Since the end of the 18th century, the Empire began to recover from the devastating consequences of the invasions, and the reconquest of Greece began. The Greeks of Sicily and Asia Minor were taken as settlers. The Slavs were expelled. In the mid-ninth century, Greece was Greek again, and cities began to recover due to improved security and the restoration of central control.

When the Byzantine Empire was rescued from a period of crisis by the leadership of the three emperors Alejo I Comneno, Juan and Manuel in the twelfth century, Greece prospered. Recent research has revealed that this period was a time of significant growth in the rural economy, with an increase in population and large areas of agricultural land that were incorporated into production. The widespread construction of new rural churches was an indication that prosperity was being generated, even in remote areas. A constant population increase led to a higher population density, and there is good evidence that the population increase was accompanied by the resurgence of cities.

Archaeological evidence shows an increase in the size of urban settlements, along with a notable increase in new cities. Archaeological evidence tells us that many of the medieval cities, such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Thebes and Corinth, lived a period of rapid and sustained growth, from the eleventh century that continued until the end of the twelfth century. The growth of cities attracted Venetians, and these interests in trade further increased Greece’s economic prosperity. Certainly, the Venetians and others were important merchants in the ports of the Holy Land, and generated a business with merchandise shipping between the Overseas Crossed Realms and the West, while trade between Byzantium and Egypt expanded.

Here at Nestoras College students learn about Greek traditions at no extra cost for their parents.

From 1,200 and on…

The year 1204 marks the beginning of the last Byzantine period, when the most important event in the Empire occurred. The Greeks lost Constantinople for the first time, and the empire was conquered by the Latin Crusaders, who would be replaced by a new Latin Empire for 57 years. In addition, the period of Latin occupation decisively influenced the internal development of the empire, with elements such as feudalism, which entered Byzantine life. In 1261 the Greek empire was divided between the members of the ancient Byzantine Greek dynasty Comnenos (Epirus) and the Palaiologos dynasty (the last dynasty until the fall of Constantinople). After the gradual weakening of the structures of the Byzantine Greek state and the reduction of their lands by the Turkish invasions, the fall of the Greek Byzantine Empire took place, at the hands of the Ottomans, in 1453, the end of the Byzantine period.

When the Ottomans arrived, there were two great Greek migrations. The first migration was made by intellectuals to Western Europe, and they influence the arrival of the Renaissance. The second migration was that of the Greeks leaving the plains of the Greek peninsula and resettlement in the mountains. The Ottoman millet system contributed to the ethnic cohesion of the Orthodox Greeks by segregating the various peoples within the Ottoman Empire for reasons of religion. The Greeks who lived on the plains during the Ottoman occupation were Christians who dealt with the burdens of foreign or crypto-Christian domination (Greek Muslims who secretly practiced the Greek Orthodox faith). Many Greeks became crypto-Christians to avoid heavy taxes and at the same time express their identity by maintaining their ties with the Greek Orthodox Church. However, the Greeks who converted to Islam were considered Turkish in the eyes of the Greek Orthodox, although they did not adopt the Turkish language.

The influence of ancient Greece on contemporary designers

The art of Ancient Greece is characterized by the search for ideal beauty, reflected in sculpture, painting, architecture and ceramics, based in part on the model of the philosopher Plato and his reasoning about the world of ideas, with intention to recreate it in this imperfect world, that is, constantly searching for the ideal.

Currently, is not the same? Where it is best reflected is in the fashion environment. The pressure for perfectionism and charm is not something imposed on society by advertising or television. It is something we all look for and for thousands of years; the harmoniously proportioned and detailed image created by Greek artists. In effect, we are still influenced by classical art.

Developing

Designers such as Armani and Valentino are characterized in their collections by a style considered currently classic, as happened at the time with Channel; who knew how to innovate with their designs, the same that are still considered elegant.

The Armani series are a reflection of this, not only in their dresses, but also in the selected models and their aesthetics, which always respond to the same purpose. An inspiration panel may vary, but the concept is always the same: organic and regular forms, with movement. The fabrics brush the skin, which expresses a very sophisticated air. The structure stands out for being semi-formal and for using desaturated tones. These aspects correspond to an image that only high society can access, and to which many aspire: to power. There is talk, in effect, of exclusivity.

Alicia Giménez-Bartlett (2002) argues in her essay Eva’s debt that beauty is not innocent. At present, it is less theoretical but no less tolerant; Ideas are replaced by money. He insists on explaining how humans have always been subject to living pending appearance. They even change the image that nature gives them in order to achieve that perfectionist objective.

It is no accident that the important fashion firms present an image so strongly associated with the beauty canon established by the Greeks. They create idols, whether they are recognized Hollywood actors or athletes, as for the Greeks were the gods and heroes. It is about creating a dream, an illusion that is bought or imitated.

On the other hand, beauty and all its characteristics are associated with health (a long life) and peer acceptance. That is why it becomes so important, and this the Greeks understood it very well, which is especially reflected in their sculptures.

At the moment the clothing has smaller amount of fabrics, and in both the great influence of the characteristic clothing of the East is remarkable.

Remember that Nestoras Greek College remains an excellent option for students to learn about Greek traditions at no extra cost for their parents.