Modern Greek Language and Culture
Language
Modern Greek (Néa Elliniká) refers to the Greek language as it is spoken today. The transition from Medieval Greek to Modern Greek is typically marked by the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, though linguistic changes had begun centuries earlier. Modern Greek encompasses various dialects spoken across Greece and the Greek diaspora, with Standard Modern Greek being the official form.
The language has historically experienced a situation of diglossia, where regional dialects coexisted with learned, more archaic written forms. This was evident in the coexistence of Dimotiki (vernacular) and Katharevousa (puristic) varieties throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Culture
The culture of Greece has evolved over millennia, originating in Minoan and Mycenaean Greece, flourishing in Classical Greece, and later influencing the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. The Greek culture has also absorbed elements from the Frankish states, the Ottoman Empire, the Venetian Republic, and monarchies from Bavaria and Denmark.
Music in modern Greece is a blend of indigenous influences with those from the east and west. Traditional songs, or dhimotiká, and the modern rembétika music contain Ottoman and medieval Italian elements. Greece has produced numerous internationally acclaimed composers and performers across diverse musical genres.
Modern Greek culture also reflects the historical influence of Greco-Buddhism, a syncretism between Hellenistic culture and Buddhism, particularly within the Indo-Greek Kingdoms. Additionally, the rise of Christianity saw Greek become the liturgical language of several patriarchates beyond Rome.
The Greek Orthodox Church remains a significant institution in contemporary Greek life, deeply tied to national identity and history, particularly due to its role during the Greek War of Independence.