Page 50 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

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Ottoman Greece
With the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453 and BRITISH IONIAN
their conquest of almost all remaining Greek territory by 1460, PROTECTORATE
the Greek state effectively ceased to exist for the next 350 Napoleon abolished
years. However, much of the country, including the islands, was the Venetian Republic
left alone or even granted special privileges; Sými, for example, in 1797 and annexed
had a monopoly in supplying sponges to harems. This period the Ionians. They
pro foundly affected Greek culture and everyday life, and, stayed under French
eventu ally, discontent nurtured rebellion. control until 1814,
except during the
The Making of Modern Greece Septinsular Republic
The Greek War of Independence against Ottoman rule started (1799–1807). The 1815
in 1821, and continued for almost ten years; this was also the Treaty of Paris created
beginning of the “Great Idea” to bring all Greek people under a British protectorate
one flag. The revolution ended with the establishment of the which lasted until
Greek state; Ioannis Kapodistrias became its first president 1864, when the return
in 1828. Of the Greek Islands, initially only the Argo-Saronics, of the Ionians to Greece
Cyclades, Sporades and Évvia joined this new state. Following was a condition of
the 1831 assassination of Kapodistrias, the London Conference Prince George assum­
of 1832 established a kingdom with Otto of Bavaria as king, ing the Greek throne.
followed by Danish prince George. Over the next century, the

Timeline of events
1523 1645–1669 1917
The Knights Hospitaller The Ottoman conquest of Greece enters
surrender Rhodes to Crete entails a 22-year World War I on the
Sultan Süleyman the siege of Iráklio. Macedonian front.
Magnificent in January.

1830
Greek 1912–13
independence The Balkan Wars greatly
is guaranteed enhance Greek territory,
by the London encompassing Crete and the
Protocol. Northeast Aegean Islands.
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