Macedonia (Greece): Difference between revisions
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'''Macedonia''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: '''Μακεδονία''', [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] {{IPA|/maceðo'nia/}} |
'''Macedonia''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: '''Μακεδονία''', [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] {{IPA|/maceðo'nia/}}) is the largest and second most populous region of [[Greece]]. Together with the Greek region of [[western Thrace|Thrace]], it forms ''Northern Greece''. It is part of a larger [[Balkans|Balkan]] region also known in modern times as ''[[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]]''. The Greek region of Macedonia comprises just over half of that larger region, the rest lying in the Former Yugoslav [[Republic of Macedonia]] and [[Bulgaria]]. [[Image:verginasun.jpg|thumb|211px|Vergina Sun]] |
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The official Greek position is that the name ''Macedonia'' is [[Macedonia#Etymology of the name of Macedonia|Greek]] and should properly apply only to the region of the historical kingdom of '''[[Macedon]]''', which is almost entirely contained within Greece. Thus, Greece uses the term ''Μακεδονία'' or ''Macedonia'' to refer to that specific part of its northern region. |
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==Local government== |
==Local government== |
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==Demography== |
==Demography== |
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The term ''Macedonian'' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Μακεδόνας, [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] /mace'ðonas/) is commonly used in Greece in a geographical and historical sense to refer to Greeks originating from or living in Macedonia. The language which is spoken throughout Macedonian is Greek however there are a number of small but established linguistic communities residing in Macedonia including speakers of [[Armenian language|Armenian]], [[Aromanian language|Aromanian]], [[Arvanitic language|Arvanitic]], [[Ladino language|Ladino]], [[Meglenitic language|Meglenitic]], [[Romany language|Romany]], and [[Bulgarian]] languages. After the arrival of sizeable numbers of ethnic [[Greeks|Greek]] refugees from modern-day [[Turkey]] (and [[Bulgaria]]) in the early [[twentieth century]], it also became home to a considerable concentration of speakers of the [[Pontic Greek language|Pontic]] dialect of [[Greek language|Greek]]. Nevertheless [[Greek language|Greek]] is the only [[official language]] and the language of public life and education in Macedonia. |
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Although ethnic [[Macedonian Slavs|Macedonians]] in northern Greece make up a large minority with their own language and culture, their internationally recognized human rights and even their existence are vigorously denied by the Greek government. Free expression is restricted; several Macedonians have been prosecuted and convicted for the peaceful expression of their views. Moreover, ethnic Macedonians are discriminated against by the government's failure to permit the teaching of the [[Macedonian language]]. And ethnic Macedonians, particularly rights activists, are harassed by the government - followed and threatened by security forces - and subjected to economic and social pressures resulting from this harassment. All of these actions have led to a marked climate of fear in which a large number of ethnic Macedonians are reluctant to assert their Macedonian identity or to express their views openly. Ethnic Macedonian political refugees who fled northern Greece after the [[Greek Civil War]] of 1946-49, as well as their families who identify themselves as Macedonians, are denied permission to regain their citizenship, to resettle in, or even to visit, northern Greece. But ironically, all of these are possible for the political refugees who define themselves as Greeks. Ultimately, the government is pursuing every avenue to deny the Macedonians of Greece their ethnic identity. |
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- A publication by the Human Rights Watch [http://members.ozemail.com.au/~pollitec/webdoc2.htm] |
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The majority of Greeks living in Northern Greece are the decendents of Greek (Pontic) refugees who have arrived from Turkey in the 1920's. This has caused major population changes in Greek Macedonia which made the [[Macedonians(ethnic group)|Macedonians]] a minority in their own land. Although Greeks today argue that the modern Macedonians are the decendents of Slavs who have arrived in the region in the 5th century AD, there is no doubt that they lived in Macedonia before the Greeks. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 03:28, 27 November 2005
Macedonia (Greek: Μακεδονία, IPA /maceðo'nia/) is the largest and second most populous region of Greece. Together with the Greek region of Thrace, it forms Northern Greece. It is part of a larger Balkan region also known in modern times as Macedonia. The Greek region of Macedonia comprises just over half of that larger region, the rest lying in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria.
The official Greek position is that the name Macedonia is Greek and should properly apply only to the region of the historical kingdom of Macedon, which is almost entirely contained within Greece. Thus, Greece uses the term Μακεδονία or Macedonia to refer to that specific part of its northern region.
Local government
Macedonia is divided into three peripheries comprising 13 prefectures or nomoí. The prefectures are further divided into dēmoi (municipalities) or koinótētes (roughly equivalent to British or Australian shires). Macedonia also includes the male-only autonomous monastic republic of Mount Athos, which lies outside the jurisdiction of most Greek and European laws, most notably those regarding the equality of the sexes.
The three Macedonian peripheries are:
- West Macedonia, comprising the prefectures of Florina, Grevena, Kastoria, and Kozani;
- Central Macedonia, comprising the prefectures of Imathia, Kilkis, Pella, Pieria, Serres, Thessaloniki, and Chalcidice; and
- East Macedonia and Thrace, comprising the two Macedonian prefectures of Drama and Kavala and the three Thracian prefectures of Xanthi, Rhodope, and Evros.
These are overseen by the national government's Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace (known as the Ministry of Northern Greece until August 1988).
Geography
Though mostly mountainous, the region also encompasses the valleys of the Aliákmon, Axiós, Nestos, and Strymon rivers, all of which drain into the Aegean Sea. Macedonia has a population of approximately 2,450,000, and its capital and largest city is Thessaloniki, with a population of around 1,350,000. Other Macedonian cities include Drama, Edessa, Florina, Grevena, Kastoria, Katerini, Kavala, Kilkis, Kozani, Polygyros, Serres, and Veria.
Demography
The term Macedonian (Greek: Μακεδόνας, IPA /mace'ðonas/) is commonly used in Greece in a geographical and historical sense to refer to Greeks originating from or living in Macedonia. The language which is spoken throughout Macedonian is Greek however there are a number of small but established linguistic communities residing in Macedonia including speakers of Armenian, Aromanian, Arvanitic, Ladino, Meglenitic, Romany, and Bulgarian languages. After the arrival of sizeable numbers of ethnic Greek refugees from modern-day Turkey (and Bulgaria) in the early twentieth century, it also became home to a considerable concentration of speakers of the Pontic dialect of Greek. Nevertheless Greek is the only official language and the language of public life and education in Macedonia.
See also
External links
- Museums of Macedonia
- Region of Central Macedonia
- Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
- City of Thessaloniki
- City of Edessa
- University of Macedonia
- University of Western Macedonia
- Macedonian Press Agency
- An online review of Macedonian affairs, history and culture
- Map of Macedonia
- Pan-Macedonian Network
- Macedonia, The Historical Profile of Northern Greece
- Macedonia guide for visitors
