Greece sided with the Allies in the First World War, and won further territory from the Turks, who had sided with Germany. Italian and German troops occupied Greece during the Second World War, hut were driven out by the British and Communist-led Greek resistance fighters in 1944. For years after the war, Communist guerrillas fought in the mountains against nationalist troops in a bloody civil war that cost 120 000 lives.
American aid helped to ensure defeat of the guerrillas under General Markos, as did President Tito of Yugoslavia's quarrel with Moscow, which closed the Yugoslav border to support for the guerrillas.
Political instability after the civil war led eventually to a military coup in 1967 and the establishment of a republic in 1973. Meanwhile, relations with Turkey worsened over rights to oil discoveries under the AEGEAN SEA and the problem of CYPRUS, with its majority Greek and minority Turkish population. Turkey invaded northern Cyprus in 1974 and the military regime in Greece fell in a bloodless counter-coup. Democracy had returned to the country that invented the word. It is, however, a fragile democracy; elections are held every four years. but the Press is not entirely free.
Greece rejoined NATO (after a six-year gap) in 1980, and became a member of the European Economic Community in 1981. But the Socialist government in power since 1981 has maintained friendly relations with the Eastern Bloc and has threatened from time to time to withdraw from NATO and to close US military bases in Greece. At the root of the dispute is American friendship with (and NATO membership of) the old rival, Turkey.
Modern Greece has been described as 'a poor nation with all its ribs showing'. It is an evocative description, covering economics and geography. The ribs are the mountain ranges that dominate the country. The PINOHOS mountains divide Greece from the Albanian border in the north to the Gulf of CORINTH in the south, peaking at Smolikas (2637 m, 8651 ft). Another rib runs southwards from Yugoslavia, soaring to Mount OLYMPUS (2917 m, 9570 ft) and extending to the Aegean Sea.
About 70 per cent of the land is hilly, with harsh mountain climates and poor soils, but agriculture is the chief activity. Until 1950 most of the people were involved in subsistence farming, producing enough food for themselves but with flu surplus for sale. There has since been a steady migration to the towns, but 30 per cent of the population still lives in the countryside.
Forests cover large areas in the highlands of MACEDONIA, THRACE and Pindhos. Woodland in lower areas has been reduced by forest fires during long, dry summers and by felling to provide fuel and clear land for pasture.
Dry Mediterranean vegetation covers southern and central Greece, with hushes and open woods. The island of CRETE has an astonishing variety of wild plants and flowers; there are more than 100 species with medicinal properties. Back on the mainland, Attiki is renowned for herbs and wild flowers, which provide the nectar for excellent honey. Firs are common in the mountains; oaks, beeches and chestnuts lower down.
In coastal waters, sea sponges are an important crop in the DODECANESE islands, and sea anemones and urchins are a tourist attraction among the submerged rocks, Dolphins sometimes follow ships along the coasts.
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