Καλώς ορίσατε! Welcome!

Καλώς ορίσατε! Welcome!

Brought to you by the Modern Greek Culture Class at the University of Michigan, this blog includes essays, photos, songs and other cultural artifacts that provide an insight into contemporary Greek culture.
We hope you enjoy learning about the lives, customs, practices and experiences of Greeks in Greece and abroad.

Monday, December 12, 2011

ITHACA

QUICK FACTS:
-Ithaca is an island located in the Ionian Sea
-The area of the island is less than 45 sq. miles
-There are a little over 3,000 inhabitants
-The capitol, Vathy (or Ithaki) has one of the world's largest natural harbors
-Ithaca is a very green, lush island surrounded by beautiful water
-Because of its small size, it's not as touristy as the neighboring islands
-Rich people live by the water, poorer people live in the mountains.
-Most of what happens in the mountains is olive trees and goats
-Trading happens by the water, which is why it's more luxurious to live there

Most people in the modern world identify Ithaca with Homer's Odyessey
-He made it the home of the main character, Odysseus

History:
-Mycenaean Period: 1500-1100 BCE
  • Ithaca at highest level of ancient history
  • Homer's Odyssey
  • Ithaca became powerful
  • characterized as great navigators and explorers who went on daring expeditions beyond the Mediterranean Sea
-Hellenistic Era: 800-180 BCE
  • From Mycenaean to Byzantine, population thought to be several thousand (most in the north)
  • Population decreased in the middle ages due to the continuous invasion of pirates
  • This is why people moved into the mountains to live
  • In the southern part, Aetos was founded
  • Many important historical objects have been found here, including coins imprinted with the name Ithaca and the image of Odysseus
  • This suggests that the island was self-governed
-Ottoman Era: 1484-1499
  • Posession of the island was taken by the Ottoman Empire from 1484 to 1499
  • During this time, the Venetians showed interest in Ithaca and the Ionian Islands
  • In 1499 a war between the Venetians and Turks began
  • From 1500 onwards, Venetians controlled the islands
-French Era: 1797-1798
  • The Ionian area was under the rule of the First French Republic from 1797-1798
  • At first, the French were well received, but later when heavy taxing began it caused tension
  • Prominent citizens of Ithaca participated in the secret "Filiki Etairia" which was vital in the organization of the Greek Revolution of 1821
-Pictures!

MAPS:

THE ISLAND:
By: Amalea Chininis

No comments:

Post a Comment