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1 Read the article and complete the factfile about Greece


| The Road to Democracy
with the correct dates or time periods.
One of the world’s oldest cities, 1, which has a
Defeated Italy
i history dating back around 3,400 years, is commonly
1‘ referred to as the birthplace ofdemocracy. It has
produced philosophers, architects, political thinkers Thousands of people died
1 and poets, all of whom have helped shape Western durlng thatwinter
1 civilization as we know it. However. even with such an Greece‘s civil war
i impressive history, Greece, like many other countries,
Prime minister dismissed
1 has had a turbulent transition to modern democracy from his position
l and its people have experienced many difficulties over
Military dictatorship
the last century.
The Athens Polytechnic
In 1940 during the Second World War, Italy, which was demonstrations
being ruled by a fascist government, demanded that
Regime overthrown
Greece surrender to them, but ruler Metaxas refused,
First democratic elections
which led to the outbreak ofthe Greco-ltalian War.
afterthe regime
After bitter fighting, Greece won and they managed to
successfully push Italian forces into bordering Albania. Joined E.U
Avictory that they have been celebrating ever since.

Within less than a year, Greece was invaded by Germany


2 Read the article again and complete the sentences with
during the Battle ofGreece. As German soldiers entered
information from the text.
through Bulgaria, the Greek army found themselves
outnumbered. Nevertheless, German occupiers had to 0 Athens is known as the place where democracy was
deal with serious challenges from the Greek resistance. created.
During the winter that followed from 1941 to 1942, over 1 The ruler and his forces
100,000 people died due to starvation. prevented Italy from invading Greece.
2 The Greeks have been
Between 1944 and 1949, Greece and its citizens Italy since the war.
experienced further fighting during its civil war, which 3 Even though the Greek army
led to severe economic problems and social tension they still put up a fight against the German forces.
between the communist and anti-communist parties. 4 The civil war led to tensions between the
and
In the summer of 1965, King Constantine ll dismissed
5 The military dictatorship lasted for
I the country’s prime minister, creating more political
6 Afterthe regime ended, were held. ‘
' turbulence and resulting in the Greek military
dictatorship of1967, which was to last for seven Eljs .
years. The Athens Polytechnic uprising, where a mass Reading total.15 ‘
demonstration in 1973 took place, finally triggered a
series ofevents that led to the downfall of the regime
in 1974.

In the yearto follow, Greece held the first democratic


elections since the beginning ofthe regime and a
democratic constitution was made in 1975. Then in
1981, Greecejoined the E.U.

In more recent times, Athens has been the scene of


more mass demonstrations, protests and tension,
and finally in early 2015 a new goverment was elected
offering the country a new hope.
L.-- __,______-,.,-__m.______ _

Photocoplablo ID Richmond Publishing SA. de C.V., 2015

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