Megali Idea facts for kids

The Megali Idea was a big dream for many people in Greece. It was about uniting all the lands where Greek people lived, especially those that were part of the Ottoman Empire. This dream started after the Byzantine Empire, an old Greek-speaking empire, ended. The main goal was to free Greek lands from Ottoman rule and create a larger, stronger Greece.

What Was the Megali Idea?

The Megali Idea, which means "Great Idea" in Greek, was a powerful belief. It was about bringing together all the Greek people. Many Greeks lived outside the small country of Greece. They lived in places like Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) and on islands.

A Dream for Greeks

This idea was a form of nationalism. Nationalism is a strong feeling of pride in your country. It often includes wanting your country to be united and strong. For Greeks, the Megali Idea meant creating a country that included all Greek-speaking people. It was a dream of a bigger and more powerful Greece.

Why Was It Important?

The Megali Idea shaped Greek politics for many years. It influenced how Greece dealt with other countries. It also affected many important decisions. The idea was a major reason for Greece's involvement in several wars. These wars aimed to expand Greece's borders.

How the Dream Grew

The roots of the Megali Idea go back a long time. They connect to the rich history of the Greek people.

The Byzantine Past

For centuries, the Byzantine Empire was a powerful Greek-speaking empire. Its capital was Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). Many Greeks saw this empire as their past glory. When the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453, it was a sad day for Greeks. The Megali Idea was partly a wish to bring back some of that past greatness.

Life Under the Ottoman Empire

After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, many Greek lands came under Ottoman rule. Greeks lived as a minority in a large empire. They kept their language and their religion. But they longed for freedom and self-rule. The Megali Idea grew from this desire for independence. It was a hope to unite all these scattered Greek communities.

Key People and Big Moments

Many leaders and events played a part in the story of the Megali Idea.

Eleftherios Venizelos: A Strong Leader

Eleftherios Venizelos was a very important Greek politician. He was a prime minister for many years. Venizelos strongly believed in the Megali Idea. He worked hard to make it happen. He led Greece during times of great change. He tried to expand Greece's borders through diplomacy and war.

King Constantine I: Another View

Constantine I of Greece was the King of Greece during this time. He also wanted a greater Greece. However, he sometimes disagreed with Venizelos on how to achieve it. These disagreements led to political problems in Greece.

The Balkan Wars

The Balkan Wars (1912-1913) were a big step for Greece. Greece and other Balkan countries fought against the Ottoman Empire. As a result, Greece gained many new territories. These included parts of Macedonia and Epirus. This success made the Megali Idea seem more possible.

World War I and After

World War I (1914-1918) offered another chance. Greece joined the war on the side of the Allies. After the war, the Treaty of Sèvres was signed in 1920. This treaty gave Greece control over Smyrna (modern-day Izmir) and its surrounding area in Asia Minor. This was a huge moment for the Megali Idea. It seemed like the dream was coming true.

The End of the Dream

Despite the successes, the Megali Idea ultimately faced a tragic end.

The Asia Minor Catastrophe

The Greek army moved into Asia Minor after World War I. However, a strong Turkish nationalist movement grew. This led to the Greco-Turkish War. The Greek army suffered a major defeat. In 1922, the city of Smyrna was destroyed. Many Greeks living in Asia Minor had to leave their homes. This event is known as the Asia Minor Catastrophe.

What Happened Next?

The war ended with the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. This treaty set the modern borders of Greece and Turkey. It also led to a large-scale population exchange. Greeks from Turkey moved to Greece. Turks from Greece moved to Turkey. This tragic event marked the end of the Megali Idea. The dream of uniting all Greeks in a single large state was over.

Images for kids

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  Map showing the Greek pretensions on the Paris Peace Conference after WWI, 1919

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  Map of Megali Hellas (Great Greece) as proposed at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 by Eleftherios Venizelos, the leading major proponent of the Megali Idea at the time.

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  Sultan Mehmed II's entry into Constantinople.

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  Ethnic map of Asia Minor in 1917. Black = Bulgars and Turks. Red = Greeks. Light yellow = Armenians. Blue = Kurds. Orange = Lazes. Dark Yellow = Arabs. Green = Nestorians.

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  Constantine I of Greece was called Constantine XII by his supporters, the purported successor to the Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos

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  Eleftherios Venizelos tried to realize the Megali Idea

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  Greek claims in Epirus and Macedonia after the first Balkan war

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  Poster celebrating the "New Hellas" after the Balkan Wars.

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  Map of Megali Hellas after the Treaty of Sèvres and featuring a picture of Eleftherios Venizelos.

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  Greek soldiers in Smyrna, May 1919.

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  The island of Cyprus, showing the areas controlled by the ethnic Greek Cypriots of the Republic of Cyprus (south), and the areas controlled by ethnic Turkish Cypriots (north).

See also

In Spanish: Gran Idea para niños