Greece, the Hellenic Republic, is a country located in Southeastern Europe, in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, surrounded by Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea is located southeast of Greece, and the Ionian Sea is to the west. Many islands of the Eastern Mediterranean are included in the territory of Greece.

The capital and largest city of the republic, Athens, is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating from at least 3, 000 years, with its lands as the centre of civilisation since ancient times. Through the centuries, Greece has comprised Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace, as well as part of Asia and Magna Graecia.

Around 2000 BC, Indo-Europeans, some of whom include Mycenaens, inhabited the area of present-day Greece. In 1200 BC, another Indo-European community, the Dorians, settled in the lands of Greece, which began a period turmoil for the Greeks, according to the Homeric epics. With the end of these dark times, Classical Greece began flourishing. Around 750 BC city-states arose and Greece was expanding and improving maritime trade, as well as developing in the arts, literature, politics and philosophy. The Greeks also successfully established many colonies, from the Black Sea and the Bosporus to Sicily and Southern Italy, as well as to Mediterranean France and the northern shores of Africa and Spain. Some of these colonies later became city-states, each with its own history and development.

Around 700 BC, some of the world’s greatest city-states emerged, such as Athens, Corinth and Sparta, each fighting for its own territory and wealth. Attacks of the Persian Empire provoked the city-states to unite in resisting the empire. By 500 BC, Athens had developed more rapidly than other city-states and became the cultural and artistic centre of the Mediterranean, as seen in its works of art, architecture and literature.

In the 5th Century BC, Greece was at the top of its glory. However, the country lost its power after the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) and was brought under the rule of Philip II, and later by his son Alexander the Great of Macedonia. Athens was upheld by Sparta and the territory was forcibly united under Alexander the Great. Alexander’s reign was marked by many successful battles against Persia and other territories, which resulted in Greek influence throughout the East, including as far as India and Egypt.