Modern Greece traces its roots to the civilisation of Ancient Greece, commonly considered the cradle of western civilisation, birthplace of democracy, western philosophy, western literature, the Olympic Games, political science and major scientific and mathematical principles.

The Hellenic era ended with Roman rule in 146 BC. The next landmark was the founding of the Byzantium Empire in 330 AD which remained a major cultural and military power until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453. The Greek war of independence in 1821 lead to the recognition of Greece as an independent sovereign state in 1830.

Post World War II history has been one of considerable political turbulence. The dismissal of the prime minister of the day by the king in 1965 led two years later to a coup d’état and the formation of the Regime of the Colonels in 1967.

	Military force on the streets of Athens, November 1973
	After a counter coup, the suppression of an uprising and Turkey's invasion of Cyprus, the regime fell. Multi-party elections were held in November 1974. Following a referendum that abolished the monarchy a democratic and republican constitution was promulgated on 11 June 1975.