Communieation.—There are in Greece about 1,400 miles of railway. Prior to the war with Turkey in 1912-13, Greece was completely isolated by land from the rest of Europe, but in 1916 a rail road was completed between Gida on the Saloniki-Monastir line, and Papapuli on the Thessalian frontier, a distance of 56 miles, by which Greece was joined with the European railroads. In 1920 projects for new lines to the extent of 400 miles were under consideration. There are about 17,347 miles of telegraph wire and about 7,002 miles of telephone.
revenue in 1919 was £45,908,000, and the expenditure £61, 656,000. The external debt of Greece in December 31, 1919, was £41,916,520. In 1918 the governments of Great Britain, United States, and France agreed to advance to Greece about £30,000,000, the control of which was lodged in a financial and military commission. Prac tically all this sum was loaned to Greece.
years, and in the Council of State. The Bottle meets annually for a term of not less than three nor more than six months.
Greek nation boasts of the highest antiquity, and in the early and mythic period of their history it is almost impossible to separate fable from fact. The Pelasgi were the first in habitants, succeeded by the Hellenes. Having gained the advantage over the Pelasgi, and driven them to the islands, they peopled the continent with their own nation, who were divided into four tribes, viz., &charts, Dorians, Ionians, and Achaians. The Hellenes spread in different directions over the country, and were soon joined by colonists from Egypt and Phoenicia. The first consti tution of Greek cities is beyond the reach of exact history; but it seems is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 12 years, but the law is not well en forced. The percentage of illiteracy is high. There are about 7,000 primary schools and about 9,000 teachers. For secondary education there are about 75 high schools and about 425 middle schools, with about 60,000 pupils. There are agricultural schools, trade schools, and commercial schools. The univer sities are those of Athens, the National University, and the Capodistria Univer sity. The annual appropriation for education is about 10,000,000 drachmai.
Government.—The government is a constitutional monarchy, the present eonstitution dating from 1864. The ex ecutive power is vested in the king and a ministry of 9 departments, Interior, For eign Affairs, Communication, Education, Economy, Agriculture, Assistance, Fi nance, and Justice. The legislative au
thority is vested in a chamber, called the Boule, consisting of 316 members, elected by universal suffrage for a term of four that monarchy was the earliest form; and Sicyon is stated to have founded 2000 B. c. Athens, Thebes, Sparta, Cor inth, and Argos. Of the mythic or heroic period, the principal events are the s'ege of Thebes, and the Trojan war, e )i.. mencing 1198 B. c. The confusion aris ing from the latter event deprived many kingdoms of their princes, and en couraged the ambition of the Dorian heraclidm to such an extent that they enslaved or expelled the inhabitants of the Peloponnesus.- A fresh impulse was given thereby to emigration; large bodies of people crossed the and colonized the shores of Asia Minor; and as the governments changed with the rulers, the states of Greece now began to partake of that republican form which was afterward their peculiar characteristic. The civil policy of Sparta and Athens, the growing power of which latter now began to lessen the influence of the other states, military knowledge, the arts of refinement and politics, advanced rapidly, and the quick and sensitive Greeks carried refinement of manners to an extent not yet ex ceeded in modern times. They had at the same time an extensive commerce with Gaul, Italy, and Sicily. Their en terprise and love of liberty bore them successfully through all the troubles of the Persian war, 469 B. C.; but from the same reasons they became involved in intestine feuds. The Peloponnesian war, which lasted 30 years (ending 404 B. c.), destroyed their union, and paved the way for Philip of Macedon, who (338 c.) gained the decisive battle of Cher ona, and thus became master of Greece. The brilliant conquests of Alexander engaged them for a few years; but their courage was now enervated, and their love of liberty almost extinguished. When the Achaian league proved a vain defense against the kingdom of Mace don, Greece was utterly unable to con tend with the arms of Rome; and after a brief contest, ending with the battle of Corinth (146 B. c.), the entire coun try became an integral portion of the Roman empire.