic stadium Attiki Odos Airport of Athens smog Metro map

8. The ratio of the urban and suburban green space in the basin of Athens is 2,55 square metres per resident, while the European Organization of the Environment considers the proportion of 10 square meters per individual hardly acceptable. Years1834183618621879188118971907192019221971198119911998 Populati on 10.00014.00040.00063.00068.000130.000165.000300.000600.0002.800.0003.370.0003.500.0003.450.000