The Nationalist Greeks got the support of the West European nations be...
An event that mobilised nationalist feelings among the educated elite across Europe was the Greek war of independence. Greece had been part of the Ottoman Empire since the fifteenth century. The growth of revolutionary nationalism in Europe sparked off a struggle for independence amongst the Greeks which began in 1821. Nationalists in Greece got support from other Greeks living in exile and also from many West Europeans who had sympathies for ancient Greek culture. Poets and artists lauded Greece as the cradle of European civilisation and mobilised public opinion to support its struggle against a Muslim empire. The English poet Lord Byron organised funds and later went to fight in the war, where he died of fever in 1824. Finally, the Treaty of Constantinople of 1832 recognised Greece as an independent nation.
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The Nationalist Greeks got the support of the West European nations be...
The reasons why the Nationalist Greeks got the support of the West European nations are as follows:
a) Fighting against the Muslim Ottoman Empire
- The Nationalist Greeks were fighting against the Ottoman Empire, which was seen as a threat to Western interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- The Ottoman Empire was also seen as a Muslim power, which made it easier for Western nations to support the Christian Greeks.
b) Sympathies for ancient Greek culture
- The West European nations had a great interest in ancient Greek culture, which they saw as the foundation of Western civilization.
- The Nationalist Greeks used this to their advantage by portraying themselves as the heirs of ancient Greece, and therefore deserving of Western support.
c) Greece was considered the cradle of European civilization
- Greece was seen as the birthplace of Western civilization, and therefore had a special place in the hearts of many Europeans.
- The Nationalist Greeks used this to their advantage by appealing to European pride in their cultural heritage.
d) All of the above
- All of these factors combined to create a strong sense of sympathy for the Nationalist Greeks among the West European nations.
- This sympathy translated into financial, military, and diplomatic support for the Greek cause.
In conclusion, the Nationalist Greeks were able to secure the support of the West European nations because they were fighting against the Muslim Ottoman Empire, had sympathies for ancient Greek culture, and Greece was considered the cradle of European civilization. All of these factors combined to create a strong sense of solidarity between the Greeks and the West, which ultimately helped the Nationalist Greeks achieve their goal of independence.
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