Sparta

Corinth and Thebes, Argos and Elis. The kingdom of G. consists of the following political and territorial divisions: Area in Pop. Nomarchies. sq.m. (1871.) Capitals. [s. 422] N N. GREECE, or LIVADIA, (anc.Hellas.) Attica and Boeotia...... 2,475 136,804 ATHENS. Phocis and Phthiotis... 2,374 82,541 Zeitunia. A carn an i a and Ætolia.. 2,939 108,421 Mis so long hi. Eubœa, or Negropont... 1,699 121,693 Egripos. [s. 422] S S. GREECE, or the MOREA, (anc. Peloponnesus.) Corinth and Argol is...... 1,940 149,561 Nauplia. Arcadia 1,692 131,740 Tripolitza. Laconia. 1,632 105,851 Sparta. Me enia 1,329 130,417 Calamata. Achaia and Elis. 2,005 127,820 Patras. TheCyclades. 1,060 123,299 Syra. Ionian Islands. 1,007 239,747 Corfu. Total... 20,152 1,457,894 N. Greece is a narrow strip of territory lying N. of the Gulf of Corinth; S.Greece, or the Morea, is a peninsula separated from Hellas by the Isthmus of Corinth on the N.E. It consists of abt. one-half the modern kingdom, and its width fluctuates from 60 to 135 m. Besides these are the islands, comprising the Cyclades group and the Ionian. Of the first-named, Eubœa or Negropont is the largest in area. The Ionian Isles, until 1864 under British jurisdiction, were in that year restored by England. G. is a beautiful country, abounding in fine natural objects-alternate mountain-peaks and ravines, hills and valleys, wooded headlands and shaded torrent streams. Its plains are of limited extent, and none of its rivers are of sufficient size to be navigable. A large portion of the surface is fitted rather for pasturage than for the use of the plough. The olive grows in every part, and both the mulberry and the currant-grape are extensively reared. Tobacco and cotton are also grown. Agriculture and manufactures are generally in aback ward condition. The Greeks make good sailors, and manifest a decided aptitude for the pursuits of commerce. They are the universal agents in the trade of the Levant, and are to be found in every seaport around its shores. The principal exports are grain, cotton, valonia, currants, silk, olive-oil, honey, gum, wax, .; the bulk of which is shipped to Great Britain. There is but 1 railroad in the kingdom-that from Athens to its port, the Piræus, adi stance of 5 m. In 1868 the army-strength was 8,455 men, while the navy consisted of 32 ve els-the greater number of which were gunboats. The budget of 1870 estimated the revenue at $6,070,000; expenditure $5,982,000. The public debt stood at $41,631,610. The govt. is in the form of a constitutional monarchy,havFig. 363. A WARRIOR OF ANCIENT GREECE. ing become much modified since the deposition of Otho I. in 1863, under whose rule it had become a corrupt despotism. Hist. The earliest settlers in anc. G. were the Pelasgi, who were in course of time replaced by the Hellenes, a people which consisted of 4 tribes, viz.,| the Æoli ans, Dorians, Ionians, and Achaians. Colonists from Phœnicia and Egypt followed the Hellenes, and joined with them in extending their united sway over the country. Abt. 2000 B.C. the great cities of Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Argos, and Corinth sprung into exist. ence, and became in course of time the centres of political govts. of a democratic form, and of a progre ive advancement in civilization, education, and artistic refinement. Their commerce embraced within its scope the ports of Gaul and the Mediterranean, at the same time that their naval and military power became extended in a corresponding ratio. Civil discords, however, originated the Peloponnesian War (B. c. 434-404), by which their union of interests became broken up, and rendered G. a prey to foreign invasion under Philip of Macedon, who, after the battle of Cheronæa (338), became master of the country. Afterwards, by the disruption of the Achaian league, G. became a Roman p., 146 B.c. Then followed the decline and ultimate extinction of the glories of Greek art and civilization. Invasions by the Goths, Vandals, and Normans succeeded one another in turn till 1261, when the whole country-except Athens and Nauplia-became merged in the Greek empire of Michael Palæologus. The Turks took po e ion in 1481, but their tenure of the country was contested for a period of 2 centuries by the Venetians, until finally it was definitively secured to them by the treaty of Pa arovitz. In 1821, a revolution broke out against the Ottoman yoke, and the independence of G. was secured by the interference of foreign powers, after the defeat of the Turks at Navarino, 1827. After a brief provisional govt. under Count Capo d'Istria, G. was made into a monarchy by the protecting powers, and Otho of Bavaria placed on the throne in 1832. He reigned till 1863, when he was dethroned by his subjects, and the crown conferred upon the present sovereign George I., a prince of the reigning house of Denmark. [s. 422]