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| ] and ] first write about ''Graikoi'', who seem to be the same people as ''Selloi'' from ]. The name becomes known to Latins with the ] of ] from Greek settlers. While Greeks call themselves Hellenes, the ] begin to call them ''Græci'', the name of the specific Greek colonists. | ] and ] first write about ''Graikoi'', who seem to be the same people as ''Selloi'' from ]. The name becomes known to Latins with the ] of ] from Greek settlers. While Greeks call themselves Hellenes, the ] begin to call them ''Græci'', the name of the specific Greek colonists. | ||
| During the Roman era, and especially after Christianity became the official religion of the empire, the name Hellene came to be associated with the pre-Christian religion, and fell out of use. The Greeks, who were now citizens of the Roman Empire, called themselves Roman, or ''Rhomaioi''. | During the Roman era, and especially after Christianity became the official religion of the empire, the name Hellene came to be associated with the pre-Christian religion, and fell out of use. The Greeks, who were now citizens of the Roman Empire, called themselves Roman, or ''Rhomaioi''. This usage has remained into modern times as a familiar word for ''Greek''. | ||
| After the fall of the ] in ] ] and the beginning of the ] in ] the ] term for the Greeks is used broadly. In ] a change takes place. While in general the citizens of the ] are called Romans, the Greeks assume the name ''Græco'' to distinguish themselves from the rest of the Byzantines. After the ] the name ''Græco'' meant orthodox and ] meant ]. After a while the two terms assumed a national character as well. | After the fall of the ] in ] ] and the beginning of the ] in ] the ] term for the Greeks is used broadly. In ] a change takes place. While in general the citizens of the ] are called Romans, the Greeks assume the name ''Græco'' to distinguish themselves from the rest of the Byzantines. After the ] the name ''Græco'' meant orthodox and ] meant ]. After a while the two terms assumed a national character as well. | ||
| After the independence of the modern Greek state from the ] the term ''Græco'' or Greek was abandoned totally by the Greeks themselves. The new country was officially named "Hellenic republic" (or ''Hellas'') and the people "Hellenes". In many countries the modern ] are called Greeks and their country ], while in other countries, especially in Asia, they are called ''Yunan'' and their country ''Yunanistan'', from the word |
After the independence of the modern Greek state from the ] the term ''Græco'' or Greek was abandoned totally by the Greeks themselves. The new country was officially named "Hellenic republic" (or ''Hellas'') and the people "Hellenes". In many countries the modern ] are called Greeks and their country ], while in other countries, especially in Asia, they are called ''Yunan'' and their country ''Yunanistan'', from the word Turkish word Yunan, derived from the Greek geographical term Ionia. In Turkey, Greeks from Greece are called ''Yunan'', but ethnic Greeks in Turkey are called ''Rum'', from Greek ''Rhomaioi''. | ||
| == Greeks as a modern ethnic group == | == Greeks as a modern ethnic group == | ||
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| There are around 10.8 million ethnic Greeks in the ], as they also form an important minority group in several Balkan countries, as well as in modern-day ]. | There are around 10.8 million ethnic Greeks in the ], as they also form an important minority group in several Balkan countries, as well as in modern-day ]. | ||
| In particular, any persons living in what used to be the ] and/or around the ], ] or ] can be identified as ethnic Greek if their origin predates the ] invasions that started around the ]. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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- See The Greeks for the financial term for the set of measures derived from the Black-Scholes option pricing formula, named for the use of the Greek alphabet to denote parameters.
Greeks in Ancient History
In Latin literature, Græci (or Greeks, in English) is the name by which Hellenes are known.
Aristotle and Apollodorus first write about Graikoi, who seem to be the same people as Selloi from Epirus. The name becomes known to Latins with the colonization of Italy from Greek settlers. While Greeks call themselves Hellenes, the Romans begin to call them Græci, the name of the specific Greek colonists.
During the Roman era, and especially after Christianity became the official religion of the empire, the name Hellene came to be associated with the pre-Christian religion, and fell out of use. The Greeks, who were now citizens of the Roman Empire, called themselves Roman, or Rhomaioi. This usage has remained into modern times as a familiar word for Greek.
After the fall of the West Roman Empire in 395 AD and the beginning of the Middle Ages in Western Europe the Latin term for the Greeks is used broadly. In East Roman Empire a change takes place. While in general the citizens of the Byzantine Empire are called Romans, the Greeks assume the name Græco to distinguish themselves from the rest of the Byzantines. After the Schism the name Græco meant orthodox and Latin meant Catholic. After a while the two terms assumed a national character as well.
After the independence of the modern Greek state from the Ottoman Empire the term Græco or Greek was abandoned totally by the Greeks themselves. The new country was officially named "Hellenic republic" (or Hellas) and the people "Hellenes". In many countries the modern Hellenes are called Greeks and their country Greece, while in other countries, especially in Asia, they are called Yunan and their country Yunanistan, from the word Turkish word Yunan, derived from the Greek geographical term Ionia. In Turkey, Greeks from Greece are called Yunan, but ethnic Greeks in Turkey are called Rum, from Greek Rhomaioi.
Greeks as a modern ethnic group
An ethnic Greek (usually simply called Greek) is someone who is considered by himself or others to be Greek. Characteristics are:
- Cultural connection with the Greek culture
- Speaking the Greek language
- Having ancestors who lived in Greece or an area that at the time was part of Greece or otherwise considered Greek
There are around 10.8 million ethnic Greeks in the Balkans, as they also form an important minority group in several Balkan countries, as well as in modern-day Turkey.