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 Nationalist Greeks received the support of the West European nations for various reasons, which can be discussed as follows:
Fighting against the Ottoman Empire:
- The Nationalist Greeks were fighting against the Muslim Ottoman Empire, which was seen as a threat to the Christian world.
- The Ottoman Empire had been expanding into Europe for centuries and had conquered many territories, including Greece.
- The West European nations saw the Greek War of Independence as an opportunity to push back against Ottoman expansion and support a fellow Christian nation.
Sympathies for ancient Greek culture:
- The West European nations had a fascination with ancient Greek culture, which they saw as the foundation of Western civilization.
- The idea of supporting a modern Greek state that could trace its roots back to ancient Greece was appealing to many Europeans.
- The Greek cause was romanticized in literature, art, and politics, which helped to garner support for the Nationalist Greeks.
Greece as the cradle of European civilization:
- Greece was considered the birthplace of European civilization, with its rich history of philosophy, literature, art, and democracy.
- The idea of supporting Greece in its struggle for independence was seen as a way to protect and promote European civilization.
- The West European nations saw themselves as the heirs of ancient Greece and felt a sense of responsibility to support the Greek cause.
Overall, the Nationalist Greeks received the support of the West European nations for a combination of political, cultural, and historical reasons. The Greek War of Independence was seen as an opportunity to push back against Ottoman expansion, support a fellow Christian nation, and protect and promote the foundations of European civilization.
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