By: Chris B.

1. Cradle of Western Civilization By: Chris B.

2. Natural Resources and Climate • Greece has 10 natural resources: lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnetite, marble, and salt • Greece has a Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunshine • In Summer, the dry, hot days are cooled by winds called meltemi. • Winters are mild in lowland areas • They have a temperate climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

3. What's it look like? • Greece’s area is 131,957 kilometers (81994 miles) • It is slightly smaller than Alabama • Greece is mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands • Because of this, transportation may be hard

4. Developed? Maybe… • They have a GDP growth rate of -6% • GDP per capita is $25,100 • Unemployment rate is 24.4% • Poverty rate is 20% • Compared to other countries, they have a pretty good GDP per capita • They have a bad GDP growth rate with very few countries worse than it • They would be developed because of their high income that they have. • By looks of it, Greece has a higher poverty rate and unemployment rate than the U.S., which can still be bad

5. Out to eat? • Eating food is just as important as eating out and sharing dinner • The manner their food is prepared is endless varieties and taste • At restaurants, you can go into the kitchen to choose what you want by looking at the food • They normally eat lunch at 12:00 – 2:00PM but with changing work schedules, gathering at midday is no longer possible for some families • For some holidays, they might enjoy roast lamb and kokoretsi (lamb liver, lungs, and spleen wrapped in intestines)

6. United Greece • Greece is a founding member of the United Nations • They have been a member of what is now the European Union • In general, the Greeks are particularly proud of their culture

7. Importance • There normal language is Greek which is a mix of Italian, Turkish, and French • Greece is called the “Cradle of Western Civilization” because: • They were founders of Democracy, a government most people have today • They played a huge role in in philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and art • They were the first to point out it is important to have a healthy body and made medicine

8. Culture • Almost every city and village has a patron saint who is honored with a festival every year • Easter is their most important holiday • Work and business hours vary, depending on the season and type of business • The Greek population is composed of a 97% of Christian Orthodox • Greece has relatively little crime, even in the big cities

9. Greece effecting our money? • For several months now, Greece has been in danger of defaulting on its government debt. • European leaders negotiated a complex bailout package with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, only to have Papandreou surprise them by announcing that the measure would have to be approved by a national referendum. • Papandreou subsequently backed down, but having lost the confidence of his parliament, he was forced to resign • These events will certainly have a huge impact on day-to-day life in Greece • Somehow, economic difficulties in Greece are yet another force that is working to keep current interest rates low here in the U.S.