Continuing to celebrate freedom and independence! After being enslaved for four-hundred years, the Greeks are celebrating their 204th year of Independence on March 25th, 2025.
Who enslaved the Greeks, and how did this all start? Well, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Empire (Ottoman Turks) in 1453. After Greece was under their rule, this led them to further invade many other areas and islands around the Black Sea. For centuries, Greece had been apart of the Ottoman Empire, and in 1821, the Greeks declared their independence from the Ottoman Empire, declaring the start of the war. The other factors that pushed for the start of the war was all of the Greeks, whether they were smaller or big leaders. Their eagerness to be free and independent again caused them to rise up against the Ottoman rulers. While non-stop battling this dreadful war, the Greeks didn’t know if they would ever have their independence again, but they kept fighting, determined to win the battle. This was a very hard-fought war, but with the help and support from other countries like Britain, France, and Russia, the war ended in 1830. Greece rose victorious!
If you’re wondering what Greece had to endure when being enslaved for those extensive 400 years, I’m about to tell you! There were very heavy taxes on Greeks & non-Muslims, there was suppression of Greek culture and language, constant military control by the Ottomans, forced labor for Greeks in farms and buildings, no political rights, destruction of numerous villages, captured Greek children which would be sold as slaves or soldiers, restrictions on owning land, and even forced conversion/religious persecution against Orthodox Christians! All of these factors really affected the Greeks, provoking lots of fear and discrimination in their day-to-day lives, but all of these awful acts done to the Greeks made them eager to fight to get their freedom and independence back which was the best thing they could’ve done.
On March 25th of every year, we can celebrate Greek Independence Day by learning all about the history, hardships, and the strong determination the Greeks had to fight for their Independence, and how they got their country back!
