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Macedonia (Greece)
*** Shopping-Tip: Macedonia (Greece)
Image:Macedonia_greece_overview.png 225px|thumb|Macedonia's location in Greece
:''This article is about the region in Greece. For other uses, see
Macedonia.''
'''Macedonia''' (
International Phonetic Alphabet IPA {{IPA|/ˌmæsəˈdoʊ̯nɪə/}},
Greek language Greek: '''Μακεδονία''', ''Makedonia'') is the largest and second most populous region of
Greece. Together with the regions of
western Thrace Thrace and
Epirus (periphery) Epirus, it is often referred to unofficially as ''northern Greece''. It is located at coordinates {{coor dm|40|45|N|22|54|E|type:adm1st}}.
It is part of a wider
Balkans Balkan region also known in modern times as ''
Macedonia (region) Macedonia'', and was under the
Ottoman Empire until 1912. In 1913, most of the Ottoman lands in Europe were divided between the surrounding countries of
Greece,
Serbia and
Bulgaria;
Albania and
Montenegro formed new entities.
Image:verginasunflag.jpg thumb|220px|left|The Flag with the [[Vergina Sun as used by the 3 peripheries of
Greek Macedonia Macedonia]]
Local government
Macedonia is divided into three
peripheries of Greece peripheries comprising thirteen
Prefectures of Greece prefectures or ''nomoi''. The prefectures are further divided into ''
deme demoi'' (
municipalities) or ''koinotetes'' (roughly equivalent to
United Kingdom British or
Australian shires). The geographical region of Macedonia also includes the
male-only
autonomous monastic republic of
Mount Athos, but this is not part of the Macedonia precincts. Indeed, Mount Athos lies outside the jurisdiction of most Greek and
European Union European laws, - due to to whole mountain's monastic status, it is inaccessible to women.
Image:Macedonia greece prefectures.png 400px|right
The three Macedonian peripheries and their prefectures are:
*
West Macedonia, comprising:
:1.
Kastoria Prefecture Kastoria
:2.
Florina Prefecture Florina
:3.
Kozani Prefecture Kozani
:4.
Grevena Prefecture Grevena
*
Central Macedonia, comprising:
:5.
Pella
:6.
Imathia Prefecture Imathia
:7.
Pieria
:8.
Kilkis Prefecture Kilkis
:9.
Thessaloniki Prefecture Thessaloniki
:10.
Chalcidice
:11.
Serres Prefecture Serres
* and
East Macedonia and Thrace, two prefectures of which are in Macedonia:
:12.
Drama Prefecture Drama
:13.
Kavala Prefecture Kavala
These are overseen by the national government's Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace.
Macedonia borders the neighboring peripheries of
Thessaly and
Epirus (periphery) Epirus.
Geography
Image:Macedonia_greece.png 250px|thumb|left|Map of Macedonia
Macedonia covers an area of some 34,231 km² (13,217 square miles). High ground makes up much of the region with mountains reaching up to 2,900 m (6,500 ft); extensive fertile plains lie along the
Aegean Sea coast. Macedonia is traversed by the valleys of the
Aliakmon,
Vardar Axios,
Nestos, and
Strymon rivers, all of which drain into the Aegean. It borders the countries of
Albania, the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and
Bulgaria, and the Greek provinces of
Epirus (Greece) Epirus,
Thessaly and
Thrace. The offshore island of
Thasos is within the precincts of Macedonia; together with
Samothrace, they belong to the region of 'Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (Ανατολική Μακεδονία και ΘÏ?άκη)' [http://europa.eu.int/abc/maps/regions/greece/anat_en.htm link title].
The region has a population of 2,424,765, and its capital and largest city is
Thessaloniki, with a population of around 773,180. Other major Macedonian towns and cities include
Kavala (63,774),
Katerini (56,434),
Serres, Greece Serres (56,145),
Drama, Greece Drama (55,632),
Kozani (47,451),
Veria (47,411),
Ptolemaida (32,775),
Giannitsa (26,296),
Edessa, Greece Edessa (25,619),
Kilkis (24,812),
Naoussa (19,870),
Florina (16,771),
Kastoria (16,218),
Grevena (15,481), and
Polygyros (10,721).
Since
WWII, Greek Macedonia is sometimes called "''Aegean Macedonia''" to distinguish it from "
Pirin Macedonia" (in Bulgaria) and "
Vardar Macedonia" . Although this term is now used mostly by
Macedonians (ethnic group) Slavic Macedonians and occasionally in historical contexts, it is strongly disliked by many Greeks, who regard it as implying
irredentism territorial claims on Greek Macedonia due to the origin and the usage of that term.
