THOMAS GALLANT

Modern Greece traces the rich and varied history of Greece and the Greeks over the last two centuries. By addressing topics drawn from social history and anthropology - such as urbanization, class formation, economic development, modernization, national identity, gender, and culture change - this book differs from most other studies currently available. Focusing on the history of society does not mean that the study of the great events that shaped the nation is neglected. Of course they are discussed, but with a difference: the aim is to comprehend how those great events had an impact on the everyday lives of Greeks.Three themes run through the book. The first relates to Greece's identity. Standing astride the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, Greek society has always manifested complex features reflective of its almost unique geographical situation. Another theme focuses on the Greek diaspora. For centuries, the 'Greek world' meant far more than just the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula. The experience of the diaspora has been a crucial element in the development of Greece and Greek society. The last theme focuses on the role of foreign dependency. During the modern age, relations with Europe and the United States have shaped the development of Greek society in integral ways. The social, cultural, and economic history of the Greek people, then, is bound up with forces and developments on a scale larger than just south-eastern Europe.