Exploring Europe
Greece, Italy, & Ireland
This is a 3-part tour of Europe; we will explore the history, cultures, and traditions of Greece, Italy, and Ireland as well as explore their current economic activities and leaders. I chose Greece because my family and I are considering traveling there this summer. I chose Italy and Ireland because my personal heritage comes from those two countries and I wanted to learn more about the countries that my ancestors came from.
Greece
Greek Culture
Greece is a Presidential Parliamentary Democracy led by President Karolos Popoulias and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. They currently suffer from an extreme amount of debt-the highest in all of Europe. The current population in Greece is approximately 11.2 million people. Greek culture is characterized by their food, music, and dance.
Cycladic Houses
Cycladic houses built into the hillside built with stone to endure both heat and cold. This is an example of how humans adapted to their enviornment conditions.
The Parthenon
The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis in Greece, built in 447 BC and was dedicated to the maiden goddess Athena.
Greek Cuisine
Pictured here is a chicken pita and a gyro pita with feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatos, and a special sauce called tzatziki
Italy
Italian Culture
After struggling under the ruling of Benito Mussolini and his Fascist dictatoriship Italy became a Republic in 1946. Italy's current president is Giorgio Napolitano with Prime Minister, known as the President of the Council of Ministers, Enrico Letta. Italy suffers from slow economic growth, high rates of unemployment, and high levels of crime and corruption. They currently have a population of over 61 million people and suffer from high levels of air polution. Italy is known for its rich history and culture in the arts. Italy is a peninsula located in Southern Europe extending into the Mediterranean Sea.