History
* ''See
Macedonia (region)#History Macedonia (region)
The history of Greek Macedonia is very long, from
ancient Greece to
Greece modern. It started with the Kingdom of
Macedonia, (that was reorganised by
Philip II), through the empire of
Alexander the Great, continues within the
Roman empire Roman and
Byzantine empire, the domination of the
Ottoman Empire Ottomans (from 14th century until 1912) and the
Greek Civil War.
Demography
Image:macedonianhouse.jpg thumb|right|Old house in [[West Macedonia. An example of Macedonian architecture.]]
Image:Ac alexanderstatue.jpg thumb|250px|The statue of [[Alexander the Great in
Thessaloniki sea front.]]
The inhabiants are overwhelmingly ethnic
Greeks, most members of the
Greek Orthodox Church. From the middle ages to the early 20th century, the
Demographic history of Macedonia demographic history of the region of Macedonia is characterized by uncertainty both about numbers and identification. The 1904
Ottoman Empire Ottoman census of Hilmi Pasha records 373,227 Greeks and 204,317
Bulgarians in the vilaeti of Thessaloniki alone, while it makes no mention on a Macedonian Slavic ethnicity (which at the time was regarded as Bulgarian). According to the same census, Greek population was also dominant in the vilaet of Monastiri (
Bitola), counting 261,283 Greeks and 178,412 Bulgarians (later regarded as Macedonian Slavs). Hugh Poulton, in his ''Who Are the Macedonians'', notes "assessing population figures is problematic"{{ref.html">Ottoman Turks
Ottomans and also some
Jews, and at much smaller numbers of
Roma people Roma,
Albanian and
Vlachs.
During the first half of the twentieth century, major demographic shifts took place, which resulted in the region's population becoming overwhelmingly ethnic Greek. In 1919, Bulgaria and Greece signed the
Treaty of Neuilly, which called for an exchange of populations between the two countries. According to the treaty, Bulgaria was considered to be the parent state of all ethnic Slavs living in Greece. Most ethnic Greeks from Bulgaria were resettled in Greek Macedonia; most Slavs were resettled in Bulgaria but a number, remained, most of them by changing or adapting their surnames and declaring themselves to be Greek so as to be exempt from the exchange. In 1923 Greece and Turkey signed the
Treaty of Lausanne, and hundreds of thousands of
Asia Minor Asian Greeks from
Anatolia were resettled in the region replacing Macedonian Turks and other Muslims (''of Albanian, Greek, Roma, Slavic and Vlach ethnicity'') under similar terms.
Macedonian cities during Ottoman rule were often known by multiple names (Greek, Slavic or Turkish by the respective populations). After the partition of Ottoman Europe, cities in Greece became officially known only by their Greek names, and cities in Bulgaria and the
Kingdom of Yugoslavia became likewise officially known only in the languages of their respective states. After the population exchanges, many locations were renamed to the languages of their new occupants.
The population was badly affected by the
Second World War through starvation, executions, massacres and deportations. Nazi-aligned Bulgaria's occupation forces persecuted the local Greek population and settled Bulgarian colonists in their occupation zone in eastern Macedonia and
western Thrace, deporting all Jews from the region. Total civilian deaths in Macedonia are estimated at over 400,000, including 55,000 Greek Jews. Further heavy fighting affected the region during the
Greek Civil War which, combined with post-war poverty, drove many inhabitants of rural Macedonia to emigrate either to the towns and cities, or abroad. Even today, many parts of Macedonia are fairly sparsely inhabited.
Greek language Greek is by far the most widely spoken language in Macedonia. There are also some smaller linguistic communities, including speakers of
Pontic language Pontian Greek,
Modern_Greek#Dialects Macedonian dialect (Greek),
Macedonian language Slavic Macedonian,
Armenian language Armenian,
Aromanian language Aromanian,
Ladino language Ladino,
Meglenitic language Meglenitic,
Romany language Romany, and
Bulgarian languages. A number of Albanians also live in the region, having immigrated since the collapse of communism in Albania in 1992.
The exact size of the minority groups of Macedonia is unclear, as Greece has not conducted a census on the question of mother tongue since 1951, when 41,017 speakers of the Slavic language were recorded. The Greek government's position is that the native-born minorities are Greeks who happen to speak other languages. This has been a cause of controversy for some time, particularly regarding the Slavic Macedonians, who regard themselves as culturally and linguistically different from the Greek majority. The issue is a sensitive one for many Greeks, and the Greek government's treatment of its minority populations has attracted criticism from international
human rights groups {{ref.html">European Parliament Election, 2004
European Parliament election was 0.1% (with 6176 votes)[http://www.ypes.gr/ekloges/content/EN/europ_fr.htm].
