The history of Greece goes back by some estimates 4,000 years. In ancient times the Greeks were well known for their naval and military adventures, trade, colonies, and cultural influence throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas. Greek settlements have been found throughout this region and new finds happen all the time.

For much of the Classical Period of Greece, the country was actually a series of city states (5th Cent. BC). The main city states were Thebes, Sparta and Athens. These cities were continually vying for power. However despite their differences the city states are famous for the fact that they came together to defeat the Persians in a series of famous and important battles. These battles include Thermopylae, Salamis, Marathon, and Plataea. Had the Greeks lost, the world as we know it could have been vastly different.

Greek influence reached its height during the reign of Alexander the Great. During Alexander's time, Greece was in control of much of the known world. The empire stretched from Europe, to North Africa, the Middle East, and all the way to the border of what today is India.

During the 1st century the Greeks finally fell to the power of the Romans. Towards the end of the Roman Empire, Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium and renamed his new capital Constantinople. Later when the West fell, the Eastern Roman Empire became known as the Byzantine Empire.

Byzantium lasted close to 1,000 years before finally succumbing to the onslaught of the Turks. Constantinople finally fell to the Turks in 1453. Despite the dominion of the Turks, Greeks managed to maintain their identity.

Greeks finally revolted in 1821 and in 1828 they gained their independence. The fighting was not done and over the coming decades Greece slowly added many areas. By the early 1900's most of what was Greece was returned to the country. To this day there still is some tension between Turkey and Greece.