Independence

Due to centuries of economic activity in the Aegean Sea and Bosporus Strait, Greek merchants in charge of shipping companies that transported goods through these important waterways became incredibly wealthy. Their newfound wealth allowed them to send their children to various universities and educational instuttions on the European mainland where they were exposed to Enlightenment and Romantic Nationalism ideals (A).

The Renaissance and the subsequent revival of European culture in the 15^th to the 19^th centuries prompted Europeans to desire the liberation the birthplace of Classical Culture- Greece. Before any planned revolution actually occurred in Greece, there was already a strong European sentiment that backed Greek independence (A).

In 1814, three young Greek merchants, Nikoloas Skoufas, Emmanuil Xanthos, and Athanasios Tsakatov founded the Filiki Eteria in 1814 in Odessa. The Filiki Eteria was a secret society that served as the logistical and organizational center for the Greek revolution and a gathering place of Greeks abroad. Alexander Ypsilatnis, a Russian general and adjutant to Tsar Alexander I, accepted an offer from the organization to became its leader. In 1821, when the Ottoman Empire was waging war against both the Persian Empire and Egyptian rebels, the Greeks decided that the time was perfect for them to start their own revolution (D).

Unlike many other revolutions, the Greek fight for independence was well financed from the beginning. Many wealthy Greek communities abroad contributed a substantial amount of money to the cause. European aristocrats and American social elites either donated money or used their prestige to bring support to the Greek movement. The London Philhellenic Committee went as far as finance two loans in 1824 and 1825 of 2.8 million pounds (billions in 2012 US dollars) (C).

Rebellion sprang out in various parts of Greece at the same time: Constantinople, the Balkans, Cyprus, Crete, etc. However, without a strong national authority to organize the revolts, the independence movement lacked the amount of coordination necessary for successful rebellion. Fortunately fo the Greeks, conflicts in Persia and Egypt distracted the Ottomans militarily and

the few Ottoman forces sent to put down the Greek rebellion lacked the necessary equipment to fight in the narrow mountain passes of the Greek peninsula. It would not be until Egyptian intervention, under the son-in-laws of Muhammad Ali, that would re-establish an Ottoman presence in Crete, Cyprus, and a few parts of the Greek mainland. European navies, consisted of Russian, British, and French ships, prevented a total disaster on the part of the Greeks and kept the fledging Republic alive (B).

The Treaty of London effectively ended the revolution and forced the Ottoman Empire to recognize the Kingdom of Greece. Subsequently, Russia, Britain, and France sent ambassadors to Greece, giving the new state de facto recognition. The Greek war of independence lasted 11 years and Greek independence became official in 1832 (B). Later, after World War II, the Greeks would join the European Union as a full member.