Economy and Transport
Image:kastoria1.jpg thumb|left|[[Kastoria - one of the most picturesque towns in Macedonia.]]
Despite its rugged terrain, Macedonia possesses some of the richest farmland in Greece in the plain of Drama and the valleys of the Strimon and Axios. A wide variety of foodstuffs and cash crops are grown, including
rice,
wheat,
beans,
olives,
cotton,
tobacco,
fruit,
grapes,
wine and other alcoholic beverages. Food processing and textile weaving constitute the principal manufacturing industries.
Tourism is a major industry along the coast, particularly in the
Chalcidice peninsula, the island of
Thasos and the northern approaches to
Mount Olympus. Many tourists originate from Greece's immediate neighbours.
Thessaloniki is a major
port city and industrial centre;
Kavala is the other harbour of Macedonia. Apart from the principal
airport at
Thessaloniki (
Makedonia Airport), airports also exist in
Kavala (
M.Alexandros Airport),
Kozani (
Kozani National Airport "Filippos" Filippos Airport), and
Kastoria (
Aristotelis Airport). The "
Via Egnatia" motorway crosses the full distance of Macedonia, linking its main cities.
Famous Macedonia: a traditional Macedonian song
Image:verginasun.jpg thumb|190px|[[Vergina Sun - The symbol of
Macedon Ancient Macedonia/Greece under King
Philip II of Macedon and
Alexander List of people known as The Great the Great''' [http://www.wipo.int/cgi-6te/guest/ifetch5?ENG+6TER+15+1151315-REVERSE+0+0+1056+F+124+431+101+25+SEP-0/HITNUM,B+KIND%2fEmblem+] ]]
Image:Thessaloniki sea front.JPG thumb|The sea front at Thessaloniki - the capital city of [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia.]]
The hymn '''Famous Macedonia''' (Μακεδονία ξακουστή), is associated with the Makedonomáchi (Macedonian fighters and/or fighters for Macedonia) and can be heard on parades and national anniversaries. Until the recent introduction of 24 hours programming, it also marked the end of radio programs on the local Macedonian channel, played before the Greek national anthem. According to [http://www.army.gr/n/g/archive/marchsong/#makedonia_xakousti Greek Army's website], is a military march (εμβατήÏ?ιο) based on the traditional "Macedonian Dance" (Μακεδονικός ΧοÏ?ός) which is related with the Akrites of the Byzantium. It is written in Dorian scale, in iambic 15syllable (ιαμβικός δεκαπεντασÏ?λλαβος). The beat is 2/4 and it can be danced as a chassapiko (χασάπικο).
{|
! style="text-align:left;" | Lyrics in
Greek language Greek
! style="text-align:left;" |
Latin transliteration
! style="text-align:left;" |
English language English translation
|- valign=top
|
'''ΜΑΚΕΔΟÎ?ΙΑ ΞΑΚΟΥΣΤΗ'''
Μακεδονία ξακουστή
του ΑλεξάνδÏ?ου η χώÏ?α,
που Îδιωξες τους βάÏ?βαÏ?ους
κι ελεÏ?θεÏ?η είσαι Ï„ÏŽÏ?α!
ήσουν και θα ΄σαι ελληνική,
ελλήνων το καμάÏ?ι,
κι Îμεις τα Ελληνόπουλα,
σου πλÎκουμε στεφάνι.
Οι Μακεδόνες δεν μποÏ?οÏ?ν
να ζοÏ?νε σκλαβομÎνοι,
όλα και αν τα Îχασαν
η λεφτεÏ?ιά τους μÎνει!
|
'''MAKEDONIA KSAKUSTI'''
Makedonia ksakusti,
tu Alexandru i hora,
pu ediokses tus varvarus,
ki eleftheri ise tora!
isun ke tha se elliniki,
ellinon to kamari,
ki emis ta Ellinopula,
su plekume stefani!
i Makedones den borun
na zune sklavomeni,
ola ke an ta ehasan
i lefteria tus menei!
|
'''FAMOUS MACEDONIA'''
Famous Macedonia
Homeland of Alexander,
that You turned away barbarians,
and now You are free.
You were and you'll be Greek,
and Greeks are proud of You,
and we, the Greek children
plait You a crown!
Macedonians cannot
live enslaved,
everything they may have lost
but freedom to them remains!
|}
