Suchergebnisse

At the turn of the 20th century, Crete was 'suspended between East and West' in more ways than one. In the aftermath of numerous insurrections, intense ethno-communal strife, and a great deal of human and material destruction, the island passed from direct Ottoman rule to a regime of 'semi-independence'. However, overt Great Power tutelage, a conservative constitution 'with defects of infancy', a weak and depleted economy, and an incessant predilection for the politics of enosis did little to enhance the island's path to progress. Undoubtedly, the particular historical juncture that brought about the hybrid Cretan state and Prince George's 'unfortunate regime' was instrumental in turning the island into an archaeological 'El Dorado', with the British at the helm. But the political contingency aside, 'personal factors', I argue, were of equal importance. In particular, the rapport that Chatzidakes and Xanthoudides had established with Evans facilitated the convergence of national (Cretan) archaeology as a means of incorporating the island into European modernity with colonial archaeology, which in turn has left its weighty imprint especially on the appropriation of the 'Minoan' past.

"Half a century after the civil war which tore apart Greek society in the 1940s, the essays in this volume look back to examine the crisis. They combine the approaches of political and international history with the latest research into the social, economic, religious, cultural, ideological and literary aspects of the struggle. Underpinned by the use of a wide range of hitherto neglected sources, the contributions shed new light, broaden the scope of inquiry, and offer fresh analysis. Thus far, comparative approaches have not been employed in the study of the Greek Civil War. The papers here redress this imbalance and establish the not always so clear links between Greek and European historical developments in the 1940s, placing the evolution of Greek society and politics in a European context. They also highlight the complexity and interconnections of the social, economic and political cleavages that split Greek society, and provide a comprehensive and subtle understanding of the origins, course and impact of the Greek Civil War in a variety of contexts and levels. The volume will appeal to those interested in the European history of the 1940s and the origins of the Cold War, in addition to the specialists of modern Greek history and those engaged in the comparative study of civil wars."--Provided by publisher.