Editing Greece (section)

== History ==

The territory of Greece has been inhabited since ancient times and was the centre of several early Aegean civilizations. Ancient Greek city-states, including Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Thebes, became influential in politics, philosophy, architecture, literature, warfare, law, and maritime trade.

During the Hellenistic period, Greek culture spread across parts of the eastern Mediterranean, western Asia, and North Africa. Greece later became part of the Roman Empire and remained connected to the eastern Roman and Byzantine worlds for many centuries.

After the decline of Byzantine authority in the region, much of Greece came under Ottoman rule. The modern Greek state emerged in the nineteenth century after the Greek War of Independence. During the following decades, the country expanded its territory and developed national institutions while remaining affected by regional conflict, monarchy, republican movements, military rule, and external pressure.

During the twentieth century, Greece was involved in the [[Second World War]], occupation, civil conflict, political reconstruction, and military rule. The modern parliamentary republic developed after the end of military rule. Greece later became a member of European and Atlantic institutions and remained an important state in southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean.