Contemporary Greek culture and traditions are very rich and diverse, reflecting Greece's location at the crossing point where the West meets the East and the country's great and turbulent history.
It has evolved over thousands of years, dating from the Paleolithic era and the birth of the great Minoan, Mycenaean and Cycladic civilizations through the Classical Period - the Golden Age, and a a sequence of invasions and domination: by the Macedonians, the Romans, the Byzantine Empire and the 400 years of Ottoman rule.
In our days,Greek people are very proud of who they are and speak of their heritage with great passion. They are united by their traditions, religion, language, music, food, and wine. All of these form the backdrop of Modern Greek culture and Greece's cultural identity.